, 1874-03-05

Balance Dec 81, 1873. f264 $40. 60
Tho ErosB receipts from trafIlo woro $751;
2l5.0G, or G2-100 per cent, aud the net receipts
s2A2, 1896, or 12 s5-1o0 per cent more than
pensoa Of your lines {cxclusiyc Of tn1es) amount
to SO 20-10U per cent Of gross receipts, including
taxes, G1 A1-100 per cent. During tho year 1879,
tho operating expenses were C1 per cent aud
G3 Clio per ceut respectively.
THE SAG BRIDGE D1aAsTEn.
On tho night of the 10th Of August last 3 col
ltalon occurred near lc1nont, between passen-
ger train aud heavily-loadod coal train, result
ing III the death OF nineteen persons, injury to
twenty-five others, aud the destruction Of a largo
amount Of property.
Tho officers OF your Company made ovory pos
aiblo effort to relieve the sufferings Of the
wounded, aud to ECO that proper caro- aud dispo-
sition WIS mado OF the romains OF those who
were killed. Prompt and liberal settlement was
n1ado Of all claims resulting from tho collision ;
tho cost Of which, together with the value Of
property destroyed amounted to S110. 900, Which
Rum has beon charged, ind il included in the
amount Of operating expenses before stated.
MlscELL4ANEous srAT1srICs.
Eight hundred and twenty-nine thousand
eight hundred aud Beveney-sfx passengers were
transported during tho year, an increase Of 49,
l0U pcr cont oyor tho number during the proceed
Ing year. The proportion between through and
local passengers bong G2-100 per cent Of the
former, to 94 38-1o0 per cont OF the latter.
Tho gross receipts from passenger traffic show
an lncFDa6e OF 44-4uU Per ceIat oFeg those OF
1872 Tho average fare pad per passenger wau
El.G0, being 6 cents less than tho average Of
the preceding year.
Tho aggreeate tonnage Of freight transported
is 3284 $780, 748 Tbs, an increase over that during
1874 of 2 48-100 per cent.
The proportion bctwoon through and local
freight being $40 per cent Of tho former to
90 7-10 per cent Of the latter.
The coal traffic OF the year, which Is included
In the above statement, amounts to 540 BAG 1850
fort ifrrn nrc1 will, HAT
tho preceding year OF II 52-10O per cent.
Coal IL mined at about ona-half Of all tho
stations upon the main lino between Wilmington
and East 1T. Louisa distance OF 227 miles
and also at many stations upon your branch
lines.
Tie incroase of groas receipts from freight
traffic, amounts to about per cent compared
with TINT Of l172.
CONSTRUCTIONS, ETC.
Yonr property has been, i' nil departments,
maintained in ilrat-clnsa condition, aud in fully
enual to that OF the beat Western railways.
live Thousand two hundred aud ninety-fotlr
;o1.a Of steel rails; 1,210 tons OF iron rails
l4O tons Of track spikes; 257 tons splice harB
and bolts, and III, 600 cross-tios layo beon used
in roppirs Of track. Three milas Ald threo-fftla
Of n mile Of additional sida-traoks.. and tifteen
and one-half miles Of second or double
tracks have been constructed during
comrlalipg q continuous :, dotsble main
track between Chicago and Joliet haa been CON-
pleted. Grading III IN progress for, second
track from Joliet to Wilmington, Including tho
reduction Of tho heavy grades Oh that sectlo, OF
tho road, That work vii! be completed BY tho
1st Of May, and thoraaftor trains betwean 0dell
and Chicago whom moving north (in the direu-
ton Of tue heaviest traillo) will not ASCEND aly
inclination exceeding q foot 70 tho mile, al,l in
going south nole exceeding 36 feet to the mile, =
= present several grades exceeding 60 teot to
tho milo arc encountered. This important ill.,
proyo1nsut will enable engines to move much
larger trains, aud greatly reduce tho Govt Of e.
erasing upon that part Ok yonr 'lea .on on Which
Iron rails. AZ tho latter become worn nut, IN
doomed no longor al experiment. II is fully
demonstrated to DO trlo economy. We hnye, at
tho CLOSE of tho year, 1oI mules Of singls main
tracItH aud tG lnlleH Of double trackH laid witt,
steol rails. Upon tho CAD lilo miles OF railwAy
operated, tAore IL Ri aggrosAtu Of ~ miles ot
double track aud III addltlon w 0-l0 nlea OF side
trucks. Tho double track il III thras Aootlons
mon tho main lino between 0doll and Chicago.
II il Important that 1t should he lnlo contiiau-
o,lp NJ, aa to cnnpleto tiuub!s track railway for
tko eu1irs diB.auva Of u uilvH, where Yogy