The Portland daily press., 1866-02-15
Portland and Kennebec Railroad.

of the war has largely diminished Transports
ton of both freight and passengers on govern
ment account, the receipts of the road, in its
freight department, has steadily increased
This fact shows permanent and reliable ele-
ments OF business ON which the enterprise may
rest with security. Trains have run with
great regularity and dispatch, and no injury
10 life or limb has occurred during the year.
Such is the present condition of the road that
the passenger connections, both east and west
are made with ease and certainty. Freight
trains also, Uhile on this road, run with regu-
larity, but improved arrangements are reuuir-
ed for the reasonable despatch of freighting
business west of Portland.
The fire in Augusta is thus alluded to:
In this destructive confagration our new
depot, with its foundations and platforms. and
storehouse filled with valuable lumber and
much other property was destroyed. The
main building not being completed, was on
the h9nds OF the contractors. We are happy
to say, however, they were SO far insured that
the loss did not fall heavily upon them, ana
they expressed a commendable readiness to
proceed and reconstruct the edifice. On con-
sutatlon between them and the Directors, il
was thought advisable to defer proceedings
under the expectation that arrangements
might be made by which more extensive and
convenient grounds might be obtained. and
more commodious and safe buildings con-
structed, without any material increase of ex-
pense. We are happy to say that there is rea-
sonable prospect that this result may be ac-
complshed. Our loss by this fire in lumber
and materials was very considerable. The loss
OF lumber especially, which was of superior
quality, and had been accumulated with much
care and trouble for manufacturing purposes,
has been felt"
After Eating the improvements of the past
year, the Directors say: ap l5s =
In addition to these improvements, we
have constructed a new road from Woodford's
Corner, in Westbrook, TO the intersection of
our former line at Congress Street, in Port
land, and cut down the grade on Bramhalps
Hill, in Portland, at an expense of more than
sixty thousand dollars, thus providing direct
and easy access to the city, shortening our
line, and avoiding an expensive and hazardous
bridge and hard grade. BY the improvements
secured by the construction of thenew road in
Portland and Westbrook, during the last two
years, we have not only provided much supe-
rior road, with diminished distance, but by
avoiding the delay occasioned by the use of
the depot on Back Cove, gained at least half
an hour in running time" Nv
The relations of the road with other rail-
roads in the State are represented to be of the
most satisfactory character. Complaint is
made that the roads west of Portland demand
more than their due proportion of the receipts
nom through travel, and of the unnecessary
detention Of cars. At the meeting of the
stockholders, this whole matter was placed in
no of fba A.
adjusted as they may think expedient.
The following paragraphs regarding the rail-
road interest in Maine are worthy of careful
attention on the part of those who have the
settlement of its policy and the protection OF
its interests in charge: a7 $3.50
"Our railroads in this State, with the single
exception OF the one west of Portland, have
had hard struggle for existence. Though
they have done much towards developing the
resources OF the State, and have contributed
largely to the traffic and profits of other roads
with which they have been connected. they
have paid nothing to their stockholders. In
no other branch of business in Maine has SO
much capital been lost as in railroads. Tl:j
has resulted from two considerations. F'HiASsf
we have not received reasonable proportion
of the profits Of the through business originate
ing on our road and terminating in Boston,
Next, heretofore there has existed between the
railroads in the State an unwise and Injurious
competition Located, originally, with little
regard to system, for the development of the
business OF the State, each has struggled fol
precedence ON common territory, to the injury
of ALL"
Maine has one railroad Interest; she should
have railroad policy by which that interest
can be tostered and protected. To do this eff
fectually, injurious rivalries and destructive
competitions must cease. Existing roads
should be so organized and harmonized, that
the business OF the people may be transacted
with the least possible expense; and above all
they Should so act in concert as to protect
themselves and the business of the State, de
pendent upon them, from unreasonable exac
tons from abroad. BY adopting such policy
the business of the State would be developed
and fostered, and money invested in these in
dlspensable modern improvements would give
some return. H.t sstiA ttfstA -ota
There is now due the road for military ser.
vices something more than $40O00-the pay
ment OF which is expected immediately With
this we propose TO liquidate the deficiency in
the sinking fund, and pay some of our tempo
rary loans ~.
The miles run by our trains during the past
year, has been 274 410, at a cost OF 1.36 Is
cents per mile.- Our fuel has cost us 81 5S-loC
cents per mile, consuming IL cords of wood
for each 100 miles rum M
The report of the Treasurer furnishes thu
following facts relating to the receipts and ex
penses of the road: "a s'f
RECEIPTS FROM EARNINGS. fIZ +. j r.
272,549 Passengers, --lalof 3l:rf S1eb 2o1 II
g96z3.C0-lOo tons Merchandise, 219, S16 1:
Extra baggage, H. '.-a- 'A % 'T3S o.
Car use on connecting roads, 1.2s7 Il
Mail transportation, Ias = p. 11'200 O
Eastern Express Company t..f 5000 o.
-i'-i'a.'.-
$524, a25
Rents, '615 S,
Military service, 5,39s 81
Total earnings, $3.50, 3ls Il
Deduct WOrkinO exnanses. c3pa O = I