Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-03-05

malntnance of way Il, ,422 31--35,92l 81
Nett profits. s.........................$2 $22 ,004 Y
The earnings, though small, have come fully
up to the expectations of the Directors and
show conclusively that the road will, in future,
be able to take care of the interest on State
debt of $35O,O00, and the bonds issued by the
Company, and besides have handsome sum,
either to apply to the extension of the Road to
Knoxville or to pay on the floating debt of the
Company. 1t must be recollected that the Road
has only been opened to Tennessee river a little
over twomonths of this time and that evenup to
the first December we were not so well prepared
at the river to receive and discharge freightS as
we should have been, to enable US to get all the
business of the river. Arrangements are now
made, however, for the easy and safe transporta-
ton of every description of freight that may
come. During the first part of the year the re-
ceipts were small, and in the summer very little
can be expected. This place was the head of
the road at your last annual meeting, and con-
tinued to be until the 9th of April, when the
Passenger and Freight trains commenced run
ming regularly to Sweetwater;-on the 10th of
May to Philadelphia, and in September to Lou
don, on the Tennessee river thus giving the
months of October and November, with part
of September, for the through business to the
river, showing large increase during that time
both in passengers and freights, notwithstand-
ing the duh season Of the year; for with the
heavy produce business of this country, the
Spring must always be the active season.
Many things have contributed to operate a.
gainst us during the last year, that can and will
be overcome during the present. The conflict
ing trade by way of Chattanooga up to this
time has operated seriously, principally from
the fact that there was no steamboat line run
ming regularly from Loudon to Knoxville; this
difficulty has been removed, as the Directors
have closed a contract with Joseph Jaques, the
owner of the steamer 'Loudon," to run regular
| ly, during the year, between those points, pay
ing Is cents per hundred for all up freights, and
8 cents down. In making this arrangement the
Directors deemed it best to establish an agency
at Knoxville, thereby saving to the shippers all
drayage, receiving, forwarding and commissions,
both at Loudon and Knoxville, sending copies
of through freight bills to be paid at Knoxville
so that every thing has been doRe as far as pos
sible to save the shippers time, trouble and ex-
pense, and no fears need be entertained
that, in future, we will get the largest portion,
if not all of the trade of Upper East Tennes-
see-enough to satisfy us, and such an increase
as will bring the present years business up to
the most sanguine expectations of the Stock
holders.
The last years business has fully equaled the
expectations of the Directors, and should be
gratifying to the Stockholders giving every evi-
dence that the stock will be profitable invest
ment.
The position of our road is such as to show
to you that we can never. have a rival road; that
we are almost on an air line from New Orleans
to New York. 1t will be seen by reference
to Mr.. Poors Railroad Map of the United States
which will undoubtedly make it the line for the
great southern Mail, that we will have the short
est line between those points of at least 200
miles, when all the connections are made that
are now in process of construction. The Vir-
ginia and Tennessee Railroad is progressing
very rapidly from Lynchburg towards the Ten
nessee line, the cars now running from Lynch
burg to Salem, distance of 60 miles, and ex-
tending the track every day so that in less than
two years this work will be completed to the
Tennessee line, where it connects with the East
Tennessee and Virginia Road, from Knox
vile to the Virginia line. The whole of this
road to Knoxville, including grading, masonry
and bridges, is now under contract and the
work progressing well, except Is miles of light
grading from Knoxville to the Holston river,
and the means provided for the completion, and
the President of the Company has informed
me that he will let that part Of it early in the
Spring, thus showing beyond doubt that the
whole line north will be completed in less than
three years.
Our connections south will be through the
Western and Atlantic Railroad, leading to
Augusta, Charleston, and Savannah, and also
with the roads built and building in Alabama
and Mississippi, towards Mobile and New Or
leans. The aggregate length of Roads south
will include 1900 miles finished road, and as
much more in contemplation and process of
construction. Through the Western and At
lantic Railroad westwardly connection is form
ed with the Nashville and Chattanooga, and
the Memphis and Charleston Roads-also with
the New CLEANS and Nashville Road; it is also
in contemplation to extend the Rome branch of
the Western and Atlantic Railroad to the Ala
bama and Tennessee River Railroad, thus max
ing q second route to Mobile and New Orleans.
To all of these routes this road will be common,
by all of which you see that your road must not
only be of great importance to the travelling
and trading community, but source of wealth
| to, the Stockholders. In addition to the above
roads, road has been chartered from Knox
! vile, the northern terminus of your road, to