The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-14
Portland & Kennebec Railroad.

| Portland & Kenne5ec Railroad.
Ibe annual meeting Of the above named cor
poration was held at the depot in this city yes
terday afternoon, the President, R. d. Rice, in
the chair. The old Board of Directors con
sisting of Darius Alden, John b. Brown' rnl'
lander Coburn, H. N. Jose, Geo. M. f't'en'
Richard D. Rice, VIM. D. Sewall, George Il.
Shepley and N. NJ. Whtmore, were reelected.
At subsequent meeting OF the directors, II.
D. Rice was reelected President; Lew L. Lin
coin. Superintendent; John s. Gushing, Secre-
tary and Treasurer; j. W. Clapp, General
Ticket Agent; A. Hersey, General Freight
Agent
From the Directors Report we learn that
the earnings of the road the past year have
been greater than in previous years, notwith-
standing their losses from flood and fire, which
have caused great destruction of property and
interruption of business The wooden bridge
over the Kennebec, carried away by the freshet
of February last, has been replaced by an iron
one of great strength and durability. The
| bridge cost-contract price together with other
expenses, repairing, engineering etc.-$119,-
6S5 43 While building, some seven months.
the cost for transportation by teams and car
|
want of the bridge, $2494s; making $40, 95s %
loss for seven months to the read from want of
the bridge The bridge now completed is a
splendid affair, doing credit to the contractors.
| who have been charged by the company $4O92,-
W, for not finishing it at the time agreed upon.
Losses by fire have been covered by insurance
Extensive repairs have been made and to the
rolling stock has been added two new engines,
one new passenger car, one baggage and thirty
| freight cars. The trains have been run during
the year 46,955 miles, divided as follows: Pas
senger trains, 18O,996; freight, 201OsO; gravel
and wood, 1879; at cost of $1.15 per mile,
being all increase of G. 199 miles run over last
| year, and at cost of two cents per mile more
| than last year. Number of passengers trans
ported, 362 27O, which is equal to S,033, 844 for
one mile each, and at an average of IL cents
per mile for each passenger. The average dis
lance travelled per passenger has been % 610
miles. The earnings from passengers per mile
run has been 81 55. The cars have carried
1T, 618 10-100 tons of freight equal to "a 847
tons fo1 one mile, at an average of IA cents
per ton per mile. Total earnings OF the road,
$645,064 C5; total running expenses, $479, 541.92
The city and town loan issued twenty years
ago in aid Of this road, to the amount of $780,
600, matured on the 1st of Nov emher last;
$615, 700 of this loan has already been paid and
Cancelled by the company, and the funds have
been provided to pay the balance on presenta-
ton.
The road was leased to the Maine Central
Railroad Company on the 18th of May last,
and has been operated on account of that COM
pany, although the old organization and sep
arate system of accounts has been maintained
to the end of the year. From and after the LIST
of January, 1871, the two companies will be
operated practically as one, this organization
being maintained only to preserve its corporate
existence.
From the Treasurer's Report we learn that
the receipts the last year have been $645064O5,
against 1851 70 the preceding year; and de-
Quoting the operating expenses and and United
States excise tax, the net earnings are $780,
O1S87, against $216 416 GO in 1869. The receipts
from other sources have been $557 619 81, which
added to the net earnings gives SIT y638 80; de-
ducs from this the interest on stock bonds and
loans, together with rent of Somerset & Ken
nebec railroad, amounting to $2O5 800 81, and
it leaves $5l2 PAT 81; deduct from this $423,-
636.33 for sinking fund, locomotives, cars, iron
bridge, city and town loan, Portland loan,
funded interest and first mortgage bonds, and
leaves $88, 6l1.4S; add balance of 1869 report,
$S6,023 85, aud you get STA 635 80, and add
$14 91456 for amount due Maine Central for
wood and outstanding coupons, and you have
$1s9, 54989 There is for assets $112,6O5 50 cash
on hand, and 1914 30 in wood and coal, stock
and 6nQ IN ha in oil
$1S9, $780,
The Railroad Commissioners fed the road in
good order and safe condition.
THE PEOPLES CoNcERrs.-The introducto-
ry of the four popular concerts to be given by
our home talent, came off last evening at the
City Hall. Ard it was refreshing to notice
that the large hall was well filled with an in
tellectual and appreciative audience. 1t is
shown that the people do love music, and they
love our native Portland singers, too, and will
turn out to hear them. The concert opened
by good quintette, and then Mrs. Wetherbee,
ever popular and beautiful, sang "Mac Gre
gor's Gathering" with characteristic effect; so
much SO that she was heartily and justly en-
cored, and sung sweet nightingale song. The |
trio, Hank the Curfew," and Don:zetti's |
duet, 'Sol campo dello," were both excellent |
in their way. The comic piece, composed by |
native Portlander, Edward Howe Jr., in de- |
rison of tobacco, was capital; so thought the |
audience, and so similar drinking song was |
sung on an encore. "Lfe's Bumper" was |
well sung and much applauded. One of the
most beautiful pieces was the song by Doni-
zetti given. by Mrs. Wethcrbee, full of sub
dued feeling. Mr.. Monroe sung the song, "No
tongue can tell" remarkably well and Justly
had to repeat it, The trio, Ave Verun was
very sweet and one of the best on the pro-
gramme Another trio, "'Twas night" was
touching and beautiful. Then came the quar-
tette, Soldiers Love- Characteristic fare
we'll to "The Girl left behind me" very pop
ular The Ave Maria was given by the whole |
quintette as a concluding piece. Mrs. Shaw
accompanied very finely, not drowning the
vocalism as some pianists do. We conGratu-
late the enterprising managers upon the sue
cess of this attempt to afford excellent music
to the people at small price. And we assure
the public that the next concert to be given in
fortnight will be better, or at least haps
more exciting and enjoyable than even the
first; and they will 60 on in interest until the
elimination at the fourth, when we predict
such an immense popular demonstration as We
have not seen for many day.
The man who makes two blades of grass to
grow where one grew before is entitled to our
gratitude; but the man who produces two ears
OF corn where one grew last year is benefac-
tor Of his race. Mr.. Knapp, who advertises in
our columns this morning, has shown us stalks
of corn of several varieties on which from two
to thirteen ears grew last year, and he adver-
tises for agents to sell the perfected seed. The
new method is curious and will interest the
farmer and gardener. II is produced by
method some what like that of grating fruit
trees, and will repay the examination Of those
who have love for the wonderful.
SUBSCRIBERS to the Odd Fellows Assemblies
are reminded that the second Assembly will
take place this Tuesday evening, Feb. 14th.
Snriefy Tusf0uus.