Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-01-21


Due July l, 1873, 4 per cent. from
net earnings for six months end
ing April 80, 1873, 40O,3l0 90
s9.0,3S0 90
The gross receipts us compared with those OF
1872, show IAN Increase of 1898 per cent while
the expenses were in excess OF those of 1872 by
20 81 per cent.
The receipts Of the last nine years were in the
aggregate $25, ,480 oil 90, while the operating ex
penses, including taxes but excluding interest,
were xl6,3I6, 745 90, or 640i per cent. Of the ie
ceipts.
The receipts of the last year were 49, lj9 100 p,
while the operating expenses, including taxes but
excluding interest were 81 ,0i2, ,269 80, or 64.64
per cent Of the receipts,
Our last annual report showed that extraordi-
nary repairs and expenses were foreseen for 1873,
and that Renewal Fund of $4,000 was
aside from the net earnings of 1872 to meet them;
but in view of the necessity of gradually replace
ing the wooden bridge over the Susquehsuna by
an iron structure, portion or which work is now
being done, it was thought best to let the expense
account OF 1873 bear the annual expense of the
yesr and also to add $4,000 OF the net earnings
of 1873 to the Renewal Fund.- which now amounts
to $225,o00.
During the past year your road and leased roads
sustained serious injuries by freshets The dou-
BILE aIcaed stone bridge over the Christaua was
destroyed, although deemed a very substantial
structure, which was cpval with the construction
OF your road. II has been replaced by an iron
bridge Of most approved construction; but only
portion OF the cost thereof was paid in the year
ending 3lst October, 1873. The breaking Of
reservoir of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal,
swept away about one-hai of the Delaware Rail
Road bridge over the Canal together with one
abutment and an embankment OF 300 feet long
and 80 feet high The same freshet destroyed
thirteen culverts upon the same road the cost of
repairs falls entirely upon this Company lessee
A Of ha UO VT N ha
cost thereof (yiz: S28,073 90) was charged to
penses of 1873. BY these accidents the traffic of
the Delaware Rail TOAD was closed for eight work
ing days, and US the break occurred ia the height
of the peach season, not only did the revenue of
the DriawAIo H1il Road suier, but there was a
| heavy loss of income upon the r., W. x b. and
n. e. and Frenchtown Rail Roads.
All claims for damages growing out OF the ac-
cdent near Edge Moor in November. 1872, have
been settled without rrsot to the courts, except
ing three of minor importance, where the claims
put forward are so unreasonable. in view of the
facts, that this Company has decided to abide the
decision Of the courts rather than 10 settle with
| the claimants.
The amount charged to expenses Of the fiscal
year 1873, in payment OF these damages. was
$50, GOA 20, and ons claim was settled In Decem-
| ber, 1873. This company has uniformly preferred
TO settle claims which are not preposterous in the
extreme, rather than 10 contest them.
The mileage performed by your locomotives in
q
and IS per cent. in excess of that of 1871. Much
| of this was due TO the competition between the
| Pennsylvania Railroad Company and the Balti-
| more and Ohio Railroad Company; and TO this
Company's policy OF accommodating those Com
panies and the pablo, even at present sacrifice.
| During the year the sum of x165,6 % was
expended for new and additional locomotives cars
ard station buildings and charged 10 repairs.
The renewals of rails have been made altogether
with steel. Upwards OF twenty miles Of track
i l. ir,a ata.lt als
portion of this material was charged to expenses
! of 1872. We have now ITO miles OF track In
| steel.
Ths new road from Gray's Ferry to the vicinity
| Of Chester, about ten miles in length, rendered
| unnecessary the maintenance of the old line
between those points; and the latter was leased
to the Philadelphia and Reading X. X. Co. in July
last, Oh a satisfactory basis, for u long term.
Your Directors regret to say that this Company
| notw,tbstandng our persistent attempts TO obtain
reasonable com pensatlon for mail service, have 10
this date utterly failed 10 do 20. This Company
was not psid 90 much in iS73 for mail service on
main line, as Ia 1870, viz: $31, 500 IN 1873, and
t3S,2j In 1850 Then, We carried the mall in
baggage cars, twice per day, az low speed now
l We carry the mails in expensive Postal cars. OIL
travelling post Offices, six times per day. at high
speed, bosidss being required to carry free,
numerous agents ana friends of the Post Office
Department. whose fares. II paid, would amount
to over $4,000 per annum. In 1850 we were
paid in fluids equivalent to gold, and wages were
low. Now we are paid in deprecated currency
and wages are high.
| Towards the close Of the session Of Congress iu
j the spring of 1879, pending the consideration Of
an amendment OF the Postal Acts. several railroad
companies notified the Post Office Department
that unless payment could be made for the use o
postal cars they slould withdraw them on the Isl
OF May, 1878, and carry the mails as they wert
formerly carried, |. e. in bulk IN baggage cars
Our letter giving this notice was read In the Sen
ate, and q Senate Committee was charged with
the investigation OF the subject of mail service
rail roads. Peuding this investigation, the raj
road companies deemed it respectful to the Sen
ate, 10 suspend our proposed action, and to con
itiuue to give our service and bear our losses
That Committee gave the companies four day
hearing IN April last and VIC are encouraged 4
expect their report this month. Our testimon,
showed that this Company was paid at the rate o
thirteen cents only per 80 foot car per mile, fo
expensive po.ta cars, lighted and warmed at ou
cost, and carrying q large number OF post oitc'
servants. while on the same train the express
companies pay US sixty cents per car per mile 10
80 feet freight ears. The companies claim 10
mail transportation only two-thirds OF what thu
public pay for commsnsurats service; and inas