Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-19

between ls,j and 1873 have been near
ly as marked. but as this traffic forms
only about % per cent. Of our total
revenue, its effects upon it has not
been as disastrous as in the freight.
These changes between the years re-
feTTed to have been as follows:
E1rpW9sper
Year. Rerrnuc. pavepJ'r
UiiLt.
lss5.................. s570Isl 81 227Octs.
lb1e. .............. .. Si7 NsG n3 $500 Cia.
Increase 4z3,l2j -
decrease .......... l.3GU c's.
ci cent 90 ot 1917
While there has been an increase Of
lC0.7s per cent. in the number of local
Passengers carried, the average length
of their haul has decreased from j3
miles in ISIS to .pei miles in 1855. a
decline of42.72 per cent. and there has
also been It uciion of IU1l per cent.
in the average earnings per passenger
per mile. I'm the number Of through
passengers carried we show in l0~j
loss of 1920 per cent. as against lo>j,
but q gain Of 234o per cent. over lNS2.
OF the total passenger traffic in lNoj
the through travel formed 1910 per
cent. Of the number Of passengers car
rled, 1880 per cent. of the total pas
sengers carried one mile. and i2.3I per
cent Of the passenger earnings.
THE INTEREST Due.
II was apparent in the earlier months
Of the year that the company wouli be
unable TO meet the full amount Of the
interest maturing on the Series B -
bonds, and your Board decided it best
to offer only one half Of the coupons in
cash and the remainder in coupon in
terest scrip, which was universally ac-
cepted by the bondholders. This was
before matters in the tax-suit had been
determined, and your Board hoped that
the earnings would improve sufficiently
to warrant the payment Of the one halC
cash paid May and November lst. which
amounted 10 si50,O0O.
There remained. however, from the
operations Of the road for 1855 only
&21i.97l OG toward the interest on the
" Series B " bonds and the payment of
one half cash on the coupons maturing
MAY lst and November lst; and pro-
yid.ns for the $224.745.l2 Of taxes for
previous years resulted in a correspond
ing increase in the floating debt.
CONCLUSION.
The outlook for 1856 is encouraging,
the indications point to an improvement I
in the local traffic along this line a. well T
as on those contributing to its business. /
On coal and through freights the rates |
are about the same as prevailed during |
lSsj, but it is hoped they will improve /
with the greater Commercial activity /
expected this year. An advance in /
these rates will assist the company /
greatly IN the disposition Of its floating
debt.
There has been steady development
in the coal traffic, it having grown from
q,4l0 tons carried in 1873 to 902 9G9
tons carried in 1885. Cur deliveries of
coal at Newpert's News in 1855 show
an increase Of G4 per cent. over the
previous year, and there has been
gain in other traffic at this port over
1884 Of - per cent.
To meet the demands 0f the local as
well as western traffic 20 Newport's
News the company found it necessary
20 contrae; roT 1000 S4-lect grain and
800 34-foOt gondola- hopper cOal.cars,
al of 25-ton capacity and . sufficient
aumber OF Locomotives 10 mcye this
additional equipment.
For statements showing tie financial
condition Of the company and for
further details pertaining to aho opera
.icaS of the soad, its physical cOndi-
;ion, rolling.s:OsL, ETC., you sreTclerred
to i4e accompanying report Of General
W. c. WickhaR, second vice-presi-
dent, and tables Ey the other officers Of
he company.
Export of the Ac(sI,d Nicc-Prssidsnt.
C.. p. Huntington, Esq, Presid,s'
Dear Sir,-I respectfully submit to
yo4 report Of tiIe operations Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway for the
ear end.9g December !, lSo5:
EdrNsRgS
rOm fle.a .......-...,,. s2, G39 sss ~
: ON pAssssgers ..... $40 isl 81
rom sApfei-7 ...-....... ..-..,... - 81 -
'rau United states mall. % COS ~