Rail Prosperity

Back at the beginning of 1925, many business prophets predicted a banner year for U. S. railroads. Their prediction has been realized in fact. In October, the Class I roads broke all earnings records. Total earnings for that month reached $137,699,986--an increase of more than $3,000,000 over the September record of $134,584,916. Earnings for October, 1924, were $127,105,089.

The greatest prosperity in railroading was seen in the southern district, and resulted not only from the Florida boom but the general opening-up of the southeastern states which is now going on. In the East, the roads did quite well with the exception of the anthracite carriers. Western roads, however, continued to lag behind, partly as a result of competition with the Panama Canal, partly from low freight rates.