Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-01-16

troll Of the Road, since which time
he has remained in that position,
A careful analysis of the annual
reports of the present Company
show the following financial results
since the re-olgadization:
YEAR, RECEIPTS, DISBURSEMENTS. SURPLUS.
1864 $500, 7l8 10 S256 200 II Sii, 400 b8
1865 866,125 u 3220l9 ~ N, ,10G 30
1866 S64,s7O 5s 82a43s so 1887 20
1t is believed that the excess of
receipts over expenditures for the
year 1867 will be considerably more
than during any previous year in the
history of the Road,
The value of the property has
been largely enhanced under the able
and judicious management of Mr..
Gest. The road bed is now one of
the smoothest and safest in the
State, and will compare favorably
with the best and most productive
Roads. The condition of the roll
ing stock has been greatly improved
and is now safe and adequate for
the business of the Line. But the
greatest improvement is noticeable
in the engines. Three of the old
ones have been substantially rebuilt.
Two new and powerful first class
freight engines have been construct
ed at the Company's shops and are
now on the Line in constant USE
Without the two last it would have
been difficult, If not impossible, to
have successfully moved the freight
on the Road during last summer
and the present winter. Notwith-
standing the business during this
period has been larger, more regu-
lar and more pressing than ever
heretofore, yet it has been moved
with a dispatch and freedom from
accident or delay, equally crafty
ing to shippers and the Manage
ment
Thus it will be seen that the Road
although not at all what it would
be if completed--in spite of its
early endorsements, its isolated
condition and the inimical position
of some of its earlier friends, is
gradually but surely emerging from
its troubles, and is even now on
footing to begin to make terms for
itself.
The people on the Line should
remember that the Road was built
for, and is operated for their bene
fit. Without it, cities, towns and
country, through which it passes,
would cease growth, and depreciate
in value Of property to the standard
of twenty years ago. AS an invest
ment, it has but small value to its
owners. 1t does not earn three per
cent. on its bonded debit pays
nothing to the stockholders. Then
to whom is it valuable? Certainly |
not to those who own it. Only to
those who use it for travel and com
merce. Let those who cayil reflect
on this.
The accommodations of the Road
are not all that the Management
could desire, but they are all that
its revenue can afford. Then, mas
much as these facts are favorable to
us-more favorable than we had
hoped for-let all cooperate to
sustain, build up and finally COM
plete a great work, long since be-
gun, long under a cloud, but ulti-
mately TO become a channel through
which the ruts of commerce shall
be so deeply cut, that nothing shall
turn it aside from being great Ma
tional highway. So shall success
come at last and vindicate the sa-
gacity and labor OF those who con-
ceived the line, and whose untiring
zeal, in its earlier history, has made
its final completion possible.