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Under report further expenditure was incurred on works detailed in this Report amounting to $546,602.44 for the Main Line, which includes a debit for loss on Exchange of $194,847.04, and $27,826.69 on the Fanling Branch Line making a total of $574,429.13 for the year.
18. The Revenue Statements of Earnings and Expenditure take the usual form. The net result shows that against an Estimate of $271,209, the actual Expenditure was $274,366.39, an excess of $3,157.39 mainly due to an unexpected rise in the price of coal which could not have been foreseen at the time the Estimates were framed, and to increased train mileage. The Earnings were estimated to be $372,600 whilst the actual receipts amounted to $364,608.32, being $7,991.68 below the Estimate. It was only to be expected that the war would affect the passenger traffic, and this together with the unfortunate attack on the night train mentioned above no doubt had an adverse effect and in addition the train service to and from Canton was suspended for 14 days owing to floods. Though the Earnings did not quite reach the estimated figures, the local traffic has increased slightly and shows an excess of $2,174.94 over the previous year despite the fact that the customary movements of the troops in the autumn did not take place. The through traffic shows a satisfactory increase under the circumstances of $28,222.02. I regret that I am unable to report any considerable improvement in the Goods Traffic. A slight increase is shown in both Through and Local Goods, but though efforts have been made in all directions and enquiries have been received, for the reasons already stated in my Report for 1913, the receipts from this source have made no satisfactory progress.
19. The Working Expenses for the year are slightly higher than in 1913. It will be observed on reference to the figures that the Locomotive expenses are mainly responsible for this, the percentage under Abstracts B & C being 35.61 as against 30.39 for 1913, this as previously explained is mainly due to an unexpected advance of $1.85 per ton in the price of coal and to a smaller extent to additional mileage due to an improved Time Table.
20. The Gross Earnings for the year were $364,608.32 as against $333,633.32 for 1913, an increase of $30,975. The Working Expenses amounted to $274,366.39, an increase of $28,557.81 due as stated above to the increase in the price of coal. The balance after paying Working Expenses stands at $90,241.93 or $2,417.19 more than the previous year.
21. During the year the question of the division of the fares has continued to receive the attention of both Administrations and in August a decision was arrived at and the outstanding accounts between the two Sections, it is hoped, will be finally adjusted early in the ensuing year.
Accidents.
22. No accidents occurred to the travelling Public or to Railway servants during the year, but four Chinese were killed whilst trespassing on the Railway.
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under report further expenditure was incurred on works detailed in this Report amounting to $546,602.44 for the Main Line, which includes a debit for loss on Exchange of $194,847.04, and $27,826.69 on the Fanling Branch Line making a total of $574,429.13 for the year.
18. The Revenue Statements of Earnings and Expenditure take the usual form. The net result shews that against an Estimate of $271,209, the actual Expentliture was $274,366.39 an excess of $3,157.39 mainly due to an unexpected rise in the price of coal which could not have been foreseen at the time the Estimates were
framed, and to increased train mileage. The Earnings were estimated to be $372,600 whilst the actual receipts amounted to $364,608.32 being $7,991.68 below the Estimate. It was only to be expected that the war would affect the passenger traffic, and this together with the unfortunate attack on the night train mentioned above no doubt had an adverse effect and in addition the train ser- vice to and from Canton was suspended for 14 days owing to floods. Though the Earnings did not quite reach the estimated figures, the local traffic has increased slightly and shews an excess of $2,174.94 over the previous year despite the fact that the customary move- ments of the troops in the autumn did not take place. The through traffic shews a satisfactory increase under the circumstances of $28,222.02. I regret that I am unable to report any considerable improvement in the Goods Traffic. A slight increase is shewn in both Through and Local Goods, but though efforts have been made in all directions and enquiries have been received, for the reasons already stated in my Report for 1913, the receipts from this source have made no satisfactory progress.
19. The Working Expenses for the year are slightly higher than in 1913. It will be observed on reference to the figures that the Locomotive expenses are mainly responsible for this, the per- centage under Abstracts B & C being 35'61 as against 30-39 for 1913, this as previously explained is mainly due to an unexpected advance of $1.85 per ton in the price of coal and to a smaller extent to additional mileage due to an improved Time Table.
20. The Gross Earnings for the year were $364,608.32 as against $333,633.32 for 1913 an increase of $30,975. The Working Expenses amounted to $274,366.39 an increase of $28,557.81 due as stated above to the increase in the price of coal. The balance after paying Working Expenses stands at $90,241.93 or $2,417.19 more than the previous year.
21. During the year the question of the division of the fares has continued to receive the attention of both Administrations and in August a decision was arrived at and the outstanding accounts between the two Sections, it is hoped, will be finally adjusted early in the ensuing year.
Accidents.
22. No accidents occurred to the travelling Public or to Rail- way servants during the year, but four Chinese were killed whilst trespassing on the Railway.
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