TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION 
RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION 
SUMMARY.—While economy and efficiency marked the operation of the rail- 
roads in 1924, the year 1925 witnessed new records. Traffic, measured in ton- 
miles, was even greater than in the peak year 1923 and 6.6 per cent heavier 
than in 1924, Ag compared with 1924, the operating revenues increased 3.8 
per cent; operating expenses, however, were greater by only 0.6 per cent; and 
net railway operating income therefore gained by 15 per cent. Freight and 
passenger rates. remained practically the same. Trafic was moved not only 
without delay or interruption, with almost no car shortages and high car sur- 
pluses, but also with greater rapidity and efficiency. This excellent showing 
is credited to the operating officials and employees, and to the hearty coopera- 
tion of the buyers of transportation—particularly through the Shippers’ Regional 
Advisory Boards of the American Railway Association. 
The improvement in financial results of operation shown in 1923 and 1924 
continued throughout 1925, the operating ratio decreasing in these three years 
from 77.88 to 76.13 and to 74.11 per cent. The net railway operating income 
of Class I roads in 1925 was 5.9 per cent of the aggregite tentative valuation 
(818,900,000,000) of the steam railway property of the carriers subject to the 
transportation act, 1920. This ratio for the southern district was 11.9 per cent, 
for the western district 5 per cent, and for the eastern, 5.4 per cent. 
Railway mileage has changed but little since 1918 and the volume of tonnage 
originating has increased less than 9 per cent. There has been a marked in- 
crease in ton-mileage, however, indicating longer average distances hauled. 
Ton-mileage figures in 1925 were 37.2 ber cent greater than in 1918 (fiscal 
year). The average amount received per ton-mile has increased 50.6 per cent 
since 1913, while operating expenses have increased 102.9 per cent, operating 
revenues 91.6 per cent, and net revenue from railway operations 39.1 per cent, 
Table 1.—Summary of Major Statistics of Railroads 
Nore.—Figures for 1925 do not include the smaller roads (Classes IT and III). The percentages of 
increase over 1924 are computed from data for Class I roads only, as shown in subsequent tables. 
[tem 
9131 
1099 
1992 
1094 
1 
1008 
Per cent change 
1925 from — 
1913 | 19041 
Number of miles owned. ... 
Freight originated (thou- 
sand tons)... ...__..____. 
Freight ton-mileage (mil- 
lion ton-miles).....______, 
Average freight rate per 
ton per mile (cents)____._! 
Operating revenues (thou- 
sand dollars)_.._.._._____ 
Jperating expenses (thou- 
sand dollars).......______ 
Net railway operating in- 
come (thousand dollars) 8! 
9,777 250,413 
1,182,548 1,111,822 
301, 730 | 342,188 
50.720 1.164 
3,193,118 | 5,674,483 | 
2,235,923 4,500,991 | 
8.805.266 769. 411 
950. 9299 
1,387,755 
418, 256 | 
1.132 
6,419, 210 
4,999, 383 
074. 918 
250, 156 | 
1.287,413 11,247,137 
391,045  4414,140 
1.132 41.008 
6,045,252 | 46,120,370 
4,608,807 ' 4 4, 535, 785 
084.463 4 1. 120. 361 
+56] 45.0 
tan.2] tee 
+506] 16 
43.3 
+0.6 
415.0 
491.6} 
1102 9 
! Fiscal year ended June 30; other years ended Dec. 31. 
! Percentages based on 1924 and 1925 figures for Class I roads only, 
' Not available. 
20% 
t Class I roads, 
} Class I and II roads. 
Sea note 2 Table 9