The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-05
Easferu ~. Road.

Below viii be found the statistics Of the East
ern X. r., for the last year. A glance at the
past and the present Of this road eIcites won
der at its rapid and surprising growth. In the
report Of the engineer who projected this road,
for obtaining money and maturing plans for
starting II, VIC find this stated:
"As to the amount Of business which 1t
would DO safe TO calculate upon, for revenue OF
the rad, Mt the commencement OF its operations
| have no means Of judging. except hom the re
ports heretofore made TO the Legislature, and
from the business done on other roads in the VI
cinity; the latter showing only the disposition
of the public 10 avail themselves OF advantages
which railroads offer and from these data II
would be quite safe TO expect II to equal per
year as follows: 10000 passengers, $1,000
tons Of merchandise, yielding q gross income
Of Sl9l 900
E,,.,.s ca 10000
N,t income Sl3l 900
The original equipment consisted Of s lOcomo-
tiyes, % passenger cars, and 100 merchandise
cars, all CT which were very small compared
with those Of the present day. and announcement
and uncomfortable rs they were small. In 1859,
about 20 years after the road was put in opera
ton, the increase Of its business had been great
Its gross income, that year, sO9S,Ooo
Expenses, oo"VVV
Net income. $780, o5
The equipment then was, &c engines, 46 pas
scngcr cars, 800 merchandise cars. There were
carried over the road, 49, coo passengers, and
ia 800 tons Of merchandise. The greatest in
crease Of its prosperity has been during the last
ten years, under the administration Of its pres
ent officers.
This road, 80 years old, and So miles long,
carried the last year 1853, over its own proper
track, and its branehcs, over 3,JOO,OOO passen-
gers, and 23l 800 tons Of merchandise. The
present result is more than % times the origin
ally estimated passenger travel, and mon than
10 times the then estimated freight Of mcrchand-
i.c. The gross receipts last year, 1868, vert
sl,i52,Ooo. being more than seven times the e.
innate. Tire company nov owns ~ locomotives
80 passenger cars. and 6G6 merchandise cars.
During the last few years it has built over all
it, bridges, and l,ii much double and side track
A cOtemporary speaking Of the Eastern we'll
says;
The prosperity Of the Eastern Railroad, dur
ing the p~t ten years, u mainly owing to the
policy pursued under its faithful and able Prs
dent. and his associates in its Board 81 Direc-
tors-comsining caution with courage, yigi-
liant care for the rights Of its stockholders,
with liberal regard Cor the public aceomn'cls-
ton. Whatever improvement Is needei Is not
postponed until n surplus il accumulated to
meet the required expenditure, but the credit Of
the rad |. used TO make Il without delay. An
incrr>rci businc not only discharges the tenn
porary burden, but with il q portion Of previous
Indebtedness, 20 that the prospect Of an entire
ultimate discharge Of It's obligations h rendered
more SURF, and the time brought nearer when
the whole company will be unincumbcrcd.
Ysres will then be reduced without wrong to
its owners, and with incalculable benefit 10 the
public In all It's interests. The good feeling
with which the road Is regarded by the travel
ling public, and the communities along Its route,
Is also, In great degree, owing to the prompt
ness, energy and courtesy Of Its Superintendent,
and the attention to the wants and com fort Of
passengers constantly paid,by Its civil and gen
tlemanly CONDUCTOR. and all employed in the
business Of transporting passengers or freight.
We give synopsis Of the report Of the Di-
rcctOr. At the annual meeting on Monday
George NJ. Browne, Samuel Hooper. Nathaniel
Thaycr. Franklin Haven and Benjamin L.
Bates Of Boston; VIM. L. Dwight Of Ports
mouth; Henry L. Williams Of Salem, were
chosen DIRECTORS, and they were authorized to
issue bonds to the amount Of $1,000, 900 10
meet the roads Indebtedness.