The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-08
&16,72S %

L J.
cred;ed-by renewals and exlraorfII-
nary repairs Of locomotives. $50. $11,536 ~
And or passenger-cars. s.lS2 46
s., s1e,72s 90
by The fac. fac that we suied iis4o8 more tons Ci Of
freight in this than in the preceding year.
s Of
| increase SO per cent. was east-bound.
cable thereto e-I0 Of mill per ton PER mile less 10
our freight business in this than In the preceding
| THE PASSENGER BUSINESS :
has decreased by the sum Of sG,6s0.46. This
business must remain nearly stationary uD-
til we get all-rail connections with the West,
and until the manufacturing interests of the
line are more largely developed. . :.
| III THE FREIGHT BUSINESS. ! 81
Our receipts from freight were increased
by the sum Of S222,977.01. :
THIS increase, in view of the continued
/ depression OF the business OF the. country
and the very low rates ut which]we have
had to haul the principal productions OF
our l:ne, is, think. encouraging. f:IS:- ).
The tonnage for the year, exclusive OF
fuel and material hauled for the company,
amounted to 5ss,066 tons, of which 49,, ,949
tons were transported eastwardly and
125, lit tons were transported westwardly.
The increase Of freight tonnage over the
preceding year was 116,406 tons, or 24.6S
| per cent.
The total increase of operating expenses
to meet this increased tonnage was 1866
per cent.
The average haul was 26o miles. being
| - miles longer than in the preceding year.
The several interests upon the line of the
road are in an improving condition, and the
! local shipments will be largely increased du-
ring the current year.
| THE ROADWAY.
We laid during the year SO 39-100 miles of
new steel rails, and have increased our side
| tracks by 91-100 miles. We put into the
road 81, ,233 crOsS-ties-a very much larger
amount than has heretofore been required
in any one year. This is due to the fact
that paratively few ties have been put
into the road west Of the White Sulphur
Springs since its original construction.
There will not be more than 100000 ties re-
quired for the current fiscal year.
Two hundred and twentv-four miles OF
ing 1877 miles laid with iron rails, which we
are gradually replacing with steel. or this
iron rail, 60 miles are west of Cannelton,
where our lightest traffic is; 1877 miles are
east of Cannelton, and has to bear our hea-
West traffic. ....-.
would respectfully recommend that this
| 1877 miles OF road be relaid with steel with
in the next three years-say 5000 tons in this
current year, 5000 tons in the succeeding
year, and say 5000 tons in the third year.
By selecting the best bars of iron in the track
relaid with steel, and reserving them for
repairs on the so miles west OF Cannelton,
we can easily postpone relaying with steel
that portion of the road until cur business
is largely increased, when we will find it
to our interest to have steel everywhere.
Our bridges, trestles, and tunnels are all in
good and safe condition. During the year
Jackson's river frst-class Howe truss
bridge.
The dep0ts and water-stations are in good
condition. *'"...
EQUIPMENT,
We have: Locomotives, 76 passenger
cars, 2S; sleeping-cars, +; parlor-cars, l.;
officers cars, 1; pay-cars, /; baggage,
mail, and eXpress-cars, Is; box freight
cars, 1922; cight-wheel coal-cars, $50; four
wheel coal-cars, 264; gondolas, 1876; plat
forul-cars. 122; stock-cars, SS; coke-cars,
81; conductors cars, 81; sbanty-cars for
laborers, so; derrick-cars, 4; gravel fat
cars, 1877.
Our motive-power and rolling.stock are
in better condition than they have ever
been, and are capable OF doing largely in
creased regular business.
Unless there is very much larger
increase of tonnage than we have any
right to anticipate we. will require no
addition in the current year to our motive
power or rolling stock except in the matter
/ Of coal-cars and stock-cars. of which [ shall
probably cali for two hundred of the former
and fifty Of the latter, and one shifting-en-
gne, which is now being built. =
TIE SEPTEMBER FLOOD. &C.
In September there was one of the heaviest
rain-storms ever known in the valleys Of the
Green brier, New, and Kanawha rivers, and
the rivers rose to q greater height than any
! Of the previous water-marks indicated they
had ever reached. -. u.
| The damage to property on the rivers was
very great. The passage Of trains was in
terrupted for three days, but the injury to
the company's property was comparatively
light. IL
We have been remarkably free from slides
during the past year, and I anticipate no
more trouble Of serious character from
that source.
No passenger on the trains OF the company
during the year has received any injury.
I am happy to be able to report that, with
scarcely an exception, the officers and EN-.
ployes of the company have in all respects
most carefully guarded its interests.
Your obedient servant,
-..s WINS. G. WICKHAM,
Second Weep resident.
Resolutions Adopted.
| On motion Of MIR. John Page it was re-
solved that the report OF the President
which has lust been read, be and the same