True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-01
From the Steuhenyille Herald.
The Steubenville & Indiana Railroad.


Mr.. EDIroR:-Inow propose to exam
inc some other of the grounds upon which
q conclusion must be formed whether Or
not the stock Of this road will be terma-
nently profitable stock. have already
shown that the road is cheap road, in its
construction, compared with some other
roads which make satisfactory dividends,
that it runs through country, rich in all
kinds of business for the road; that it con-
meets great and extensive producing coun-
tries, with populous and prosperous consul
ming markets, and that permanent and re-
liable six per cent, stocks are never, unless
in very hard times, worth less than the
face of them. l will add here, that the
stock of the Central Michigan Railroad is
now worth one hundred and nine and half
dollars per share of one hundred dollars
each.
1 have also shewn the cost of travel and
transportation on the road, and asked each
one 10 compare these things with the time
and expense Of doing the same work by the
former methods.
Let us now inquire into the amount of
business which may be expected to be done
on the road.
The company now have on the road elev-
en- first class and two small engines, the
large ones capable of drawing forty freight
cars each, loaded, 'in train. They have
seven first class and one second class pas
senger cars, two mail and express cars and
one hundred and twenty freight cars.
Freight cars carry eight tons each. First
class passenger cars carry ffty-six paSsen-
gers each. Passenger trains run 20 miles
an hour, running time, freight trains, ten
miles. That is to say, passenger train
of four or five passenger cars, carrying from
two or three hundred passengers, can easi-
ly run from Steubenville TO Newark and
back in daylight, except in the shortest
days. Two freight trains of forty cars each,
can load and unload and make the trip one
train each way daily. These, if full freight
ed, would give six hundred and forty tons
of freight daily, which, at the medium
charge of $500 per ton, would give dai-
ly income on freight of S2,92S Or $l,O41,
664 per annum on freight only. Two hun
dred and fifty through passengers, Or their
equivalent daily, that is, one hundred and
twenty-five each way, will give daily in
come on passengers only, of S862,5O or
239,962,5O per annum on passengers only.
This gives total per annum of$l, ,3l1 ,626,
so. This estimate is made on three hun
dred and thirteen working days.
Now no one Of you will suppose this es,
innate one, to be literally realized, or that
in the present unconnected state of the road,
the aggregate can be reached in year.
When the connections are completed, stran-
ger things have happened in Railroad bust.
ness than to see it exceeded. At present
a nett income of $24O,OQO will pay sixper
cent on the cost of the..road- -s2SO,OOO will
pay seven per cent. Allowing one half of
the earnings for repairs, expenses, &c.,
$780, or $46O,O0O gross earnings will
nett six or seven per cent. as the case may
be.
The highest of these sums, 1 have no
doubt, will be realized after September 1st,
if the work can be done that will be offer
ed.
One thing is certain-the presentrolling
steck on the road, is not adequate to the
impending business, and must be largely
increased in all alldepartments. No defective
no suspected engine or car can ever be suf-
cred to be put on the road, and to avoid it
q large selection must at all times be allow
ed.
, To realize $40, 1000 from passengers per
annum, will require 69,565 through pass
ongers, Or their equivalent in shorter trips,
which is two hundred and twenty-four dai-
ly, or one hundred and twelve each way.
Let US see what is done on other roads.
: The Boston and Lowell road before referr-
ed to, in 1916, carried 4S4, 1888 passengers
1t is twenty six miles long; carried the same
year, 72S,3O7 passengers. The Boston
and Providence road, forty-ono miles long,
carried the same year, 4S7, ,47S passengers.
The Boston and Worcester road, forty-fve
miles long, carried the same year, 59s,3O5
passengers. The business on all these
roads has largely increased since. These
are not to be understood as through passen-
gers. The average distance they travel
/ will not exceed half the length Of the road.
This shows that the patronapeo of the road