Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-14

utlYe committee instructed that the in-
terest accrued to December 31st, but not
due, should appear in the general bal
ance sheet as a liability, and in accord
ance Herewith profit and loss has been
charged, as shown on page q, with S44.-
1883, being the interest accrued on the
| first and general mortgage bonds to
December 31st, but not maturing until
April and June, 1897; the Committee
further instructed to carry in a special
account the discount upon the bonds
sold during the year, and to charge OIL
the proportion applicable to each year
during the life of the bond, this course
being more conservative than to charge
off the full discount in the year in which
the bonds were sold. The amount thus
written off for the year 1896 was S37714,
which has been charged, as will be seen,
to income account, page 20.
The parlor cars, of which mention
was made in the report of 1895, have
been in regular service during the year.
The appreciation manifested by the
travelling public for this innovation has
yielded satisfactory results. These cars,
fully equipped with all modern appli-
derived from them, after deducting all
expenses Including repairs, etc. was
81, 1888. 10 for the year. which is equal to
14.S5 per cent. per annum on the cost.
1t became apparent that through cars
to Pittsburg, Pa, would better accom-
modate the travelling public. and on
June Doth a joint arrangement was
made with the Pittsburg, Cincinnati &
st. Louis Ry. Co. for running parlor
cars through on connecting trains, each
of the feur through trains being thus
provided with parlor car. This ar
rangement has been very satisfactory,
and good results have been obtained
The addition of four passenger cars
and three mail and express cars of the
latest design. has been of especial adj
vantage, adding greatly TO the improve
ment of the train and mail service.
The purchase Of locomotives and
300 additional freight cars (thus ena-
bling the Company to more expeditions
ly handle its increasing traffic. has ma
terially aided the freight department
in obtaining new business. This equip
ment was secured on favorable terms,
the payment therefor extending over
a period Of years.
Special attention has been given 10
train service with a view to securing a
minimum of train mileage and max
imum of train loads. The result Of
these efforts is shown by the decrease
Of 1O.131 miles in the mileage made by
freight trains (although there was an
increase of 79.109 tons of freight car
ried). and an increase Of 4. rs cars 70
each train handled, averaging 1856 cars
per train. against 80 81 cars in the pre-
ceding year
During the months of June and July
the exceedingly heavy rains that all OF
this section of the country was subjected
to. caused an unprecedented amount OF
water in the streams tributary to the
Ohio. particularly throughout the coun-
ties of Peasants and Tyler, and in that
locality the damage TO roadbed ana
structures was considerable, which,
however, was promptly met and over
come by necessary repairs that increas-
ed very perceptibly the average per-
centage OF operating expenses to gross
earnings for the year. July 9Th the
iron truss bridge and one abutment
crossing Little Grave creek, was swept
into the Ohio river and totally lost.
This bridge was replaced temporarily
by a wooden trestle, and the necessity
of O permanent bridge at that point Is
submitted for consideration.
The field OF oil developments is eX-
tending southwark in territory near to
the road, and a large increase of bust
ness is apparent, particularly in and
about Parkersburg. and better facilities
for handling the amount OF traffic pre-
sented are needed. The present freight
station. which is located on leased prop
eI7v. is inadequate for the volume OF
business. An arrangement was entered
into with the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road Company, in 1895, for an alteration
in a span of their Ohio river bridge (the
EXPENSE to be borne jointly, which
would admit of the laying of tracks TO
reach propertv owned by this company,
centrally located. for the erection OF a
freight station larger and easier of ac-
cess than the present one. The alter
atom of the bridge has about reached
completion. and the erection of new
freight station during the coming year
is submitted for consideration; as also IS
that of building an clearinghouse at SIS
tersville 70 furnish meals and accom-
modations to passengers on the north
end of the road, there being none be-
tween Wheeling and PIT. Pleasant.
In last years report it was stated
that az least 100000 ties would require
renewing during the year 1896. AS pre-
yiouslv shown in this report the actuai
number renewed was 1851. There
will he required during the ensuing
wear $4,000 ties north of Parkersburg
and $4,000 south.
While thus presenting briefly the rec
ord for the fiscal year ending December
3tst 1896. and taking into considera-
tion the severe business depression
which prevailed during the greater por-
tion of the time. it is gratifying TO re-
mort that the traffic and business within
the territory traversed by the line of
road he's been preserved, notwithstand-
inc that the Ohio river was navigable
for small nackets during the entire year
under review, while during seven
months of the preceding year the river
was not navigable on account Of low
water
II is gratifying to report that no loss
of life or injury to passengers has oc-
Cured and there has been no derail-
ment of trains during the year.
The following board of directors was
elected. II. II. Rogers, c. NJ. Pratt, A.
G bedford. S. W. Cotton. Jr. Herman
Oe,ricbs New York: Geo. A. Burt c. w.
Hardness. ]. y. Camden, B. D. spillman'
Parkersburg.
Tba hoard will meet in New York soon
for organization.
On Sunday next the ROAD VIII auopC