Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-17
THE UTAH EASTERN.
A Utah Railroad Wreck That Cost Half
Million.
The VOluminOus Report Submitted by
the Receiver.
The Union Pacific Takes Possession of
Rolling Stock and ROadbed.
A First-Class Engine That Earns Three
Dollars Per Day.

Mr.. II. G. Mcmillan, who. in response
to petition of John E. Dooley and other
trustees of the Utah Eastern Railroad,
was appointed Receiver of that line bv
Judge Zane, has submitted to the court
his report of the condition of the road
The report is very voluminous, but was
carefully perused by DEMOCRAT reporter
to-day and synopsis made. 1t will be
found most painfully interesting by the
stockholders of the Utah Eastern, and is
also OF interest to the general public, as
on illustration of how speedily and how
completely railroad can be brought to
ruin when the omnipotent Union Pacific
powers set about with that end in view.
THE REPORT.
The Receiver commences with the
statement that, pursuant to his duty, he
visited the Utah Eastern road on the I'd.
Sd, 4th and 9Th of March, 1885, for the
purpose of viewing the property and re-
porting its condition to the court. An
inventory was taken, so far as it could
be made, but there was much snow on
the road in places, which rendered it
likely that property belonging to the road
was not seen by the Receiver, who re-
quests permission to make any additional
inventory of property that may hereafter
be discovered.
THE INVENTORY.
1t is unnecessary to give the itemized
inventory in full. The Receiver states
that the Utah Eastern railway consists of
the following property:
A constructed line of railway from
Coalville to Park City, consisting of
roadbed, ties, and track, narrow guage,
twenty-three miles, more or less.
A constructed line of railway from the
terminus of the main line at Coalville to
the coal mines of the Home Coal COM
pany, four miles, more or less.
Side tracks and switches, 1O,717 feet,
and switch stands.
A right of way, graded and improved.
from Kimball's station to Salt Lake CITY.
Rolling stock, on the road, consisting
OF two engines, twenty-five coal cars,
way cars, engine houses, blacksmith
shops, tools, ect.
OF the road and every improvement and
equipment now found upon it is placed at
$685., 91215, of which sum 1921, 236 "a
was expended in construction.
In addition to the above property the
Utah d Northern is operating, under
lease, one engine, two way cars and
twenty-five coal cars belonging to the
Utah Eastern, the original cost of
which was $26,110.
The receiver is informed that the en-
CINE being used by the Utah & Northern
road is rented for the sum of
THREE DOLLARS PER DAY
And three-fourths of cent per mile for
each mile of each car hauled over the |
road. The Utah & Northern took possess
SION OF the rolling stock on August I'd,
1884
The Union Pacific Railroad furnished
5he Receiver voucher for 81, 1872, in value
of certain fixtures, tools, lumber, etc.,
AIKEN from the Utah Eastern Railroad in
December, 1888.
The Receiver then gives a lengthy
statement of the condition of the roadbed.
The line from Coalville to Park City has
lot been operated since December 10Th,
1888, and during this time very little has
1een done to keep it in repair The road
les through comparatively level valley
rom the town of Coalville to the village
If Wanship and beyond, a distance of
en- miles and crosses the Weber river
lear Wanship over pile bridge 300 feet
n length. The roadbed up to this poinfk
ould be VI
PLACED IN RUNNING ORDER
1t small expense and in a very short
Ime. The bridge over the Weber river
out OF line and some expense would be
1curred IN putting it in good condition.
Beyond Wanship the road enters Sill
er Creek Canyon, about seven miles in
ength, where the grade is much greater,
ut uniform and the road easily operated. ]
he road crosses the creek in this can i,
on in many places and four of the !
ridges are entirely gone. AT one point
ne creek has carried away about $50 feet '
the roadbed, but the ties and rails e
ere preserved. Aside from this wash /
ut and the construction of bridges, the C
her repairs required over this portion @
the road would be slight. Il
After leaving the canyon the route of
lie road lies through a comparatively
inform level valley This part of the
ne is in good shape and but few repairs N
e needed.
THE COAL MINE BRANCH. r
The branch running from Coalville to P
e coal mines has been operated almost 81
since the time of its construc-
IN, the latter part of 1880. The iron II
ID ties are much worn and repairs are m
~
One of the engines at Coalville is in f.
od repair and running order and the hi
Ter is worn out and would be unsafe
thout thorough repair. to
The cars on the road, with those taken
by the UnionPacific, would be suffi-
mt to carry on the traffic of the road
ring the few years to come.
EARNINGS AND EXPENDITURES. pr
The receiver found from an examina- SO
n of the books of the company that the 10
oss earnings and income of the road al
ring the time it was operated, were Ia
1886, and the operating expenses Ii
re $l47 ,6S7, leaving the net earnings u
81 1863, and the Receiver is of the opin- I'll
the same amount of business and W,
ffic done by the road during the period II II
resaid could be done at an operating III
oense OF at least twenty per cent. less.
e greater amount of the earnings was
hauling coal and freight from Coal
lie to Park City for the Ontario Mining m,
npany, under a contract. This coal i'm
l freight for the Ontario company is
being hauled by the Echo
Park City railroad, branch
part of the Union Pacific oh
tenn and under the same management. fin
? Union Pacific railroad company has on
D been operating the coal mine branch ''-'
the Utah Eastern since November,
3, and the amount of coal hauled over
branch durinp fhat fi,,oa is act;yoa+oJ an