Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-25
close connection with the Nashua 8 Rochss.sr, an

road in Maine, 40 IL miles. The road is well
constructed, and the track is now in very good
condition.
e. Aroostook River Railroad Opened few weeks
since from the boundary line of the State to the
village of Fort Fairfield 1t is proposed to extend
1t the next season to Lyndon.
Somerset Archaeological the last season
S from West Waterville to Arson, % miles. The
first surveys were made in lS47. and through great
dlscouragements the road has at last been built,
and in good shape. The bridges safe, the
; masonry along the line good, and the road bed
wide and well graveled.
Hnor and Lincoln-From Bath to Rockland, AZ
miles TIE large number Of bridges on this road
have been thoroughly examined, and they and the
entire road are found to be in fair order for the
service required. Many improvements have been
made the past year, aud they will be pushed for
ward the next season.
Portland d Ogdsns5urg RaHroad-Competed
from Portland TO he Fabyan House, 81 miles 81
of which are in the State. The general route and
characteristics o.. the road are given at length by
the Commissioners. Its opening to the White
Mountain region, attracted large tide of travel
the past season. Some magnificent feats OF en-
glneeiing accomplished in the construction Of
the road, and there WAS considerable heavy grad
ing. The heavy grades descend from the west !;
this is favorable feature it is confidently ex-
pected that this road will become one of the main
lines for the transportation of the produce OF the
great W est to the seaboard, and that the indus
tries and products ofthe rich and enterpri.ng sec
road passes through, will seek this outlet and add
largely to its business.
Conslidated Maine Central Road and its
f, BraHches-Under the admirable management, this
road has been operated with great regularity and
safety. The two main lines of the road are in
most excellent condition, and much attention has
been given to the permanent Improvement OF the
road. Under prudent management the net earn
ings the past year will compare favorably with
the preceding years.
BeJast d. Xooseiecd Lake Railroa3-From
Belfast to Burnham, SO miles. Th, road is in
fair condition., and but little has been done to im-
prove it the past year. The line has been extend
ed along the water front, and across the wharves
to Simpsons wharf in Belfast and proves great
convenience to shippers. The great need of the
road is more ballast Operated by the Maine Cen
trial.
DEXTER d Neuport Rai1road-Fron Newport 10
Dexter, "a miles, operated by TIE Maine Central.
The track and road-bed is well maintained. This
DAD is an important feeder to the Maine Central,
and doing Iemuuerative business, pay ing fair
interest on the Investment Of $500 0O0 the cost OF
construction.
/ Aadroscogqin, and Leeds .e Farmington Rail
! roa9-From Brunswick TO Leeds Junction with
BRANCH to Lewiston, and from Leeds Junction TO
Farmington-in all, 70h miles; operated by the
Maine Central. Several improvements on this
road are suggested. During the past year there
has been laid in the track Of the Maine Central
Railroad and its branches, 497 tons OF steel rails
equal to s.. miles of track 1856 tons of rerolled
non rails, equal TO 20 s. 100 miles making % S.
100 miles of new rails. 10 S93 rails have been re-
paired and re-aid, equal to 81 74-l00 miles of
track; - 99S new sleepers and 5000 yards of
gravel have been placed under 1873 miles OF track;
1863 feet of new side track has been laid, and 80
91-l00 miles of fence built; 545 lineal feet of new
bridges, and ,235}. yards of masonry, have been
built. Ia addition to the above, there have been
a large number Of new buildings erected the most
important of which is the new brick building at
Portland, for the general offices Of the company,
.,,lY ka law hc,.l Ln,,a liz
The new iron bridge at Lewiston is FIST class
bridge.
accidents. Very few accidents have occurred
the past year On the Grand Trunk, six persons
were injured, three fatally on the Maine Central,
five were killed, and one injured; on the Knox i
Lincoln, an employee slightly inju ed through his
own carelessness; on Portland & Ogdensburg,
one man slightly injured, an employee on the E.
s y. A, four persons killed add one injured; on
the Portland, Saco & Portsmouth, one killed and
one injured.
Profits Of Railroads-Unde this heading the
commissioners suggest some me hods of increasing
profits on railroads, adopting Prof. Nose's plan,
viz:
"Fua. To manage the traffic so as to cause the
cars TO carry more complete loads thus TO reduce
tine ratio of non-paying weight. Second. To ar
range the trains 50 as TO give the largest number
of cars to each engine Third. The reduction Of
speed Of both passenger and freight trains to the
lowest standard CONSTANT with the demands Of
business. Fourth. To diminish as far as possible
express trains, except SO far as the number of
stops shoitens the time of traversing the road
Fifth. Not to increase the number of trains be-
yond reaonable accommodation OF traffic Sirth
So controlling the movements of the rolling stock
tina; the greatest amount of service may be de-
rived from it, Serenth. Adjusting tho tariffs
where the business is chiefly in one direction. so
as 10 attract return traffic. while the may not
run without a load. Eight. Reducing the fic
ton, by which the costs OF repairs of rolling stock
is diminished and the facility for economical trans
portation proportionsy increased"
1t is also suggested that the equipments Of roads
may be made lighter, without any loss and long
step in advance Is taken in the suggestion that rail
road managers try the experiment of giving en-
ployees direct interest in the profits OF the road
1t would seem that it might have the advan-
tage Of stimulating operatives to greater exerton
thus reducing the cost of labor, and of making
employees more vglant-thu. lessenpg the
chances of accidents. For their percentages Of
the profits would be directly greater, the Of
labor was lessened and damages from casualties
are avoided. The employees by this System would
become limited partners with the owners, and be
interested to swell the net earnings.
Another mode of procuring additional profits to
railroads., would be to suspend the practice of grant
ing free passes, which has come to be recognized
by railroad managers as not only wrong in itself,
but productive of wde-spreading and cumulative
evil results 1t has attained fearful magnitude,
and some measures should be taken to abaie it,.
I'VE are glad to note here that the measures have
of the system cut of.
For the public safety and security-it is recon-
mended that the annual returns ofralroad corpora
tons should exhibit not only the usual statistical in
formation, but also present in plain and concise
manner their resources and liabilities. This would
impsrt information valuable alike 10 the railroads
and to the community.
The railroads of the State have sympathized with
the pressure of the times upon general business,
and their receipts, like those ofindvduals have fall
len eff But these times will not continue always
nor long, ii is hoped-and are TO be succeeded
by better days, and when prosperity shall again
dawn upon US, diifusing its warm glow upon the
community, ralio receipts will again go up in
in the heat of increased activities in the multform
industries of the State And then. let US hope
it may not have been wholly without profit to the
railroads well individuals. if the discipline
of adversely, though at the time sharp to some of
them and to be regretted, shall have necessitsted
practices of eco -omy which, continued when bus
mess shall have assumed its wonted elasticity, will
enable them with given means to be more efficient
in their service to the public and more remunera-
tive 10 themselves.
Death of AN Estimnble Lady.
WINTHROP, Jan %, 1876.
Il :, |. l-o, 7 -