The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-01-20

the library room of the Charitable Mechanics
Association. The President, Mr. Norton, read
his report as follows:
PRESIDENTS REPORT
To the stockholders Of the Portland Railroad
AS the details of the traffic on your road the
past year will b. given you in the Superinten-
dents report, together with the number of
horses, their condition, number of carriages.
stock, grain, hay, &c, there is no necessity of
my repeating it,
The gross receipts for the year 1879 were
S4S, 124.53 the expenditures $40 249O2, leav-
ing the net earnings ST, 1851. The directors
at the last monthly meeting declared div-
dend OF D per cent. free of taxes, the taxes be-
ing assessed by the state excepting on real es-
tate. The whole amount of taxes paid bv the
company in 1879, was 81 ,265.41. There was a
gain in the number of passengers carried on
the Deering line the past year of IA, 234, but a
loss on the city lines of 1919. This may be
accounted for in measure by the introduc-
ton OF covered wagons during the summer
months taking passengers from all parts OF the
city to and from the island steamboats,. The
directors the past year have expended about
$1,000 IN the purchase of omnibuses to compete
for this traffic and to use on the line of the road
when the track is INSTRUCTED by ice and the
streets not in condition to use runners there
by relieving the horses from drawing sleighs
over bare ground, a labor which rapidly re-
duces them in flesh and strength. The bodies
of these omnibuSes are so arranged as to be
readily transferred to runners, making very
comfortable and neat sleigh car, much lighter
than the sleighs we have used, and some of
which we still use on the road.
Our construction account being closed. all
expenditures are charged in the eXpence ac-
count. The Directors made reduction on the
cash fare to and from Morrll's Corner on the
Derring line of two cents per ticket, and one
cent to and from Woodford's, for the reason
that the difference between the price of tickets
by the package and single cash fare was more
than it ought to be, thereby inducing parties
to purchase package tickets and retailing them
at less than the regular cash fare.
We have been fortunate the past year as re-
CARDS accidents, no serious one having occur
red, When we take into consideration that
the drivers of our horse have not only
their horses and passing teams to look after,
but to see their passengers safely in and out of
the cars, ascertain that passengers pay their
fare, supply them with tickets, and keep look
out for those who wish to ride, doing this with
out accidents shows good degree eff attention
on their part to their duty. The salaries of the
employees of the road were cut down last jan
uary, making a saving to the company of ST.
478 for the year 1879.
1t will require in the future a careful Scru-
tiny of the many proposed extensions of your
road. 1t is doubtful if the revival Of business
has SO far progressed in and around our city as
to warrant any extension of the road out Of the
city at present. 1t may be a question for the
consideration Of your directors whether or not
branch extending from Congress street uD
Pine street to point equal in length of the
track from where the proposed branch leaves
Congress street to the terminus of the road on
that street, be constructed. After its COM
pletion no additional men, horses, or cars will
be required, as the cars can be run alternately
up Congress and Pine streets. This branch
would be great convenience to a large popu-
lation whose dwellings are on and i'll the vi
cinity of Pine street, and would we think,
materially add to the receipts Of the company.
The consent of the city authorities and stock
holders must be obtained before it can be ac-
complished.
We trust the receipts of the company the
present year will exceed those of 1879, and we
anticipate a reduction in expenditures. The
directors are gratified that they have been
enabled to declare a dividend of per cent.
free of taxes for the past year and trust in the
future your directors may be enabled to give
your larger dividends than you have received
in the past.
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT.
To the President Directors and Stockholders
Of the Portland Railroad COMPANY:
MISUNDERSTANDING the past year your cars
have run 81 1853 trips, making the total of 241,-
937a miles, carrying 797, 913 passengers. OF
these 1877 1853 were carried on the Spring street,
272,717 on Congress street, and 327 1913 on the
Deering line.
This is a loss from last year Of IS, 0S5 paSsen-
gers The loss ON the Spring street line was
2S,671: ON the Congress street line 43,64S, while
the Deering line has gained 1924 passengers
over last years run.
We have done the usual amount of repairs
on the city lines. On the Deering line,-have
put in a new curve at the foot of Pleasant
street; put in side track for the train car at
the Maine Central R. r. depot at Woodford's
Corr er. have laid 1900 new seepers, being 1000
more than usual, and have also laid five tons
of new iron.
Have repaved Middle street near the post
office with wood pavement at a cost of about
$50.
Have lowered 175 feet of the track on the
shell road in Deering about 15 inches, land have
raised $50 feet on the same road Is inches, so
as to conform to the grade of the street; putting
in $50 yards of gravel for same; the whole cost
ing about $3.50. Have also made the usual re-
pairs on the frogs, switches, &c.
Have built new monitor TOP, sdOuDle-
end car for the Deering line, which cost com
plete $500. Have also vanished II other cars:
have bought four omnibuses and one double
pleasure wagon; have repaired them all, and
have newly painted, vanished and upholSter-
ed two omnibuses and the pleasure wagon, the
total cost of all being $500. Have also made
two new sets of sleds for the omnibuses, so
that we can use them in winter in place of our
heavy sleigh cars, the cost being $3.50.
Have twelve sets of new harnesses, besides
doing the usual repairs.
have paid 500; have sold two for $175, and
have traded two old ones for new, paying $125
difference had on hand Jan. LIST 100; have lost
two during the year, one by broken leg and
the other dropped dead in the harness.
Had on hand Jan. LIST 43 tons of hay, tons
of straw and 500 new sleepers. Have had but
two accidents during the year, land have settled
both for SIS.
The omnibus and pleasure wagon run 60
days in July, August and September to the
island steamers and from the Boston & Maine
and Eastern depots, carrying 41S7 passengers.
Respectfully,
ALMON LEACH, Supt.
The following were elected directors by a
vote of 757 shares: E. A. Norlon, II. j. Libby,
H. @. Wheeler, J. T. McCobb, W. r. Wood.
e. A. Norton was reelected president, T. A.
Newman secretary and treasurer, and A.
Leach superintendent
TREAsURER's REPORT.
To the President, Directors and Stockholders Of
the Portland Railroad Company:
Gentlemen-I submit the following report of
the business of your road for the year ending
December 81, 1879:
RECEIPTS.
Cash ON hand Jan. LIST, 1879. .........$ 1860 SO
aiptc