The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-30

company, that the "Lackawaana state
ment for the year 1898 is probably the
best one everissued by the company. In
round figures gross earnings Increased
$2, 500. 600. while operating expenses in.
creased So. 7jO 900, so that the net act
ually shows decrease Of nearly $780,
900. This was caused by following ont
the Lake Shore policy of charging b5l-
terments of every kind, including new
equipments. to operating expenses
The statement shows III per cent
earned on the stock just rs Lake Shore
shows fraction over 8 per cent. but
if the LackawSnua followed the custom
Of other railroads in its bookkeeping
it could easily have shown Is per cent
earned on the stock. Its surplus
of trih' over $4,000. 900 is not
4 book account, but Is largely made up
of the best securities in the country,
which could readily be sold or capita.
lized. The amount of coal on hand
shows small increase. and liabilities
are considerably less than they wers
in 1892. Lackawanna stock at present
prices does not yield much to the in
vestor, but it is the accrued profits for
the stock which make it sell high. TIL
remarkable good showing made by the
company is due largely to the fact that
it continued to enjoy the ben fit or the
Reading deal The Lackawanna
went into the natural markets of
nearly all the large coal companies, and
by shading prices aud other III sthods,
secured large and profitable buh
ness. 1t remains to be seen. nov that
it's policy will he dictated by the Van
derbilt Jersey Central party. whether
its returns will be as favorable for the
present year.
Writing entertainiugly with refer
ence to the little three-Cylinder switch
engine used iu the Ecie Il Wyoming
Valleys Dunmore yards, the Green
Ridge Item man recalls THIS interesting
circumstance "A few years ago when
the first passenger train WAS bought by
the company and received at LIcka
wanna and Bloomsburg junction one
Of these remarkable little locomotives
was used to haul the train aud IL small
officials car from that place here. The
train consisted of coach and baggage
car. and when taking into consdsra-
ton the weight of the engine. which Ia
twelve tons, and the size Of the cylin-
ders. Sxl2, and the heavy grade, where
a large passenger engine can only hau!
Il few cars, it WAS wonder
ful performance. Before the start
was made the safety valves
we're screwed down until n steam pres
sure Of 1850 pounds was obtained and
with Superintendent George Is Smith
at the throttle the train was taken
through to Dunmore 20 the surprise of
the old veteran railrOaders wnO wit
ntsled the performance These loco
motives were built for uss on the old
gravity road and on the patent Of the
company's president John b Smith.
They have since been engaged for u.s.
on standard guage, and today remain
to awaken memories Of the halcyOn
day of the old gravity when the whirl
OF the plane pulley wheels rs the steel
rope glidsd over them, and the metal.
lie rumble of the long lines Of coal cars
rsverberated through tue reresses Of
the Moosic mountainA'
The following railway bills are pend
ing at Albany: Raising tho death liza.
bility from S., 900 to $4,000; Compell-
ing steam railroads to equip all freight
car roof with an iron guard; forcing
railroads to construct the roofs Of
freight cars so that they will extend
over the ends Of the cars, and prohibit
ing street railways from taking more
than ten hours work day from EN-
ployes.
These two facts OF local interest, are
CLEANED by "Arsspa the CtDondale
Herald's energetic gStherer Of railway
news, dots and Gashes: All cars OF the
New York, Ontario and Western sys
TEN reading Ontario, Uarbondale and
Scranton, the name under which the
Scranton division OF that road was
chartered are to be remarked and
stamped to read tho same as do all
other cars owned by that company
All side tracks on the Ontario and
Western between Carbonate AMI
Throop are filled with coal for which a
market has yet to be found
A summons in ejectmsnt was issued
Saturday by ProthonOtary D-gan to
Sheriff Woll, of SChuykill county, to
seize on Elisha Z. Wilbur, Charles
Hartshorne, the Lehigh Valley com
pany and Calvin Pardee to dispossess
them OF tho York Farm tract, upon
which the Lehigh Valley company have
erected a breaker known as York Farm
colliery and have made improvements
costing upwards OF $1,000, 900. The
tract contains 26i acres and $40 perches
and Is situated at the suburbs Of Potts
vile, and has proved to be a very val
uable coal product The suit is brought
by the heirs of Elizabeth Burke. for
whom the property was held in trust
by one Mr. Richards. 1t is elaine ID
that defendants have defective title
The aggregate earnings Of railroads
reporting for January to date is $l4 e.
! S47, 1856, u decrease compared with last
year Of II. 1 per cent. A slight improve.
ment from earlier reports are to be
noticed, Whether II Is due to an en-
largement Of business, more stable
rates or the fact that the open winter
has not interrupted traffic as storms
and blockades about year ago did
cannot be determined.
All car shops on the Shamokin and
CatawisSa division OF tho Rsading
closed for several days on account o.
the shutting down of the colleries, il
obedience to orders of restriction, will
resume on short time this morning.
On Feb. the New Jersey Contra
railroad, which has lately made impor-
tant improvements In its train service
will inRugurste faster time on severa
trains The principal changes will b.
made between Easton and New York
A dispatch from Hazleton saws