The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-14
rIIs COMPANY

THIS COMPANY
came into the control and operation OF the
Atlanta and Charlotte Airline railway
April /. 1881, and Of the Richmond. York
River and Chesapeake railroad July /, 1881.
The tonnage and passenger statistics of
these roads as kept prior TO the transfer 10
the company do not afford -'.iiicient mate
rial for any accurate statement of their
traffic for the year 1881 in comparison with
that OF the entire year operated by this
company Just closed. such comparison,
however. would probably not be materially
different from that which Is shown by the
full statistics OF the other roads operated
by this company.
These are the Richmond and Danyille
and Piedmont roads, the Northwestern
North Carolina road. and The North Caro-
lima road. on which there was an increase
over lat wear of freight traffic in mle-tons
Of 1870. 1872, equal 10 2l.j per cent, with
an increase in earning OF nearly per
cent: also IN increase in passenger mile
are OF l.2jI,Sij. equal TO : per cent. with
an increase Of earnings Of ID per cent.
Tho cntire cro>> tonnage OF these roads for
tho wear 1850 amounts to S27,G12 tons. ON
all the roads operated by the company du-
rinp the wear 1882, being "a miles Of main
line. fhc number of gross tons transported
were I.2IO. 267. tie number miio-ton- neing
I1q l26. .Sj3. The average rate received
wa. % cents per ton per mile; the ave-
rage cost Of Transportation on same was
~ cents per ton per mile. The ratio OF
expenses 10 earnings i Gi.4 per cent.
THIS INCREASE
.t.,.l La- Ia.u attained
uudcr and Notwithstanding the depressing
influence oi the most universal ialiure ol
cyons in the southern States in the season
Of 1881 known during the present genera
tiop. All the great staples oI cotton, To-
bacco. and grain. under the continued ana
consuming drOugb. Of the summer ana
fall of that wear, suffered dimlnilllon oi
production ranging from niieen 10 tnirtI
ner cent. in the different localities anord-
inc transportation 20 your lines OIL ROAD.
\iljrpfic shared ior time the effect oil
this heavy reduction of the normal re-
sources OF the country required Tor the
nrosecution OF al commercial, manuiactu'
rinr. and other pursuits. Lines OF trans
uortation are the earliest and most direcl
reciDient, Of these influences. Ibat our
have been able 10 maintain during ytal
| of.dearth and depression the progressive
advance shown attests most satisfactorily
The force Of the organization presented Dy
vour system Of roads, as well as the great
and growing capacities Of the country they
traverse and accommodate.
The season OF 1882, n the section oi
conntrv from which our traffic l. mainl.
derived. has been genial and fruitful, in
deoree almost n marked as that OF the pre-
yious wear had been for failure and UNI
| iruitfuine-s. The results are the increased
traffic OF = generally prosperous condition
and abundant crops that give assurance OF
a fair continuance OF activity during th'
succeeding months OF the current year.
Additions 10 and
IMPROVEMENTS
of the track, roadway, equipment, maclii'
nery. bridges. and other structures of th'
several lines which the demands OF IN
creasing traffic rendered important, have
reouired during the year liberal eXpendi
/ ture on items usually chargcable 10 mainte
nance and betterments Of property, anC
which have been so dcbited in the accounts
for the wear: and though the labor. mate
rial and supplies involved In such eXpen
diture have been attainable only at adj
vsncod prices and enhanced cost 10 Tho
companv. the management has not felt a'
liberty 10 ignore the evident obligations
and interest OF the company To keep pace
as far as practicable, with the demand.
81 the public for improved and increased
facilities. Every department OF the pro-
perties operated has received iul
ma,s,,re @ OF repair and improvement.
IN the Richmond and Danyille and
M: ,.,aIs . $50 tons OF steel rails