CAPITALIZATION AND VALUATION OF RAILWAY PROPERTY
On June 30, 1897, the amount of railway capital outstanding was $10,635,008,074, which, assigned on a mileage basis, shows a capital of $59,620 per mile of line. The amount of capital stock was §5,364,642,255, of which $4,367,056,657 was common stock, and $997,585,598 preferred stock. The amount of funded debt was $5,270,365,819.
EARNINGS AND EXPENSES
The gross earnings of the railways of the United States for the year ending June 30, 1897, as reported for an operated mileage of 183,284.25, were $1,122,089,773. In comparison with the preceding year this amount shows a decrease in gross earnings of $28,079,603. The sources of income comprised in gross earnings from operation for the year were Passenger revenue, $251,135,927, decrease as compared with the previous year, $15,426,606; Mail $33,754,466, increase $1,374,647; Express $24,901,066, increase $20,683; Other earnings, passenger service $6,629,980, freight revenue $772,849,314, decrease $13,766,523; Other earnings, freight service $4,209,657, increase $323,767; Other earnings from operation, including a small amount of unclassified items, $28,609,363. The expenses of the operation of railways for the fiscal year covered by the report were $752,524,764. This amount is $20,464,280 smaller than the corresponding amount for the year ending June 30, 1896, the operated mileage for that year being 181,982.64 miles.
The income from operation, that is, the amount of gross earnings remaining after the deduction of operating expenses, commonly termed net earnings, was $369,565,009. This amount is $7,615,323 less than the corresponding item for the previous year. The income from other sources, mainly derived from leases and investments in stocks and bonds, was $125,090,010, which, added to the income from operation, shows that the total income of the railways as a whole was $494,655,019.
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS
The total number of casualties to persons on account of railway accidents for the year ending June 30, 1897, was 43,168. Of these casualties, 6437 resulted in death, and 36,731 in injuries of varying character. Of railway employees, 1693 were killed and 27,667 were injured during the year. According to the three general classes these casualties were divided as follows: trainmen, 976 killed, 13,795 injured; switchmen, flagmen, and watchmen, 201 killed, 2423 injured; other employees, 516 killed, 11,449 injured. The casualties to employees resulting from coupling and uncoupling cars were 214 killed, 6283 injured.
The casualties to the three general classes of employees mentioned caused by collisions and derailments were as follows: trainmen, 250 killed, 1327 injured; switchmen, flagmen, and watchmen, 11 killed, 74 injured; other employees, 42 killed, 251 injured. The total number of passengers killed during the year under review was 222; injured, 2795. Ninety-three passengers were killed and 1011 injured in consequence of collisions and derailments. Other than employees and passengers, the total number of persons killed was 4522; injured, 6269. Included in these figures are casualties to persons classed as trespassers, of whom 3919 were killed and 4732 were injured. From summaries showing the ratio
