New-York tribune., 1874-02-10

NESS OF THE RoAD-ENCoURAGISd srATIsTICs-
IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS.
(BY rzLEGRAPH ro rHE TRrBUsE.l
BosrON, Feb. "a circular has been issued
TO the stockholders OF the Michigan Central Railroad by
the President e says that the track bad been
contemplated had been completed and the whole line
4, In "frstolass order" All the Old line Is % steel
cept s5 miles. Tho double track Is all steel Tho road
Ia IN q condition TO do all s enlarged business
with and economy and will be adequate to tho
demands upon It for many years to come. Owing
several causes tho business OF the last SIX months
has not been such might reasonably have been
expected. From troubles arising between tho trunk
routes 80 called from ew-Yorkiwest all West bound
business from that city has been doae at very low rates.
and for large portion OF the time at considerably ess
than half the regular tariff. This has caused large
falling of in both the gross and net receipts from that
business. The Eastbound business in tho month OF
August and the early part OF September promised TO be
very largo and 60 during the first half of the latter
month During week the Increase OF business
the corresponding week Of the year before was
nearly $4,000 At that time tho panic occurred aud the
whole increase lost the next week
Tho in the gross business of tho road for tho
six months ending with November. notwithstanding
these dlculties been t624s 65, During the same
time the local freight earnings and the earnings on
westbound through freight have fallen of NsiS4 A.
The increase therefore, Is through Eastern business
aud during that period s2ss.9i2 97 With the Gus
tomory rates the usual WestbouDd business and ord
nary local traffic. the should have been nearly
100000 The month OF December and the hrst tbree
weeks In January, on tho main line. showed reyiying
business During those seven weeks the increase was
s2 ss9 0s or this s7O35 97 vas from passengers and
s95 800 from freight The gross increase of business
for the last year from Jan 70 Dec 3D. was s262sl03o
The number of tons OF freight for the las. six months
ending Nov. 30 moved the road was 95.26l oenS
increase the corresponding period Of the year
before OF 1888 tons There has been great depression
in the lumber traffic during tho whole year,
and almost total suspension during tue
months OF September, October, aud November. which
still continues. That business has not yet felt the sm
uus Of the reyivng confidence and the business OF the
branches has not increased 80 rapidly a. on the man
line Should the cOntempa atei road from Mtcknac 20
Marquette be built the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw
road will become horoughfare for business and travel
hardly second to suy in the West. The improvements
upon the Great Western Railway which connects the
Michigan Central with tho New-York Central and
the Erie aud is tho natural ally OF this Com
pany from rs position and location have been
fully as extensive as those upon the Michigan Central
Its now road from Glencoe connects the latter line with
all roads terminating at Buffalo, and has also copnec'
ton with ito own air lile near he bridge and makes the
shortest route between Petrol, and me suPeuaon osa
road Buffalo It's double track between Gehcoe anu
Detroit is also nearly completed lts whole Inc IS,
therefore substantially laid with double track. us
equipment and power have been enlarged TO meet tne ne
ceastes Of the case aud all ia appointments naus, ~
is beeg ed, adequate to the deinand upon u Lts wnD
track in both lines Is OF STEEL and both that road and
to the best in the country" The Board therefore oond
IDENTIFY expects that with prosperity again uy restored
ad dyantages OF the lines OF the Michigan Central and
Western roads for travel and business ana tne ex
sbe them TO command their full share Of all the bust
ness both passenger and freight passing between he
East and the West.
THE PHILADELPHIA AND ERIE RAILROAD.
ANNUAL MEETING AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
STOCKHOLDERS DEMANDING INVESTIGATION.
(FRoa AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE fRBUsE.l
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9.-For several years
past the annual meetings of Philadelphia and Erie
railroad company have witnessed stronger aud stronger
expressions OF dsapprOva the part OF stockholders
because the road this respect among tho great
corporations, pays dividends At the annual meeting
held this city to-day decisive means were taken for
receying thorOu gh knowledge OF the manner IN which
the cOmpanys affairs conducted, and also Tor dis-
covering where the leak one exists really s Tho report
presented by the management shows gross increase OF
s. OCT 2O gross outlay Of i13sIo 81 leaving for
profit the Of S3756 &c. aud this Is sl33655 81 ess
than earned during the previous year. The pas
seuger traffic has also facn of s62,53o loss which 1t
seems has not been made good by the carriage or
1876 63 OF freight than handed last year
The report for the bad state OF things By refer
ing to tho financial panic Of September
strike among the miners the necessary re-
newal Of water pipes number OF water
stations; the rebuiug OF l6) cars the amounts PAID
for loss and damage in the assessment OF claims some
OF which belong to former years, but have been n pro
cess Of adjustment" the opening Of additional tele
graph offices and advance IN the wages oil freight
brakesmen Reference is also made 10 the fact that
while the cost of transporting freight upon the
Phade lpha and Erie has been nearly the same a
that upon the Pennsylvania aud several Leading roads
the average rate received has much less. con
dtlon Of affairs which Is explained by tho statement
that frs the Philadelphia aud Erie is cut by competing
lines at Erie and four intermediate points botweon
there and its eastern at Sudbury aud. second
the bulk OF the freight transported Of tho lowest cas
sacation. The report instances the several improve
ments made 70 the road during the past yeir aud con
cudes by expressing hope that there is Oetor une
When the reading was finished George E irio moved
that report should be printed on or before FEB H.
that d,y and that meeting should adjourn without
further action until Feb. "a The ground on whioh thS
motion offered was ayowedly 10 discover Wnat tno
fault whether 1t In the conduct or the road
an end which could not be attained until preliminary
and careful study OF the report should nave been made
directors OF the road in opposition and Mr. Earle was
supported by Messrs. Dinyilliers. Howard, Froe-
hoiSer, allege that while the business
road has largely increased the receipts grow ess
since the has been leased 10 the Pennsylyans a
road Company. The city has s50000JO worth OF stock
aud three directors. heated debate then sprung np
which unloading stock ana
similar expressions we're freely exchanged aud threat
made by Mr. Simpson that he would make Henry ".
FrecmanIjr. answer for word. spoken was promptly
During ali this tins the Mayor kept his temper, ana
finally refused TO appoint the Committee OF inyesga
sockhoder offered resolutions having for their OBJECT