The Railway System To-day 361 



The total weight of goods and minerals conveyed in 1910 

 was 514,428,806 tons, and the total number of passengers 

 carried (exclusive of 752,663 season-ticket holders) was 

 1,306,728,583. The miles travelled were by passenger trains, 

 266,851,217 ; by goods trains, 154,555,559 ; by mixed trains, 

 1,814,762, giving a total of 423,221,538 miles. It is difficult 

 to grasp the real significance of these figures ; but, taking the 

 train mileage alone the total distance run by trains in the 

 United Kingdom in 1910 was equal to nearly 17,000 journeys 

 round the world, and to four and a half journeys to the sun. 



The total amount of railway capital returned as paid-up 

 at the end of 1910 was 1,318,500,000, of which about 

 197,000,000, or approximately fifteen per cent, was due to 

 nominal additions on the consolidation, conversion and division 

 of stocks, showing a net investment of 1,120,500,000. The 

 gross receipts of the companies during 1909 were as follows : 



PROPORTION TO 

 SOURCE. TOTAL RECEIPTS. 



Passenger traffic . . 52,758,489 .. 42-57 

 Goods . . . 61,478,643 . . 49-61 



Miscellaneous l . . 9,688,433 . . 7-82 



Totals 123,925,565 100-00 



The working expenditure in the same period amounted to 

 76,569,676, a proportion to total receipts of 62 per cent. 

 The net receipts, therefore, were 47,355,889, the proportion 

 of which to paid-up capital was 3-59 per cent. 



The average rates of dividend or interest alike on ordinary 



recalls the days when it was assumed that traders would provide their 

 own rolling stock on the railways*, it shows that they still do so to a 

 considerable extent, although, of course, relying on the railway companies 

 to supply the locomotives. It will also be seen how the questions which 

 have arisen from time to time as to the use of a larger type of railway 

 waggon and, also, of automatic couplers on waggons, may be complicated 

 by the variety of ownership. There is an Association of Private Owners of 

 Railway Rolling Stock, the objects of which are " to maintain and defend 

 the rights and promote the interests of private owners and hirers of rail- 

 way rolling stock." 



1 The receipts under this head were as follows : 



Steamboats, canals, harbours and docks . . 5,145,640 

 Rents, tolls, hotels, etc 4,542,793 



9,688,433 



