The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-26
The Eastern Railroad.

The following copied from the Salem Gazstt,
viii, be of interest to our readers low tina
all the people are looking to our new railroad
enterprises as a source of profit as well as ben
eft to our city. 1t will be seen that all esti
mates of passenger and freighs receipts fai
far below the actual results:
The rapid growth Of this road, which is ro
coguized as one of the finest in the country
and OF great value to those on its line, l.
shown in the immense travel and the vast
amount of freight daily transported to and
from Boston, and over its track between here
and Po'tland, and by the beautiful and com
modious station houses all along its location
| One cannot be at our depot any morning with
out fully appreciatng the usefulness of this
road, and the great amount Of business, and
the incalculable convenience it promotes aud
provides for A glance at the past ard present
of the Eastern Road excites ieelin of Won
der at its rapid aud surprising growth.
Col. John Nj. Fessenden, the engineer who
projected this road, made his first report to
the committee for obtaining money, and ma
turing plans for starting it, saying, "As to
the amount of business which it would be
safe TO calculate upon, for revenue of the road
at the commencement Of its operation, L have
no means OF judging, except from the reports
heretofore made to the Legislature, and from
the business done on other roads in the vicn-
ity, the latter showing only the disposition of
the public to avail themselves Of the advan-
tages which railroads offer; and from these
data 1t would be quite safe to expect it to
equal, per year-as follows: 10000 passengers
and $4,000 IONS of merchandise.
Yielding gross income OF $4,000
Expense OF $4,000
Net income s131 600
This was calculated for the whole line of
road, and only 6 trains day were to be run
between Boston and Salem
The original equipment consisted of loco
motives, 20 passenger ears, and 100 merchan-
disc cars, all o. which were very small COM
pared with those of the present DAY. and in
convenient aud uncomfortable as they were
small.
In 1859, about 20 years after the road was
put in operation, the increase Of its business
had been great. Its gross income was, tnat
year,
sess 900
Expenses, 367 900
Net income, ss26 900
The equipments then was, 26 engines, DC
passenger cars, 300 merchandise cars. There
was carried over the road, 1,415,6O0 passengers
ia 800 tons of merchandise.
The greatest increase OF its prosperity has
oeen during the last ten Years, under the ad-
ministratioD of its present officers.
This road, 30 years old, and Sc miles long
carried the last year, 1868, over its own proper
gers, and 281 800 tons of merchandise. The
present result is more than % times the origi-
nally estimated passenger travel, and more
than 10 times the then estimated freight of
merchandise.
The gross receipts last year, 1868, were
Sl,452,000, being more than seven times the
estimate.
The company now owns 43 locomotives, 73
passenger cars, and 66e merchandise cars.
During the last lew years it has built over all
Its bridges, and laid much double and side
track. II has a machine shop at East Boston.
equal % any In the State, building its own To-
comotlves, which are the best on the road.
AT the car shops on Bridge street, in Salem
1t nuilds superb cars. The establishment there
Is very compleIe, in which have been built,
rebuilt, and repaired, 800 cars of all kinds.
There now run On this road daily 16 trains of
passenger cars each way, equal for strength.
beauty, and comfort to any IN the country.
Altogether, the managers OF the road, we
thihk, nave shown an enterprise and realized
results richly deserving the high commenda-
tion they daily receive.
The pro- perlty OF the Eastern Railroad, dur
ing the past ten years, is mainly owing to the
poiicy pursued under its faithful and able
President, and his associates in its boards OF
directors com mbining caution with c, urage, a
viSilant care for the rights of its stock holders,
with liberal regard tor the public aceommO-
daiIoD. Whatever Improvement is needed is
not postponed until surplus is accumulated
to meet the required expenditure, but the
credit OF the road is used to make it without
delay. An increased business not only dis
charges the temporary burden, but with it a
portion OF previous Indebtedness, so that the
prospect OF an entire ultimate discharge of its
obligations ls rendered more sure, and the
time brought nearer when the whole property
VIII be unencumbered. Fares will then be re-
duced without wrong to its owners, and meal.
culable benefit to the public in all its intere. ts
The good feeling with which the road is re-
gaIded by the travelling public and the com
munitIes along its route, is also in great de-
gree owing 10 the promp ness, energy and
courtesy OF its superintendent, and the atten-
ton to the wants and comfort of passengers
constantly paid by its civil and gentlemanly
conductors aud all employed in the busizess
OF transporting passengers or freight.
How far the growth of this seaboard section
OF New Ecgland in population, business and
TsaIth. is owing to the Eastern Railroad and
districts or-codasp, p, Interesting inquiry. All
tersect them, keep pace in n-'tEaads that in.
bear each other on indefinitely.