The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-19
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IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS.

Net. 1921 IA
IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS.
1t will be seen from the foregoing expendi-
lures, and the report of j. M. Lunt, Esq,
Superintendent, hereto annexed, that the
work done upon the road has been larger this
year that any previous year, and SO far as l
am able to judge will be larger next year than
the present. The old iron and ties are being
more rapidly worn out, and, in order to insure
the safety of our trains, must be renewed.
Among the necessities of the coming year,
will be a new bridge 210 feet long, 3 spans of
70 feet each, over the Mousam river at Spring
vale, to replace the present structure, which
the Railroad commissioners consider unsafe.
A new station should be built at Saco river,
and an addition made to the South WATERFORD
depot, to be used for freight purposes. Two
new engines and twenty-five cars for hay and
general merchandise are much needed. At
least $4,000 will be required for the extension
and repairs required to be made to our engine
house and turn table in order to accommodate
our present wants.
General Business.
Tonnage Of freight hauled:
1S7s-9-Local. ............ ............... 4S,O65
Through. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 57.764
Total. ...... 106,829
Passengers carried:
Through '..:.'': 26,5i2
Total ............ 100000
During the past year the Portland & Wor-
cester line made an effort to open up to
the trade of Portland and State of Maine
a fSF b fEsght and
competition with the other transportation COM
panies by rail and water, for share of this
business, running through" trains to accom-
modate the freight traffic. and through cars
to ranuiranopOtc Nf the travel.
Rates were equal, and in some cases less than
charged by other companies. We failed to Sc
cure any considerable share of the business,
showing conclusively that business men as
class did not care to sustain new competing
lines they being satisfied with the accommo-
dations furnished by the older routes; and the
only satisfaction obtained by this company
was, that it was able to name the rates at
which those routes should transport the busi-
ness, and inasmuch as the small share OF
freight and passenger business obtained would
not pay our losses in running empty trains,
we have found it necessary to withdraw from
all competition for business to or from Boston,
and shall hereafter give more attention to de-
veoping the "local' business of this road to-
gether with the Through. business destined
for points reached directly by our route.
/ am confident that this change will be found
more profitable to your road than the through
Boston business which was transported by
other corporations at our rates.
GEORGE P. WEsCoTT, Receiver.
sUPERINTENDENT's REPORT.
T4o following figures will give the operation
of the transportation department, for the year
ending September 30th, 1879:
The whole number of miles run were:
BY Passenger Trains. ............ $685.
Freight Trains. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. SO,4I3
Working Trains. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 6,779
Total. .......................1 77,847
Material on hand:
1905 tons coal.......... -. -. 80, 10000
1914 cords of wood. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 294.75
iron ana Steel tAOOO
New wheels and axles ................... 10000
Lumber ....... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $4,000
Springs ........ ................, :. -. 10000
Store room oil Observation-Disclosures. 10000