Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-07

In last years report We took up each OF the
different lines and described them-tha year we
shall only glance at any changes or extensions
that may have been made.
THE PHILADELPHIA WILMINGTON Il BALTIMORE R. r.
The business Of this road has greatly increas-
ed during the past year aud it's facilities have also
been correspondingly increased. During the
year 1t has opeped ltr new double track line
known as tho Darby Improvement from near
Chester to Philadelphia aud has sold it's old line
from Chester to Philadelphia to the Philadelphia
X Reading II. II. 90. The travel over this road
IL enormous, seyenty-two trains being run each
day. Located on tho line from Washington to
New York between the twogreat corporations con-
testing for that trade, it occupies exceedingly
difficult position. Surface indications have ap.
peared several times during the past year of cor
porate stpggles ont OF sight, but as yet no great
change has been made permanently-and time
alone can tell the outside public what Will be the
result of this war OF the giants" In any event
this corporation upon which we so much depend
and whose interests are 30 closely allied to
our own, has resources of its own entirely indie
pendent OF any outside connection, and az a To-
cal road has the means to do all we need It to do
without any corporation in connection. 1t has
the shortest possible line that can profitahly be
worked between Pha. Il Baltimore. two large
and powerful cities, and controls tho entire
trade OF this Peninsula resources enough il all
its connections outside were utterly broken.
THE DELAWARE RAILROAD.
This road, also operated by the p W. Il b II.
R. Co., has largely increased its facilities, and
has met with corresponding increase Of bust
| ness. This is the great centre OF the II. II
| system Of the Peninsula aud bids fair to be a
road of great profit to its owners aud great im.
portance to our city.
This road suffered great loss some months
since, in the destruction of several mea OF it's
track during the great storm in August last
| The damage is now, however, nearly repaired,
and business is going oa as usual along its line.
THE WILMINGTON & READING RAILROAD.
This road is about to sever its bonds of depen-
| dence upon hostile corporation for business,
| and to put both ends Of its road in the hands OF
i its friends. The Berks County Railroad Oompa-
/ ny, which is tho name of the extension OF this
road, and Ia now building, connects with the Will
| mington 4 Reading ut Birdsboro, and runs thence
through Reading TO station called Slatington on
| the Lebigh Valley Road thus furnishing another
/ competing line to the splendid coal regions Of
| the Lehgh and Schuylkill Valleys This has
been accomplished under tho strongest OPPOSE
/ ton from the Philadeph Il Reading Railroad
Co., but it is a fixed fact, and howeverit may
| affect the profits of either corporation, VIII
mington will certainly be benefited by the com
petition. We trust that the Wilmington Il Read
ing will be able 10 succeed in its effort to give
cheap coal, and that it will prepare to make this
| a shipping point for tho distribution Of coal to
other parts Of the country. Another year will de-
eide whether this project is success or not.
THE WILMINGTON Il WESTERN R. r..
This new road commenced running in October
last and has been operated az yet only as local
road and therefore has not FULFILLED the expec-
| tations OF its projectors. The Penna IL Del.
road with which this road connects at Landen-
| berg has not for some reason mot generally
un1erstood) been operated as yet. although it
was generally supposed that it would be trnish-
| ed and running before the completion Of
the W. Il w. road. 1t is thought by many that
this delay is intended 10 reduce the W. *
road to poverty, 30 that it may fall an easy prey
to some large corporation that wants 1t for its
connection with tide water in this city. Whether
this is the case or not will soon appear. Whether
the road proves a profitable Investment to its
projectors or not it can but prove to be beneficial
to Wilmington. 1t is we'll built and can be prof.
tably operated as a local road, when extended
further west as 1t will in all probability be before
long. The country through which it runs ID
rich in agricultural resources and abounda in
deposits of kaolin and limestone Its freight
business is fair as a local road and western con.
nection will in all probability make it at leas
self-sustaining.
THE CITY.
The changes, additions, and Improvement
made to the buildings Of our city have been
nearly as numerous as in any preceding year, a
will DO seen by reference to the tables in the re
port. The change OF the cnrb-stone market
; from Market street to King street. while it hai
not apparently affected the business of Marke
, street, has perceptibly improved the business o
King street The work on new streets has beer
vigorously pushed forward, aud about the usua
| nuuDef OF new houses Dult. Inc city mas great
!, | ly improved its facilities for supplying Brandy
. wine water by the erection Of No. Worthing
. ton pump, capable OF pumping four million
y gallons per day. This with the old pumps make
Il the total pumping capacity of the Water Work
eight millions gallons per day. The presen
average consumption of water is but two mill
, ions and half gallons per day. A new reservoi
. is about being built capable of holding about on
= hundred millions of gallons. Therefore we hay
Y the gratifying fact that our supply Of water wi
be sufficient for many years to come and the ful
- ture growth Of the city well provided for. o
y the whole there is, notwithstanding the gloom
70 condition of business at this particular time
- nothing that need discourage us about our city
% but much to encourage us to continue to labo
- and have faith.
y STATISTICS.
r We submit below table Of statistics whic
re can be relied on as not oyerstated, althoug
y compiled principally by a comparison wit
,r other years. While the profits Of the businet
If of the last year may not have been equal to tina
~ of some of the preceding years. the amount G
ID business has on the whole, increased as a care
ne full ii quiry has proved. This is true Of nearl
r every branch OF business in the tables. Nel
o year we shall have some valuable additions
make to the tables with regard to iron, as int
d. mated in another part OF this report.
az Some OF the items in these tables may not b
understood when compared with the tables
Mt last year. 1t will be noticed that last year
II the column OF Capital Employed" the capt.
A. Of some new firms was included but not the
ty production, 30 that THIS year ulnerence VIII
noticed in the column Of ''Vaue OF Articl,
I'd Manufactured" We have endeavored to max
H. the calculations as correct possible, and the
in will, think, be found not over but rather III
NV der stated The estimated annual increase
m population is made by assuming five inhabtan
or to every new building built.
ny STATISTICAL TABLES.
IT. Table showing Capital employed, and va'ue Of ar
ng oles produced annually, In the City Of Wilmingt
IL ami suburbs.
AT Value
H. Articles Manufactured. Capital Article
-. Empl yed Manuf
NJ Powder and Chemicals, 81 400 OGO 81 1000
It's Paper, 100000 1,2 OF
%. COttod Goods, lUO0tOO 1,iOO.(
IN. | Railroad Cars, 500 orc 2,0O0I
IL. IrnD-Shp buidlng, 100000 1,20O,C
M | Machine WoIk, 1870 0O1 2900,C
he morocco. 7bDOUO 1,T5O,'
i.s Carriages, 10000 1.sOO,C
We Flour, Corn Meal, &c, 400 0OO 800
M Leather-other than Morocco, sbDt0) $40
of Iron, 10000 1'30O(
he Foundry Work and Car Wheels, 4OO,eJO 10000
lit Tobacco, Snuff Spc' 3, PLrlor
ia Matches, $4,000 700,C
~ Sash, Blinds &C., 10000 250,C
al Bricks, lbUOf0 1OOt
in Boots and sh 'es, 100 700 1;Ot
nd Fertilizers, 25O,OUO 600
a Miscellaneous mot above emu.
Tor merated,j / 200 900 $500
- $l26l5t 90 SlgI bL'