Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-14
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
Mn.MINe.roN. n. G.. FRIDAY. MARCH n. 1851.
Railroad Frelghts.


as party to the controversy now going upon the
subject of freghts upon Railroad, we are willing
to place before readers any facts or statements
which may be furnished to us calculated to throw
light upon the matter under discussion. In an arti
Gle in the last Journal in speaking of our trip to
Edgecombe, we remarked that we found considera-
BILE dissatisfaction existing among all classes upon
the subject of freights generally That such a state
of feeling exists cannot we think, be questioned
How we'll founded the dissatisfaction is, we did not
then pretend to say, do we now. Certain state
ments, however have beer furnished to us on behalf
of the management, which think it but right to
publish. but without any expression of opinion on
our part. We give them, or the substance of them,
as furnished u.s. merely remarking that they come
from responsible source, and one which should be
we'll informed.
In the first instance them it is contended that so
far from freghts being profit to the Road the rates
of freight charged do not pay the expenses of trans
portation In support of this assertion the follow
ing statement is made During the last year there
have been run regular freight trains passing the
Road 10 times each week, while the mail trains have
passed over IA times, making in all "a trips per
week over The Road The cost of transportation and
Railroad repairs have been for the last year, fol-
lows Transportation account, $99,017 03 Road
repairs $7l,973 90; half Office expenses at Weldon,
we suppose | $500 II making in all $l7l,lll &C,
exclusive of the charge for relaying the Road. To
ascertain the proportion of this sum chargeabfe to
freighting S17I,11l &c, the whole amount of cost.
is divided by "a the whole number of trains. and
have 1929 Is per train and this sum, multiplied
by 10, the number of freight trains gives the
cost ST. 29G So while the receipts from freight for
the same time have been only 81 ,051 26, showing
loss of s245 "a.
It is further asserted that the rates of freight are
80 per cent lower than upon other Roads 1t is
ted that the average rate of freight upon the twenty
six Railroads in the State of New York, is within
small fraction of 6 cents per ton per mile, which
would make the cost of transporting ton from JOY
ner's Depot 116 miles, Sc 90, which, divided by I,
he number of barrels of Rosn to the ton shows over
80 cents the cost of transporting barrel of Ro-
sin, while the present rates upon the Road 48
cents or less than half the average of the New York
Roads 1t is also stated that the average cost of
transportation upon the New York Roads is 81 cents
per ton per mile which would make the actual cost
If transporting barrel of Rosin, one-seventh of
ton, 116 miles, 81 cents, being cents than the
: mount charged upon this Road. The authorities
re the reports in the Railway Times of the 9th of
february, or the Railroad Journal of the 1st of
Riarch. We have not seen the papers cited as au-
orites, but have doubt of their being accurate
" quoted. We would. however, remark that it does
not seem to that the average here taken affords
..lir parallel. comparison only be properly
instituted between Roads of the same nearly the
same length, and under similar conditions. From
statement now our table, We remark that the high
charges all upon very short Roads, while upon
oads of the length of this the charge is less than
:hree cents per ton per mile. The statement is ia
Ken from newspaper, and is somewhat incomplete
3It we think that we are pretty nearly accurate.
The above is the substance of the statements fur
ished to US, and the inference drawn from them is
lat the rates of freight already low, and that
reduction be made Of this, as of the whole
matter, the public can judge. AS before observed,
party to the controversy, but wish to let
18th sides be fairly represented We have word
two to say on our own account, however, and that
i in regard to the Road REPAIRS which last year
,hounted to SAT- "a per mile for the ordinary re-
rs, exclusive of the expense of relaying the Road
y hope this charge is not to be consider
." criterion of the future expense of the Road way
that it is properly reaid with 7 iron. Why this
= 80 per cent more than the charge for a similar
nnrpose on the Reading Road which heavy coal
rains passing night and day. while only "a light
-ains pass over Road per week. We do not say
lis for the purpose of casting any reflections fol-
what is past but we must protest against these char
@es being made the basis of future calculations We
could also remark that the dissatisfaction mentioned
existing upon the subject of freights generally
had reference to long detentions at the depots and
-:eguarity in the passage of trains. Now that the
.,oad is, will be, in perfect condition, we hope
AMI believe that produce deposited at the depos will
h. brought down promptly, which, if we are to be.
1--we almost every planter along the line, has not
heretofore been the case. We have heard great
.npaint upon this subject, and from persons friend
i to the Road. Perhaps reason why the freight
9 business has not been more profitable is that
Efficient attention has not been paid to it, nor the
arrangements made been sufficient to accommodate
nc freight Offering Much of this may have arisen
fm the state of the Road and other matters beyond
&c control of the direction, but we think that the
t;ne has arrived when these Inconvenience should
remedied So far, at least, this Road has not pro-
/ very profitable investment of capital
Al the only advantage derived, to be derived has
L2en in the enhanced value of property. This en-
hinccmcnt can only or chiefly be produced by Civ
il5 producers chance to get their produce to mar
kct, and merchants and shippers chance to trade
urnn it; the mere transit of certain passengers