The New York herald., 1870-01-21
The Facts and Figures OF the Last Fiscal
Year-Jay Gould TO the Public-The
Improvements and Additions to the
notwithstanding Details for
the hslders Of Erie.
THE STRIKE OF THE ERIE EMpL OYES.
No Sympathy With the Strikers in the Shops
Along the Line

operations OF the road for the lsca year ending sep
bember 80, 1862 In view OF the widespread interest
In Erie The facts II presents OF more than ordi-
mary Importance
To THE STOCKHOLDERS ERIE RAILWAY
SO much has been written and sai1 both for ana
against the present management OF the Erie Rail-
way that deem II proper IN presenting IL summary
OF the business OF the last scai year, TO take The
opportunity OF giving TO tine stockholders me follow
lng account OF wnat has peen ACCOMPLISHED in the
way OF Improvement TO their property anu the
establishment OF a reliable ana profitable business
for the future. IL rs something over year since
present management came INTO power.
CONDITION OF the Road
1t that time was not such as 10 attract
or the shippers OF the products ol Eastern manu-
factories and OF Importers 70 the Western
States, and Of the prooucts or the lest 10 the
Eastern markets. lhe iron used III the IT,. & had
been OF an interior quality aud was much OF !. worn
out and unsafe: tns, coupled with the accident at
Carr's Rock the Previous spring, was inJurns the
business ol The ROAD uotn passenger ana lreght, to
such an extent tnat felt II my duty 10 adopt the
most eneeive measures Al once. by careful inquiry
into the experience Of European railways
IN the use OF Steel rails, ana oi the opera
lions or the lew tons lnat mad been iald on thls
railway the previous year iuly sallslieu myself
20 their great durability anu strength, ana Of tile
necessity OF using thea on the Eastern portion
OF the road where the very heavy traic ahd nature
OF the roadDed operates so dlsastgoGsy TO the iron
rails. We have laid the Eastern ana Delaware
divisions nearly loo miles OF solo steel rals-ten
miles OF American MANUFACTURE ana the remainder
procured from the best ex xpefielced manufacturers
or England. The very great first cost Of these
solid eel rais-belng more tnan twice the cost
OF iron ralls-consIfalnea me TO Investigate
whether q middle course could not be adopted
with advantage and economy; ana Wh,le on
the subject was brought III communication with
Mi. ADTam s. Hewitt, Oh the firm OF Cooper liew-
lit, who mad just returned from Europe, where he
went as one OF the United States Commissioners 10
the "Expositlon Unlverselle ? ana was t1en prepar
ing to manufacture tine trenton mil steei-headed
rais. Whlle IN Europe Mr. Hewitt had superior
facilities Tor the investigation OF subject O steel
headed ras at the various places OF manufacture as
regards the process and at the places where they
were used as regards their service, and their
reauve value as compared with iron ana with
solid steel rails, and | avai!ed myself OF
che favorable opportunity TO secure the
information and experience by making contract
with MS frm ~ which we became JOINT owners
with them In the Trenton Mill where, during the
past year. they have been rolling these rails for us
IN all about IL, 600 tons l20 miles, and lar the
result OF their wear are emnentiy satisfactory we
have laid in all during tie past year. including the
steel and steel beaded rails, about 400 miles OF new
track. The present condition OF our track is equal
not superior 10 any in the country and Lne repula
0n OF the road In this respect fully established
~ fully demonstrated by our large and constantly
increasing passenger traffic by december IL 1870,
We hope TO get the Eastern and Delaware
divisions, which have the heavy coal traffic OF the
Pennsy ivania Coal Company and the delaware and
Hudson Canal Company entirely relald with steel
which, though OF greater cost in the first Instance
A safest ana cheapest IN the end and VIII enable
us TO largely reduce the expenses Of keeping our
track.
IRON BRIDGES.
Ny attention at The time has been called
70 the matter VI the bridges, which, being OF
wood, require frequent renewals, and the
increasing scarcity OF suitable timber along
our line enhances their cost from year TO year.
and we have concluded to adopt iron bridges for all
future renewals where the proper found atlons for
permanent piers ana abutments be obtained.
