Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-06-27
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
L.. c. B s. c, RAILROAD CO.
OFrIuEoF TIE I.ENIsRCisG, CENIIIE \ SPRU O.
CREIK RAILRoAD COMIaNY, rHILADEI.-
rHIA, june IL. 1873.

OFFIJEOF TIE l.EN IsliC ia, CENTRE \ NItU C@
CREkE RAILRoAD COMIANY, IHILADEI.-
rHIA, JUNE IL, 1873.
To the Stockh ho,derS of he LelriSburg, Centre
& Spruce creek R0ilrodd Company;
Your Directors submit the following Re
port of the affairs of Your road.
Since the last Annual Report, our track
has been extended u I-lOo miles. being
from Laurctun, Union Co. 10 Spr ing Mills
Centre Co.. giving Us 4 completed roadway
OF So %O-lpO miles.
For some ten miles beyond our present
terminus the graduation and a portion of
the balasting were completed In 1874, which
wtththC right OF way, We're paid for from luc-
nj subscriptions. fetwtcn this point and
lemonta distance of SN-lO0 miles AL lS2 9l
has been expended on graduation, and sutli-
cicnt local subscriptions are made and guar
antted to prepare the road bed for super
structure. From Lcmont To PENNSYLVANIA
Furnace. distance of l. S9-l0O miles the
road lea has been located hut no grading
done. From PENNSYLVANIA Furnace To IN-
rome, l6 g1-lOO miles of load bed WAS I'm 1874
cost ef %1s3,S7T."I, being Il little over two
thirds ut our entire expenditure for grading.
masonry and bridging.
Two freight and passenger depotS and one
engine house have been erected on our re
Gently ext ndcd road. These, with several
SidingS, accommodate the present needs of
trade and travel. There Is yet hut one wa
ter tank ON the extension another is greatly
Ii would also bc economy TO erect III addi-
tiunal tank further east. To enable us To dis
penSe With one at Nlulinhurg. where we now
pay an annual rental of so for very inferior
water. Water rights III convenient points
have been secured free of cost Ia Tire Com.
pany; two of these should be promptly occ IL
pied.
Ii is essential To the proper handling of
freight that additional grading be- done Al
some of our freight stations, ana few ''heE
convruieuceS are needed ir public accom-
modatton. 4 judiciuUs expenditure OF from
twelve to fifteen hundred dollars would sup
ply Ml these Deficiencies
In August last, the Penn'a Il. H. Co., les
see. took possession OF our extension, and
since that period trains have been regularly
run between Montaudon ana spring Mills.
The gross earnings during The past year
were 80, ,SSl.5S. The expense, including in
telcst on equipment, $1G,-9l.&i, leaving rs
net earnings Tor the year. Slo".@4
Ii is a matter uI mach diSa2pulntmtnt and
no little regret that the results nave not con
tirmed the auticipationS of largely increased
revenues from the extension Of your road
into Centre county. The tonnage and travel
have both increased. but not sufficient 10 bal
anCe the larger percentage III cost ui Trans
portation incident 10 the Increased distance
OF hauling. The net revenues are therefore
below those OF last year.
our failure To meet financial eNlectailonS
may. In 4 large measure. be attllou Ell 10 me
unprecedented hardShlpS every planCh oi IN
now aoeped somewhat extensive lumber and
iron regions hut owing 10 the depressed
condition of these interests. the latter has
remained entirely dormant, ana the .urIAer
has shown but very Shght moNtme.4l.
To add To uuI disappointment, the wheat
crop was in all the valleys through Nhlch
our road passes, partial, and III Soln', an
almost total failure. Such combination oI
untoward circumstances hi't raie'S h,tt i
Rew enterprise, ana can have only tempo
vary existence. With good crops and 4 ialr
share OF general prosperity restored. WE te.
Hcye our work VIII exhibit returns That VIII
prove more satisfactory.
Gur total cXprndturc has been $2.&i7.9-5.7 -.
How this large sum may lee made rcMuutr-
atiyc. i \ question worthy oi most profound
coSideration Ii we had means to rapidly
complete the work, we h,lGHt nope 10! some
reasonable. return from the investment. A.
il f., the unpaid interest on 4he cost OF our
work is acCumulatng. aud The delay sn com
plrtiOn is destructive. because oi the RAPID
dcpIecia tiun OF tho work done and not uiilL-
ed.
For the force OF obligation We are under TO
the people along the line TO extend our track
We call att eutiou 10 our last annual report,
in which that quest ron was iullE discussed
The best interest of our investment - IN hdr-
mony with the fuiltilmrut Of these ubiiga-
tiOnS, as every mile the road extended brings
uS nearer the heart Of PenuS alley until lis
centre is reached al Lcmont.
y very important advantage would be
from Spring Mills 10 CcntIe lian. village "i
conStcra be enterprise and business activity.
Al that point We would nave a large de
mand for coal nor now supplied. and would
also be able To mere lUlly compete with Belle
funte on one side ana Milruy on the other.
for the trade and uayel OF IN extensive area
of country not now reached hN Us. The DIS
tancc Is within : fraction Of six miles. with
no bridges, and the road bed iuiiy graded.
and about half al IL ballaIcd. We have on
hand Suifririd iron rails and cross ties for
one-iourth the distance, and the Work could
be- We'll and chrapiy don" under The present
organization with but i slight addition 10
tic regular track force.
To raise the money necessary i, If course.
the din, u.tY. To attempt II by lie" .uh
scgipt0n or additional loan j. impract;c.thle.
We would suggest. therefore. that o"r lts>Cc
wEo holds 4 large proportion III Ill" boudN
issued, b" asked IL postpone. 70" 4 un",
their claims Cf interest, and that IL" net
revenue from operating hc pledged 10 m"
extension OF The road. In th.S way We might
meet our obligations 10 the people, and With
a very small additional expenditure make
availahlc work c instructed n So large cost
hut which. from Lack Ol use ana care, i List
falling into decay. Livery advantage thus
gained would give Increased Ntiue TO our
securities, and inurc 10 the benefit ot our
lessee Ey adding largely 10 The tonnage and
travel oil the general line. To secure such
extension. tie community along TIE nne
would, we believe chceTiuliy bear ! more
remumoratiye rate for transportation than i
now realized. 4 measure of relief might be
thus attained that would put the continued
operations of your road beyond jeopardy.
There are some subscriptions due from
persons In Harris township. inc payment of
which there is - disposition ta contest III
court. The demand for payment was made
some years since, and the penalties for non
payment have accumulated 10 a large sum.
TO avoid long and expensive litigation, and
to hasten the resumption OF work IN tins
township. We suggest that all subscribers
who shall. within' a reasonable time. pay
their subscription, with simple interest, he
eAOnerated from the penalties attached /"
nOn-paymcnt.
If the citizens of Ferguson township fail TO
avail themselves Of the condition upon
which tie railroad was offered them, il Wiil
he for the iIterets of your Company To
seek, AZ least for the present. connection
AT LCmOat with other interests that VIII Sc
cure an early western outlet to your road.
The people on that part OF our graded line
between Penn a Furnace and Tyrone are
clamOring for either q completed road or
such payment for lands occupied and dam
age suffered rs shall compensate, leaving on
all considerations of advantage from mn
iShed road. our only hope of relief in that
locality is in such return of prosperity To the
iron interests as shall warrant the compile
tion OF that work.
Due care has been exercised and economy
practiced by our lessee IN maintaining our
road way and managing transportation.
ELI SLIFER, President
Philipsburg, away off at the other
end of the county, is preparing to
n