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Show GOOD START MADE v BY RAILS IN 1920 Statistical Statement Makes Encouraging Showing C-HICA(;0, Jan. 1. Railways made a (food (tart in 1020. in eplte of their ad- j h veriie condition, to increase the capac- try OfThelr physical propertTes, accord-inn accord-inn to statistics compiled by the Railway Rail-way Axe and made public last niajht. In respect to physical development the record is worse In only one respect than in 191. The total amount of new mileage constructed was only 314 miles, he compared with 686 miles in 1919. This is the smallest amount of mileage built since records regarding railway building have been kept. Furthermore. 713 miles were abandoned, which la the largest mileage ever abandoned In one year. This is the fifth successive year In which the mileage abandoned has exceeded the mileage built. - Statistics compiled by 1 DrJullusJI. . f"armalee, director of the bureau of railway economics, estimated that the total earnings were 16.230.000,000. or 91.046,000.000 more than in 1919. The Increase In-crease In the earnings was partly due to a larger traffic and partly to the advances in rates made In August. Operating Op-erating expenses are estimated at 95.-T60.0OO.000 95.-T60.0OO.000 or 11,330,000.000 more than in 1919. Thla Increase in expenses was partly due to the larger business handled, partly to Increased maintenance main-tenance work and partly to payment of approximately 9400.000.000 more In wages. Taxes are estimated at 9281.000.-000. 9281.000.-000. as compared with I235.OdO.00 In 1919. Net operating Income Is estimated 'V at f 15.000,000, practically all of which has been earned since the advance in rates. The net operating Income In 1919 waa $481,000,000. |