The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-09

WHEELING AND LAKE ERIE RAIL-
ROAD.
Important Statistics and Facts Show
ing the Merits of the Line.
WHEELING, Feb. %, 1875.

WHEELING, Feb. %, 1875.
Editors of the Register:
In Difference to numerous requests,
herewith submit results of further ex.
animation concerning the Wheeling and
Lake Erie Railroad and Narrow gauge.
The local statistics hereafter given are
from official sources, and are such as !
carefully gathered in the preparation oi
the preliminary prospectus of the com
pany, and therein given in more detail.
In justice to the w. g. L Z. no compari.
son ought to be made, except of the very
best coal road, but have taken event G
worst roads of Ohio in the preparation
of this article, SO that it may be seen in
every aspect.
Under the laws of Ohio every railroad
company must annually make a sworn
report to the Railroad Commissioner OF
that State, and the following data are
taken from his last published report; be-
fore me, for the year ending June 80,
1874.
COMPARISON.
The Columbus and Hooking Valley for
that year earned $905O20 per mile at a
cost of 81 48 per cent, netting So 847 68
per mile on SO miles, which amounts to a
little over As per cent OF its cost.
The Wheeling and Lake Erie at a cost
of $4,000 900, and earning as much per
mile as the Hooking Valley, at an opera
ting cost of As per rcent., will net2l GA per
cent on its cost; or earning One,hdF as
much per mile net l3 10 per cent; or earn
ing One-third as much will net 7.21 per
cent
The total car mileage of that road for
the same year was 6,5S0,653 miles, of
of which 2,367 59l miles Tor more than
one-third of the whole car mleag, or
haulage) was empty cars. While it's
freight mileage was less than 5S per cent.
of its total mileage, its freight earning
was over SO per cent. of the total earn
ings; and of this 1851 per cent. was coal
This, and other items in the report, show
the fact, conclusively, that nearly the
total haulage is in one direction, viz from
the coal fields towards Columbus, and
there is no population or business at the
south end demanding return freights.
The Lake Shore and TCscarawas Val
ley railroad cost $5 1913. .704 56, or $751;
401.07 per mile forts l0l mics. 1t earned
in 1874, in gross, 1910 069 4S, or SO. 1862 SO
per mile, at a cost of SO 20 per cent. It's
net earnings were $l3B,0I719, and it paid
$154,770 interest on its bonds; and its net
earnings amounted to little over % per
cent. Of its cost. Gifts total tonnage
1859 PER CENT. WAS COAL.
While its car and empty car mileage is
not given, it must, in the nature of |
things, have been large. The south end |
terminates on the Panhandle, where |
there is no population, no business or
capital demanding freight from the lake,
and the coal tonnage shows most of its
freight northward.
1t cannot be doubted that the Wheel
ing and Lake Erie will earn as much per
mile as the last named road, or So, ,362 SO
per mile. This, for two hundred miles,
amounts to $672472; deducting 45 per
cent. for expenses of narrow gauge, leaves
1868, ,S59 80 not earnings, or s Oh per cent.
of the total cost of 81 100000.
THE COLUMBUS AND HOOKING VALLEY.
charges u to II cents per ton per mile for
coal through rates. From theStraitsville
mines to Columbus is about so miles, and
to Toledo over 200 miles by the nearest
new road now building columbus aud
At these rates, and over these
two lines, the freight on coal delivered at
Toledo will be at least So per ton. Its
tonnage Of coal for the year named was {
$40. .052 tons.