Rail Earnings

The reports filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission by the Class 1 railroads, whose total mileage is 236,190, reveal some interesting facts and figures.

Net railway operating income for 1924 totaled $987,133,000, divided among the national railroad "regions" as follows:

New England $ 35,727,000

Great Lakes 183,333,000

Central Eastern 194,911,000

Pocahontas 52,525,000

Southern District 142,554,000

Northwestern 104,873,000

Central Western 181,262,000

Southwestern 91,944,000

Yet net operating income in none of the great railway districts was sufficient to amount to the 5 3/4% on property investment mentioned in the Transportation Act. In this respect, 1924 earnings of Class 1 railroads over the whole country amounted to 4.35% on property investment, as against 4.49% in 1923.

In 1924, 20 Class 1 roads had operating deficits, 10 in the Eastern and 10 in the Western District. Last year, maintenance expenditures amounted to $2,072,442,480, a reduction of about 10% from the sum expended for the same purpose in 1923.