The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-12 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN.

The report of Mr. M. Fenton, the general mana-
ger of this company, states that the number of
passengers conveyed on the railway in the half-year
ending: the 30th June, 1863, was 4,823,437, and
the receipts were £53,058 ; ending the 31st Dec.,
1863, 4,631,738, and the receipts £48,649 ; ending
the 30th June, 1864, 5,207,335, and the receipts
£54,740 ; ending the 31st Dec., 1864, 6,514,554,
and the receipts £61,749 ; ending the 30th June,
1865, 7,462,823, and the receipts £69,072 ; ending
the 31st Dec., 1865, 8,301,084, and the receipts
£72,441 ; ending the 30th June, 1866, 10,303,395,
and the receipts £102,947 ; ending the 31st Dec.,
1866, 10,969,709, and the receipts £107,295 ; and
for the half year ending June 30, 1867, the number
of passengers conveyed was 11,488,358, and the
receipts were £114,442. The increase over the cor-
responding half of 1866 was 1,184,963 in passen-
gers and £11,495 in receipts. The increased re-
ceipt had been earned on the same mileage, and
without any additional sources of traffic having
been opened. The largest number conveyed over
the railway in any one week was in Whitsuntide
last, from Saturday the Bth June to Friday the 14th
June, both days inclusive, the total being 512,833
the largest number in one day was 113,075 on
Whit-Monday last.

River Railroad aro stated to be 13 per cent. on the entire
amount of money represented. While this result must be
very encouraging to the stockholders, it has a broader sig-
nificance as bearing on the value of railroad property,
and on their earnings. It is true that this road
has the advantage of immediate connection with
the metropolis. But it divides, for the whole year
the passenger trade with the Harlem Road. During
the summer months the river carried thousands

of passengers, and nearly all the freight. Competition is

for eight months sharp and constant. The road was very
expensive in construction, and the cost of maintenance is
very heavy. tetit is earning, according to the statement
eight per cent. for regular dividends on the increased capi-
tal, and fiveper cent. to be applied to other purposes. If this
can be done on that road, on two cents a mile fare, why
cannot it be done elsewhere ? There is no business mat-
ter in which all classes are moro interested. Transporta-
tion is an element of cost in almost every article of con-
sumption. The capital invested in railroads in the United
States is about $1,500,000,000. Are the statements of net
earnings on the Hudson River Road at two cents a mile
fare correct ? If they aro accurate, why oio not other rail-
roads make as favourable an exhibit?—Utica Gazelle.

The Bridgeport Standard learns that the New
York and New Haven Railroad Company intend soon to
put a new invention for ventilating cars on their road.
The air passes in at the front window, over water, whoro
it is purified, and then is distributed through pipes opening
into various parts of the car.

The Wall-street Journal reports that at a meeting
of the board of directors of the New York Central Railroad
Company, held at Albany on July 25, Henry Keep resigned
the presidency of the road. The position was unanimously
tendered to William C. Fargo, but ho declined. 11. U.
Baxter was then elected president of the road. The ad-
vices from Albany are to the effect that the regular half
yearly dividend of three per cent. has been declared, and
that Mr. Richard M. Blatchford (of the old direction) has
been elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resigna-
tion of Mr. Keep. Mr. Blatchford was the vice-president
under the administration of the late Dean Richmond, and
left the direction, in common with other friends of Mr.
Vanderbilt, last December.
The same journal states :—" A good deal of talk
is made at Cincinnati over some alleged astounding dis-
closures concerning the sale of the Lafayette and Indiano-
polis Railroad to IL C. Lord and others. W. F. Raynolds, of
Lafayette, formerly President of the Lafayette Road, is
charged with fraudulently concealing the financial condi-
tion of the road from a part of the directors, and paying no
dividends for fifteen years, secretly accumulating the sur-
plus earnings, and representing the road as losing money,
while it was in a most flourishing condition—all for the
purpose of buying up the stock for a song. Tho Tippe-
canoe County Commissioners sold him the county's stock
in the road in 1865 for $25,000, when it really was said to
bo worth $340,000.
RAILROADS IN TEXAS.—The Houston and Texas
Central Railroad Company has acquired by purchase a
controlling interest in the Washington County Railroad.
The Central Company now takes the Washington County
Railroad into their own hands. The line is to be put in
thorough repair.
The Kansas City Advertiser of the 13th inst.
says :—" Wo learned yesterday that the iron for the Fort
Scott and Kansas City Railroad had been secured, and
that the work of laying it would begin in the course of a
month ; also that the most of the heavy grading upon this
road will be completed in GO days between this and Paola,
a distance of 40 miles, so that when the work of laying
the iron begins, the light grading can be rapidly completed.
We may not be surprised to hear of a pleasure trip being
given by this road to Fort Scott, on New Year's Day, 1868.
COMFORT FOR RAILWAY TRAVELLERS ON THE
Co:an-EN-T.—The directors of the Baden railways have
set a good example in the way of improvement. All the
carriages of every class are to bo furnished with heating
apparatus in winter, a great boon to the third-class pas-
sengers. Hitherto only first and second-class carriages
had been so provided. In France first-class carriages are
alone supplied with'hot-water cylinders for the feet. In
England the first step has yet to be taken in that direction.