The number of persons on the pay rolls of the railways in the United States, as returned for June 30, 1903, was 1,312,537, or 639 per 100 miles of line. These figures, when compared with the corresponding ones for the year 1902. show an increase of 123,222 in the number of employees, or 45 per 100 miles of line. The classification of employees includes enginemen, 52,-993; firemen, 56,041; conductors, 39.-741, and other trainmen, 104,885. There were 49961 switch tenders, crossing tenders, and watchmen. With regard to the four general divisions of railway employment it appears that general administration required the services of 45,222 employees; maintenance of way and structures, 433,648 employees; maintenance of equipment, 253,889 employees, and conducting transportation, 576,881 employees. This statement disregards a few employees of which no assignment was made.

The usual statement of the average daily compensation of the 18 classes of employees for a series of years is continued in the present report, which shows also the aggregate amount of compensation paid to more than 97 per cent of the number of employees for the year 1903 and more than 99 per rent for the six years preceding. The amount of wages and salaries paid to employees during the year ending June 30. 1903, as reported, was $757,321,-415: but this amount, as compared with the total reported for the year 1902, is understated for want of returns by $18,000,000 at least.