Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-10
VALLEY RAILROAD.
The Annual Meeting and Election
Its Condition and improvements.

The Annual meeting ana Elect1On-
ITS Condition and improvements.
The Hartford and Connecticut Valley
Railroad company held its annual meeting
at Union depot in this city yesterday af-
ternoon. This meeting, held each year, is
simply formal matter required in order
to keep up its existence, and consists in
the selection of the old officers. The road
is owned substantially by the Consolidated
road. The officers are as follows: Presi-
dent, Henry G. Robinson, Hartford; secre-
.ary, William G. Brainard, New Haven;
treasurer, William L. Squire, New Haven;
division superintendent, j. v. A. Trum-
bull; directors, II. c. Robinson, Samuel
Babcock, William D. Bishop, E. M. Reed,
D. G. Spencer, Nathaniel Wheeler, E. II.
Trowbridge, Charles P. Clark.
As the road is owned by the Consoli-
dated its identity as separate company
could be wiped out, as there is legislative
authority for such procedure. In fact, this
will undoubtedly be done in few years.
The company was organized in 1879. 1t
is 46a miles in length. The Consolidated
road leased the line May "a, 1887, at an
annual rental of 81 per share. Some three
bought all but eight shares of the stock
In 1889 the dividend declared was per
cent. Since it was sold the new owners
have put down new steel rails and new
ties and placed it in first class condition.
It was built largely through the instru-
mentality of the Charter Life Insurance
company, which sank about 81, 500, 900 in
it, its total cost being about So, $50, O0O
At first it did not pay the expenses, but it
is now paying it's operators quite hand
some sum above operating expenses. The
line is much longer than many people
realize, being only four and one-half miles
shorter than the Shore Line division to
New London.
The principal freight carried on the
road is between Hartford and Saybrook
Point in winter, when the Transportation
company's boats from New York run to
that point. When the river is free from
ice, however, the steamers run to Hart
ford The passenger mileage is increasing
every year, as this road is very conven-
| lent line for the river towns which it in
tersects. In addition to the trains which
run from Hartford to Fenwick at the end
of the line on Long Island sound, in the
summer season one passenger train runs
through from Hartford to Saybrook juno
ton and thence to New London and re-
| turn each week day.
In connection with this road the large
Hotel Fenwick was built on the shores of
| the sound, but this enterprise was also a
| loss to the investors. While the towns
| through which tho road runs do not grow
very fast, the road serves good purpose,
and owners believe that the net revenue
| will increase from year to year.
Superintendent Waterbury of the Shore
Line is pushing the double tracking on that
division. Despite the present cold snap
the working gangs keep pegging along
Last weeks snow storm proved to be an
electrical storm east of Guilford
The warmer weather in that section has
prevented the earth from freezing to any
considerable extent, and SO the work Of
making the roadbed goes ahead with but
little interruption. In five or six weeks,
with the present weather, the roadbed be-
tween Leete's Island and Guilford will be
ready for the rails. Superintendent Wa
terbury will buy the steel for this section
the present week. When these rails are
laid, the road will be double-tracked from
Leete's Island to Mantle, distance of
thirty miles.
The largest share of this thirty miles of
double track is now in use, and greatly
facilitates the running of trains on the
line.