Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1846-04-21

TIE ANNUAL REPORT. Of the Superintendent,
Samuel Merrill Esq. Of the Madison and Indianapolis
Rail Road.
We aro ind TO Mr.. Merrill for copy of
his very satisfactory report. Tho following ex-
trac, will DO found interesting to our readers.
The trips mado during tho year havc been a.
bout $50, Averaging AT nst So miles each, ma
king tho whole running distance $3.50 miles.
Tho receipts for 1913. S22.l 10, for Is
al, $3g,O3l for 1915, $50, O53 Tho average
length of tho Road the first yoar 33, the
second II, and the last 80 miles. Tho receipts
for tho ensuing yoar will amount to So,COu, with
out any further extension of tho Road.
Tho amount of freight transported for tho Com
pany 10 Madison the last year. was l2.lib tons
Tho outward freight for customers 1920 tons. be-
sides equal amount III cedar ties. itlIl-
road iron. and rock for tho Of the Road. The
increase of tonnage for customers, Is o,lO0 tons
over thnt OF tho preceding year.
The patrons of Railroads look for safety and
economy, both oftimc and money. TO those who
do business. OF the 1911 passengers on the
Road, the last year. uono were injured, and tho
saving to each of them must havo boon cousdora-
bic. Blu, the benefits derived from increasing
the amount of business. and tho facilities for do
ing it, arc vastly more important. When the
stage was the only public conveyance on this
route. tho passengers both ways did not average
over 30 n week. now they moro than $50.
md nine tcn,hs of them residing on the line, Or
having business attend TO between Madison and
Edinburgh. Of tho $500 tons Of freight trans
ported tho last year, all the lumber, and perhaps
half the remaining freight would not havo been
TO market. but for the facility of conveyance
The wheat l25,727 bushels, tho flour p $3.50 bar
>rcs, and other grains in all over 1000 tons. sold
for more than S20G.0Oe. The hogs, pork and
lard for more than Se50,Oo0. As tho amount of
these articles is double that of the preceding year.
the Road may claim to have added both 10 their
value and amount. Tho saving on tho outward
freight and the convenience of having il forwar-
ded at all seasons of tho soar- must BE- added TO
the former. and i, will not be difficult to show
that the Railroad viii enrich tho country al tho
rate OF s 100000 year.
As mother mechanics. merchants nor farmers.
can keep their business in order without profits
on their capital, the owners of the Road have
right TO expect fair return for the money nd
vonccd. and hazards incurred. w hen this IS the
case they may expect and will receive profits and
patronage Just rs they promote the public inter
csts. But let the Road be Z burthcn to lis own
ers. let the repairs and important machinery :,
neglected. and tho property and safety of custo
mcrs and passengers will be hazardous i'll proper
ton.
In regulating tho tolls. reference mus, be Ia,
20 tho amount Of business. aud the facilities 70
doing it. Both the Company and tho publ,
would be injured by rates low. that the in
creased business could no, bo done properly; an,
on the other hand interest, as we'll as duty vii
require the reduction as soon as the machinery o
tho Company, and tho patronage received. vii
Justify 1t. Articles Of small value in proportion
to their bulk. such as hay. fruit, rock limo coal
lumber. &C.. will, IN portions of tho wear b
transported at very low prices. Tho machiner,
and cars being on hand. and not otherwise en-
gagged, it will be to the advantage eff all concern
cd 10 consul, each others interests.
|: has been calculated by those who have expc
riencc IN Railroads, that when one. OF n given dis
lance IS doubled in length. tho business of n
whole is increased four fold. This has been NOR
than realized by experience so far, and if it con
tinues as the track is extended. the business
when it reaches Indianapolis, will be- more tina
three times its present amount. The expense
hkely to be incurred, may now be estimated wi,