Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-11-20
Grice of the Union Car works at Ports


mouth.
I desire to say here that these are,
think, the best and most substantial
freight cars [ have ever seen on any road
They are thirty feet long aud will carr,
thirty to thirty-fye bales Of cotton-hav.
very strong iron trucks with Jision Spring
(steel and wool
! Ihey are giving US great satisfaction
and can recommend these works, respec
lively, to the confidence of Railroad man
ayers.
The "Orange" is now completely re
built, and the ''Goldsboro', for the Brancl
Road, under way. We hope to complete
two more of the war-worn Engines during
the year.
Oar motive power and rolling stock are
sufficient for our probable wants this year
We have 175 box cars and sixty (60) fiat
cars, and propose to build twenty five
new flats, and twenty five box cars during
the ensuing year, with probably two pas
senger cars.
Cars of special construction will be re-
quired for strawberries and other delicate
fruits and for all vegetables especial ar
rangements must be made for ventilation.
This subject will, however, require a
special report at future day.
TRANSPORTATION.
The great decrease in travel, local as well
as through, is only one more Indication o1
the great poverty of our people. We have
had our full share of the through business,
and no doubt the local travel has been as
good as that on other Railroads in the
State, and generally in the South.
When causes for this falling off in passen-
ger receipts shall be removed. prosperity
oIon
full share of income from this source.
On the freight or tonnage receipts we
can truly congratulate the owners of the
property on the real value of their invest
ment as indicated by it. An increase in re-
ceipts of $51, 260 81 in one year from freight
ansportation-and that year of great
depression throughout our country-is a
most encouraging feature ; especially SO,
as it Is from new source, and of q kind
that must greatly increase as the country
rises from its present poverty. In fact,
the increased receipts from through f'eights
are greater than the net increase-as our
local business has not maintained itself
NORTH CAROLINA RAILROAD FREIGHTs.
The item of through freight that passed
over part of this road for the North
Carolina road, during the fiscal year, was
$45, ,271 20. This sum would have been
considerably larger, but for the new and
partial arrangement that was made by the
new management Of that Road, in July
last, by which portion of their line was
only partially worked.
The anomalous position taken by the
management of that Company cannot long
continue to exist before an enlightened
public, and we may therefore earnestly
hope that an early day will bring change
mutually beneficial to both companies
When this shall have been accomplished,
we may confidently calculate our receipts
at $50, 600 to $75, 600 per annum, from this
source alone.
THROUGH FREIGHT SOUTH.
Oar through freight receipts to this
place, and points stuth and west, were
$26, Ol3 OF (north SIC. 728 90, south &c.
2S5 02,) and they have steadily increased,
and must, when the connecting lines are
ton with quick dispatch, become source
of large income to the Company,
But for the want OF harmonious cooper
alton on the part of the management of
the South Carolina r. r. Co., and conse-
quent imperfect connection with Colum-
bia, S. c., and Augusta, Ga, by which we
could reach those cities and places beyond,
as far west as the Alabama River, our re-
ceipts this year would have been very con-
siderably larger than they are now.
Gen. Malone is now illustrating what
consolidation and harmonious co-opera-
ton can do for cheap and rapid transpor
tation.
His line is delivering merchandise, and
taking cotton between New York and At
Ianta, and points west, over the Blue
Ridge via Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
distance greater by sixty miles than by
our line to the same point while ours is
around the mountains where the same eng inc
can haul two cars, while over his route it
can haul but one.
With all these natural advantages. why
should we lay supinely on our backs and
allow energy and determined perseverance
to carry off the increased benefits that be-
long to our line.
Why not SO consolidate and harmonize
our Atlantic lines, or the working of them,
as to accomplish much greater results p
We have much greater facilities, as well as
many natural advantages, in our favor.
This subject claims your special and
early attention.
NEW TRAFFIC-FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.
The work of inaugurating this new busi-
ness was commenced in April last, by means
of our regular day passenger train, and by
that train alone it has been carried sue
cessfully through to the first of October.
It was not supposed there could be much
done the first year, beyond making be-
ginning.
We have, however, transported more
than (12,O0O) thousand barrels lin bulk) OF
vegetables and fruit to market, that have
brought back TO the State not less than one
hundred thousand dollars.
Ii this is but the beginning-the morn
iag-what is to be the full noon-d day of this
traffic
There should be ten times as many bar
rels sent off the coming season-say 12O,-
900 barrels, and ten times as much received
for them, or $1,OOO,OOO and all this with
comparatively a small outlay.
The receipts from this transportation
this year were about $4,000, and il ten
times as large next season it will reach at
least $50, 600.
The receints of ST 600 600 of dollars by