Rail Expenditure

During 1924, the railroads of the U. S. gave a successful illustration of the art--now popular in government and business alike--of economy and reducing expenditures. The full bill of the roads last year, amounting to $471,656,000, represented a 24% reduction from costs in 1923; expenditures for bituminous at $373,483,000 were down 28% and those for anthracite were similarly cut 20% to $14,497,000. This reduction in fuel costs was made possible by low coal prices, greater conservation in the use of fuel and a drop of 6% in the volume of freight moved during the year.

Other decreases in expenditures were an 11% drop in the costs of cross ties to $111,442,000; a 21% cut in iron and steel products to $365,610,000; a $2,250,000 slash in lubricating oils and grease to $13,158,000 and a 32% reduction in non-ferrous metal products to $39,049,000.

Altogether, the roads of the country spent $2,629,962,000 last year for maintenance and operation wages; $1,343,055,000 for materials and supplies (including fuels) and $874,743,000 in capital expenditures, which included new equipment and improvements.

The roads paid $510,000,000 in interest charges during 1924, and $310,000,000 in dividends.