518 COMMERCE YEARBOOK found that the labor cost per unit of service has decreased. The increased efficiency in railway operation in 1925 was due to the sfforts of both men and management. During 1925 the prevailing wage rates were those established in 1924 when wage rate increases were granted quite generally throughout the country to various classifications of transportation employees, including engineers, firemen, conductors, and trainmen, these increases ranging from 5 to 6 per cent. FINANCES Operating Results. A summary of the financial side of railway operation silce 1890 appears in Table 9. As compared with the average for the period 1891-1895, the year 1925 showed roughly an increase of five and one-half times in operating revenues, of six times in operating expenses, and of three and one-half times in net operating railway income. Taxes increased over ten times during this same period. The operating ratio advanced sharply during the war; gratifying decreases appear since 1920. A decrease of slightly more than 1 point under the operating ratio for 1925 would bring it to the level of 1913~14. Table 9.—Operating Finances of Railway Companies No1e.—~In thousands of dollars. Data for 1924 and 1925 relate only to Class I companies, the financial tems for which, however, represent nearly 98 per cent of the total. Beginning with 1908, switching and rarminal companies are excluded. See also Table 10. Yearly average or year ended— [une 30: 1891-1895_.. .. .......-06-1900. LL eeneee le SR pw III I 00 dite memes De cceemm—ae + Mata) 1 1, 127, 531 » 264, 048 588, 526 ,726, 380 900, 847 975, 174 082, 482 325,765 580, 106 440, 639 473,205 812, 142 852, 855 906, 416 ,198, 118 127,730 5 956, 103 Operating revenues Freight 758, 930 $79, 837 118, 543 + 207,220 338, 020 379, 003 450, 773 640, 387 , 823, 652 655,410 677, 614 925, 554 925, 951 1, 968, 500 ), 198, 931 2 126, 717 > 037. 996 Passenger 281, 414 279, 900 351, 356 392, 963 121, 705 144, 397 £72, 695 510, 033 564, 606 566, 833 563, 609 328, 092 357, 638 560, 373 505, 088 703, 484 346. 475 Operating expenses 759, 588 832, 377 , 030, 307 116, 249 257, 539 338, 896 300, 602 536, 877 748, 516 710, 402 650, 034 881, 879 , 976, 332 035, 058 935, 923 2, 280, 416 5 ORK] AR2 Operating ratio ser cent 87.37 55. 85 54. 86 84. 66 | 86. 16 57.79 36.78 86. 08 87.53 0.08 | 56, 72 56.92 39.28 | 70. 02 70. 02 72.91 70. 5 Taves 34,915 41,970 16,708 50, 054 53, 252 56, 802 58,712 59; 064 73,743 78, 674 85, 140 98, 035 102, 657 113, 819 122, 005 140, 470 137 7s Net railway operating income 2 333, 027 389, 701 511, 421 560, 077 590, 056 579, 476 833, 168 719, 824 766, 846 834, 794 710, 474 305, 097 744, 669 727, 458 805, 266 874, 190 804. O74 an 011i 1. RR RE Re (Gi onimenenan 1995 6. oo. *, 691, 065 115, 413 935, 200 250, 420 310, 151 632, 665 574, 453 419, 210 523,708 2 120 379 2, 831, 092 % 807, 436 » 522, 052 , 624, 886 420, 833 004, 109 '» 085, 742 "712, 495 '347, 421 {551 394 722, 359 340, 910 046, 166 193, 431 304, 815 166, 252 087, 516 158, 925 , 076, 653 ’ O55. R79 2, 426, 251 906, 283 1071, 522 1498, 817 .954, 394 668, 998 500, 991 999, 383 510, 056 : 535 785 55. 73 70. 62 31.67 2 ge (3. 1 161, 825 18, 632 299, 533 39, 136 ag, °7¢ BL] AR IHR 904 .. 058, 506 930, 557 546, 223 154, 132 12,101 801, 139 769, 411 974, 918 “73, 945 £190 281 Includes miscellaneous revenues from operation. ! Obtained by deducting from railway operating revenues the following items: Railway operating exanses, railway tax accruals, uncollectible railway revenues and net equipment and joint fachity rents. ) Class I and Class IL roads. 1 Class I roads. RBouree: Interstate Commerce Commission.