Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-28
PROPERTY CAREFULLY MAIN
TANNED.

PROPERTY CAREFULLY MAIN
TANNED.
The property has been carefully main
tanned Nearly all the 56-pound rail In
the main track has been replaced with
75-pound rail. OF the section adopted by
the American Society OF Civil Engineers.
Five thousand three hundred and seven
300 tons were purchased. There have
been laid up to the present date A l-2
miles. The remainder of the track
IL almost wholly ei-pound rail.
The cost of this Improvement,
after disposing Of the old rails, was sS4-
72i. Of which Ss.224 was for rails and
track appurtenances, and $500 for labor.
or this the sum OF SEA 50i.46 was charged
10 the current expenses or the year.
leaving about s6o0o0 TO be carried TO sub
sequent years. the board deeming such
the equitable way TO dispose of so I'M
usual and so considerable burden.
The effect OF the heavier rail Is very
perceptible in the greater smoothness OF
motion at high velocities. The roadbed
IL I'm a condition exceedingly creditable
10 those In immediate charge of ii. The
statistics OF maintenance OF way" ac-
conpanying this report will be found Of
interest:
BRIDGES IMPROVED.
The wooden drawbridges at Aqua creek
and Chapawamsic have been replaced
by steel girders. Since July LIST a sig
nal apparatus has been installed at the
former place. enabling trains 10 pass
safely without first coming TO stop.
The Boulevard overhead" bridge has
been replaced with steel.
The amount charged TO maintenance
OF way and structure is $206lS.39 more
than last year.
One passenger-coaoh. one baggage-car.
two caboose-cars fifteen boX-cars, and
nine nst-cars have been condemned. Six
box-cars have been added to the equip
ment.
The condition OF the motive power is
practically unchanged. 1t IL good
The charge TO maintenance OF equip
merit" is $5,li4.0s more than the previous
year.
Conducting transportation" shows an
increase OF si76lS.S9, and general ex-
penscs" a decrease of $lS,793B. This is
explained by certain changes in the
method OF distributing expenditures. in
order to conform to that of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The ton mileage increased Is l-2 per
cent.
The passenger mileage increased only
per cent.
The passenger and freight earnings
per mile OF road increased l-2 per
cent.
The average amount received per
passenger per mile was a little less than
"a cents; and per ton per mile less than
I cent.
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.
On october IL. 1894. north-bound mail
train No. rs was ''held-up' on the north
bank OF Aqua creek by masked robbers.
who forced their way into and riiied the
express-car They detached the engine
and sent II forward under steam. and
without control. TO Quantico, where 1t
diverged from the main track and plung
ed from the end OF a coal-trestle. carry
ing some cars with IL. Ii was injured,
but not destroyed: and this was the
chief damage TO the railroad company.
The excitement over the occurrence was
great. happening. as it did. so near Wash
ington. Two men, Charles j. Searcy and
Charles Morganheld. said to be the only
persons concerned in the robbery were
soon after arrested. convicted, and SEN
fenced 10 imprisonment in the Virginia
penitentiary. the one for eight. the other
for eighteen years.
There have been no serious train accl-
dents.
During this year the company has paid
10 the state OF Virginia per cent. on her
holdings. bringing the average return on
her investment for fifty-eight years up
to SIS per cent per apnpr
The company's relations With its con-
nections are OF a satisfactory nature.