Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-05

Friday Morning. ...-.....Nov'r. 3, 1858.
virginia nailroads- Tha1r Future.
We hass bad before u. reesatly, the Reports
a tArss of he leading Railroad Companies
Of ths Snss-so wit: the Virginia and Tennessee,
H. Sosth- Side. and the Orange and Alexandria.
Thee Reports al show that. Notwithstanding the
aascial tzeeblss Of the past year. which Of course
lesssned the trayel-and the failure Of the wheat
crop in many portions Of the State. which lessen
cd the .frsieht--thess Roads have all increased
thsir receipts and improved their financial cond-
ton, "a sss-s
This result cannot be ascribcd, altogether, to
the increase Il travel upon the Roads, consequent
upon The opeainS Of the Great North-Ea and
South. Western line. The through line was not
opeusd until some time in June-and, although
there 10 percsptble increase in the receipts after
that time, il il evident, upon general review OF
the whole years operations, that the affairs Of
each one Of these Companies, independent and
exclusive Of all connection with the through line
Of travel, are in . much more satisfactory and
promising condition than ever before.
Two causes couduce 10 this result both ofwhich
will become more and more operative with every
succeeding year The first is, the steady reduc-
ton in the proportion of working expenses, there
by leaving the nett revenues 30 much the greater
and the other 10, the continued Increase in the
transportation service Of our roadt. arising from
the improvement in Agriculture, the opening of
countries hitherto inaccessible to market, and tho
connections with other roads lending in all dircc-
tons throughout the Coniedrraey.
Thus, in regard 70 the first. we notice not only
upon our Virginia Roads, but all through the
South, au annual decrease in tho percentage of
working expenses to the gross revenue. This
does not result altogether in an abs lutte reduction
Of the amount expended though in some cases,
a. upon the South,Sde Road, this may truthiully
he sai-but il proceeds from the fact that the
officers Of cur Railroad Companies. by II wise sys-
ten Of economy. d. not permit the working ex-
pepses to keep pace with tho increase of the BUSH
less done. Thus, il Railroad Company, whose
gross receipts last year half million, paid
Fifty per cent of it for working expenses its net
revenue was two hundred and fifty thousand. II
the sAme company this year. has gross revenue
of Que million, and its working expenses only the
same as they were last year, the net revenue is
seven hundred and ffty thousand-only 25 per
cent being paid for expenses. Thus, we see thnt
it is due more to increase Of business than to any
absolute reduction Of expenses, that these ComPa-
MES are enabled to bring down the percentage of
charges every year.
Moreover. the working expenses upon our roads
are comparatively small per Sc. We areinformcd
BY the American Railroad Journal that in Massa-
chusetts none of the Roads pay less than fifty per
cent True their charges, particularly for travel,
are much less than with us-and consequently,
their receipts, for an equal amount Of business,
are great deal smaller. But, A. a general thing.
our grades are much easier in the South than with
the Northern Roads-and, of course. there is an
appreciable difference, for this reason alone, in
the annual expense Of conducting the operations
Of the respective Roads, We know of no North
ern Roads that make a showing, like the Orange
and Alexandria and the East Tennessee and Geor-
gia, Of only fortyone per cent. OF working ex-
penss, - compared with the gross receipts.
The receipts upon all Of our Virginia Roads nre
bound to increase, as well from passengers from
freights. The next Census, we have no hesitation
in predicting, viii demonstrate an increase in the
agricultural productions of Virginia since the last
Census was taken. that will "astonish" even 1.-the
natives" And yet, for all this, tho agricultural
capacity of Virginia has never yet been estimated.
Indeed, 30 boundless is it, that ono might well
shrink from the task. When this vast region-an
empire within itself-shall have been subjected to
the developing hands of industry and Of art. who
shall set limit to the capacities Of the Old Com
monwealthf What MALrnus will undertake to
compute. with mathematical precision, the ngri-
cultural and the mineral wealth. and the fruits of
manufacturing industry. which Virginia will pour
out every year into our domestic and foreign mar
kets. In all Of this prospective prosperity, the
Railroads have living and important interest.
Steam on Canals.
We have never been much Of believer in the
feasibility Of running steamboats, upon canals; but
the experiment has been tried in New York upon
the Erie Canal, and with some degree Of success.
The following. from the Courier and Enquirer is
descriptive Of boat which has already made one