Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-11-19

Deer.
Freight train.. 7o,S17 7s,83s g s, 5ls
Exhibit ''E'' shows the earnings and work
ing expenses for this fiscal year as compared
with the year previous.
From this it will be seen that the gross
earnings are So, 625, 96 less than the previous
year. The passenger business, both local and
through, shows a decrease Notwithstanding
additional train facilities were provided dur
ing the last four months of the year, covering
the summer or springs season with the hope
that a larger business would be developed
but the result has not justified either the ex-
pectatlon or the expenditure.
: The local freight shows a small increase;
less than one per cent, although an addition
al station was opened during the year.
The through freight shows decrease of
81, 1872 10, or 4. 70 per cent. In 1885 there were
received from the Bait. & Ohio r. r. Com
pany at Harrisonburg IS, 100 tons of freight,
as against 1906 tons in 1886, the decrease
being chiefly coke and grain there being
10, 974 tons less coke than in 1885, and grain
3,S17 tons. The decrease in coke shipment S
is accounted for by the strike in the Councils
vile region and the fact that the furnaces in
the South in the absence of this supply secur-
ed their coke from other regions not tributary
to this road.
The freights delivered to the Baltimore &
Ohio show an increase of 2, 427 tons; the in
crease being principally in live stock, forest
products, and iron.
The freight delivered to the Richmond &
Allegheny R. R., as compared with the pre-
vious year, shows a decrease of 3,571 tons;
the decrease being chiefly in coke and grain
from the West. But the freight delivered to
excess of the amount received from that road.
The decrease in the gross earnings has been
due to the continued depression in business
especially in the Valley, for the first half of
winter. For the last half of January and the
first part of February the heavy SHOWS almost
blockaded the country roads, but little bust
ness was transacted along the line, and the
earnings were not sufficient to meet the oper-
ating expenses of the road. To the unusually
causes which prevented larger increase in
the local business.
In connection with this years expenses it
should also be stated that So, SOB were paid in
ing in previous years and $80982 in repairs
of bridges, were for repairs to bridge at East
Lexington made necessary on account of
damage by high water
During the year the Indebtedness to the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. OF 1874, ST. II,
loans used in the permanent improvement of
the property has been fully iquidated by
proceeds from the sale of County bonds.
AS was the case last year, certain betterments
and improvements, such new station build
ings, additional sidings and the permanent
improvement of the road bed, have been found
necessary and have been made during the
Fiscal Year and paid for from the receipts,
thus avoiding any increase in the obligations
of the company.
The Company holds in its Treasury $43, 100
of Rockbridge county bonds and $44 500 of
Botetourt county bonds, total of $S7, 600,
| on which interest at 6 per cent. is paid regu-
| larly.
| There are alsol$25, 900 of the bonds of
Roanoke county, held by the company, on
| which no interest is paid, but which, when the
county of Roanoke makes good its obligation
| to the company must become an available
asset.
! 1t has been disappointing that the net earn
inos from traffic have not been greater but it
is pleasing to note that the business for the
last six months of the fiscal year shows a
marked increase over the same period of 1885,
] and with the present increased prosperity it
| is hoped that the net earnings from traffi C
alone will be sufficient to meet the fixed
charges in future.
The track and other properties of the com
pany have been well maintained and improv-
ed during the year.
| $500 feet of steel rai3have been renewed
and II, 500 new cross-ties put into the track.
The side-tracks at Folly Mills, Mint Spring,
| ppOsl5WOUu, bdflb duu llnDoE huge nave
| been extended.
| An arrangement was made with outside
parties for the erection at Tie Town or Sand
Banks, at their own expense, of warehouse
to include station facilities This station is
now known as Decatur and a frst-class agency
has been established there.
The old camp boarding house at Fairfield
has been converted into dwelling by some
slight alterations and repairs, and is now a
source of revenue to the Company.
/ Bridge No. has been rebuilt wrought
iron girders being substituted for the wooden
ones.
Bridge No. IA has been repaired and
strengthened, spans e5 IT, and 100 it, long
respectively. New white pine track stringers
Gxl5 were put IN, pieces 6x15x30 #. lon g
under each rail and renewed white oak ties
7x8X10; and the ties on the 100 If. snan wara