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

Special to the Register.
Parkersburg, w. Va, May 13.-iThe
annual meeting of the stockholders of
the Ohio River Railroad Company was
held here to-day in the general office
of the company.
President II. H. Rogers, of New
York, presented the report of the COM
pany for the year ending December 81,
1896. In the report President Rogers
says:
There has been a gratifying increase
in the revenue from freight and passen-
ger traffic, Notwithstanding the dullness
OF trade and industry that prevailed.
The years earnings of the road were
the largest in its history and after con-
sumlng 66.21 per cent. of the earnings
in operating the road, the net earnings
were sufficient 10 afford surplus OF
S2l, l,713.6S. after providing interest on
the funded debt, rental of tracks and
all other charges against income. The
improvements made during the year
places the road in the best condition
ever known; and during the year $780,
600 Of the Huntington and Big Sandy
Railroad Company's bonds were trans
ferred to the Ohio River Railroad Com
pany from the treasury, where they
were held in part payment of the ad-
vances made by it, and the bonds are
now carried as treasury asset on the
books of the company"
Accompanying the report of President
Rogers was the report of Vice President
and General Manager George A. Burt,
which embodied all the details of the
operation of the road during the year,
and reflects great credit upon the man
agement. The General Manager, in his
report says that during the first SIX
months the earnings showed marked
increase. which was not sustained our
ing the year in the same ratio, the prin-
cipal contributory factor to the decrease
being the general financial and indus
trial depression of the country, aggra-
waited by the political canvass.
The gross earnings for the year were
s96S. .670.51. compared with $SS7 ,270.74
for the previous year, an increase or
$S1, 1893 II, or 9.17 per cent. or this
increase, $46,352 13 was due to the
freight, S27,S44.75 to passenger, and
$7.202 SO to express, telegraph, etc.
The net earnings for the year were
1926. .745.4S. and in the previous year
s319.543. II. an increase of 7,202 81, or
. .26 per cent.
The gross earnings per mile or ROAD
averaged 1882 49, against $3,96S AZ per
mile in the preceding year, being an in
crease of 1854. so per mile, equal 10 . -
per cent.
EXPENSES.
The operating expenses for the year
were S641 .925 o. compared with $56I-
727. 60 for the previous year, an increase
of s74.197.40. or 13. 06 per cent.
The percentage of operating expenses
to gross earnings were 66.27 per cent,
against 63 SO per cent. in the previous
year. an increase of 2.3S per cent.
The operating expenses per mile CT
road were increased from the average Of
s2.539. .26 per mile in the preceding
year. to S2,S71.12, making an increase
of 1891 .S6 per mile, or 1897 per cent.
The operating expenses were greatly
increased by reason of the washouts and
landslides. occasioned by the heavy
rains of last June and July, as well as
other extraordinary expenditures. TO
which reference is made further on.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
The gross earnings from passengers
amounted to $370096 .33, against $34Z,-
251 .5S in the preceding year, being an
crease of S27.S44.7 Is, or S.13 per cent.
This result was caused entirely by the
increase in passengers carried, there
being slight decrease in the average
rate per passenger per mile.
The number of passengers carried was
499 249. against 5,79l in the previous
wear. an increase of 73, ,45S, or 17.25 per
cent.
The number Of passengers carried one
mile was 1868 595 an increase OF
1.504.472, or II. 43 per cent.
The average fare received from each
passenger was "A 110 cents, against
50 $3.50 cents in the preceding year,
decrease of 6 .270 cents or 7 80 per cent.
The average rate per passenger per
mile was 2.524 cents, against 2.599 cents
in the previous year, a decrease OF 30
of a cent. and the average distance that
each passenger was carried was -. /
miles being a decrease Of ID miles.
compared with the distance Travelled
by each passenger in the preceding
year.
The miles run by passenger trains
during the year was 4S9, 746. while dur
ing the previous year it was 462 ,692' an
increase of 27177 miles. of which 1o'O2S
miles was due to the running OF an ad-
ditional train between Parkersburg ana
Spencer.
The average earnings per passenger
train mile mot including mail ana eN-
nress) were y .56S cents, as against
52 Q75 cents in the previous year, an IN
crease of l .593 cents, or .. 10 per cent;
tho average earnings Gncluding mail
and express) were So. 255 cents. as COM
pared with S1.677 cents, an increase OF
/ .57S cents, or I .95 per cent.
FREIGHT TRAFFIC.
Tho earnings from freight traffic were
s549 $50 % against 1876 ,536 50 in the
nrevious year. an increase of S48,9O31S.
or II. % per cent. This result was due
entirely TO the increase in the volume
.of traffic secured. there being decrease
in the average rate per ton per mile.
The number Of tons of freight car
ried was 635 OPS. against 1916 tons IN
tho nreceding year. an increase OF tJ'lU9
tons. or a. 90 per cent. The increase
IN tonnage received from connecth5
roads was 79.029 tons, and was prlnc!pd!,
Iv in mig and bloom iron, castings ana
machinery. and slaves. The tonnage
originating on this road increased only
so inns. the increase in the products CT
the forest and the manufactures 0einS