During the past season. In addition several small
bridges, we nave had built an iron Dildge $50 Ieet
lOng-f0ur spans-fOr the crossing Of the Susque-
hanna river, just west OF SusquehaLna Depot, whcn
Is now being placed IN position. With steel rails
and iron bridges for q permanent way, can
safely predict large reduction Of expenses even with
An increasing business.
LOCOMOTIVES
The present management found the locomotive
equipment very worn and unservccaDle condi-
and mainta by patching, that q large proper
ton required new bollers and fire boxes, ana many
entire rebullaing-the old machines being worth
only the old scrap, but standing on che books and
records Of the company rs so many engines. These
old engines have received the necessary attention
as fast possible for shops take them ln and
they nave been overnaued and entire new engines
An many cases turned out. with the same desgnat-
1ng number, the whole expense being chargad to
repairs. As additional equipment We have pur-
chased from Paterson locomotive manufactures
cred present contracts and they are coming
along at the rate OF about four per week.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
During the fiscal year ending september 30-
Number of passengers carried in car. as4,3is ssSls
a,s: !sss2ss. q; i:s1s1ss
10 accommodate tbe increasing passenger busI-
ness OF the road, and also to keep pace with our
competitors, we are rapidly replacing old
passenger equipment by new COACHES OF the best
approved style OF construction. We are also adding
palace drawingroom coaches TO our day trains
and have found them to be u popular feature OF
road.
FREIGHT TRAwIc.
Number OF ~ns of freight
Total number OF tons carried one
- ,: Soesss SIX sSslso
To accommodate this large business we have mada
vored to keep up to the wants and Requirements OF
our local business as well as the through business
very important feature OF our freight business
The Erie Railway Will. hope, IN short time be-
come one or the most important coal carrying roads
In the country. THIS business Is very desirable. 1t
ts gwen to us In fu trains and the rates good
During the year we have renewed the contract
with the Pennsylvania Coal Company and increased
the quantity 10 be transported for them annually
from 900 600 to 100000 tons, commencing Decem
We have also concluded a contract with the Le-
nlgn and Susquehanna Coal Company for period OF
Sweny years, with gradually increasing tonnage
commencing at 10000 ana running up to 100000
tons annually from Honcsdale TO New York.
Under the present management this COMPANY has
OBTAINED control Dy perpetual lease OF the JefIcr.
son Railroad, extending IRON Hawley 10 Honesdale
where II connects the Erie system OF roads with
those OF the Delaware and Hudson Canal Cou,l,auy
This road was completed and opened for coal tralic
In January last since which time we have received
from that company large and constantly
increasing business. We are now loading at Homes.
dale nom 200 to 800 cars per day. | estimate that
u the year 1870 ought TO lake from 4 900 900 TO
$500, 900 tons OF anthracite coal from Hawley and
.Honesdale TO Underwater. We certainly DO SO II
we can provide the cars and engines and hope no.
10 default on that account.
Early In my connection with this company |
became convinced that from the geographical
position OF our road and the many advantages
offered by 1t to tina. END t should do the carry ing of
the largest part OF the anthracite coal consumed In
kne western part OF this State wen that
the Western States by the lakes. on assuming
the presidency OF the company at once commenced
action TO secure that trade which l considered so
very desirable as 1t would be reliable, constant aud
increasing, aud the haul would be long and the
revenue large. Negotiations were opened WITH the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western Railroad CouI-
pany whose road connects with ours at Great Bend,
aud the terms OF O contract to run number OF
years. for the transportation OF large amount OF coal
20 Buffalo, q distance or I'D miles, were all agreed
upon. And, though the agreement was not exc
cuted negotiations had proceeded far that ship
mcnts were commenced, and we had constructed
more than 100 cars OF the large NUMBER we were 10
build and mark 3D., L. & W. for that line when
yhat company concluded an arrangement with the
Syracuse and Blnghamton Railroad, and the agree
nent with Us was not executed nor carried out.
IL then became necessary for us IN order to secure
any OF this trade and assume the position to which
we are entitled By reason OF our line, TO form some