Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-05-13
OHIO RIVER K. R.
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Held Yesterday Report Of the
Management.

Special to the Register.
PARKERSBURG, w. Va May 12-The
annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Ohio River Railroad Company was held
in the office of the company here to-day.
The stock was well represented at the
meeting, and the report of the Vice Pres
ident and General Manager George A.
Burt, was submitted to the stockholders
by President H. Fl. Rogers, who, In d
brief letter, among other things. said:
While the gross earnings show a slight
decrease for the year. this mas been more
than compensated by reduction in the
expenses of operation
The report of Mr.. Burt for the year
1897 show that the gross earnings were
$50 1856 10, compared with $685. $40 81 for
the previous year, a decrease of 3473 r.
or Sc per cent.
The net earnings were S341, s99 so as
against $685. AS As, an increase of SIS 54 o.
or AGA per cent.
The gross earnings per mile of road
averaged $4,311 CO. against $i,332 80, being
a decrease of 81 per cent.
The operating expenses were S623, 297 49,
compared with $64l, 925 03, a decrease of
s1s.627 "A, or 2.9o per cent
The percentage of operating expenses
to gross earnings, were $3.50 per cent
against 66.27, a decrease of 1.6S per cent
The gross earnings from passengers
amounted to 1855, 430 o., compared with
SS70,o96 80 in the preceding year, being
decrease of $f,6GS g. or 1926 per cent
This decrease is shown to be chiefly in
local travel
The number of passengers carried was
47o,9s6, against 1929 in the previous year,
decrease of 2S,263 or 5.66 per cent
The number of passengers carried one
mile was 1460s,s55, compared with 1865
5s5 in the preceding year, decrease of
$40, or Al per cent.
The average fare received from each
passenger was 77.5ss cents against "a ITO
cents in the preceding year an increase
of S.47S cents, or Ago per cent
The earnings from freight traffic We're
s54S14S &c, against $j42, $50 90 the previous
year, an increase of s., 359 6S, or 81 per
cent.
The number of tons of freight carried
was 66I. 80 against 695.025 tons in the pre-
ceding year, an increase of 80, 2S5 or 500
per cent.
The average amount received from each
ton of freight carried was S2143 cents,
Il,
a decrease of 3.34S cents per ton The
average rate per ton per mile was 62G
cent, as compared wits .6S4 cent during
the previous year. a decrease of .05S cent
The roadway and structures have been
greatly improved during the year by
liberal expenditure in that direction Dur
ing the year there was expended and
charged direct to operating expenses the
sum of $2G3, 0S7 46 account of the main
tenance of roadway and structures, being
an increase of $50 333 IS over last year
The equipment at the close of the year
consisted of . locomotives q passenger
cars, baggage mail and express cars,
parlor cars, 96S box cars, 273 gondolas 81
fiat cars, % stock cars, II cabooses 2
steam-shovels and l pile-driver, all in
good repair and in active service.
1t is again gratifying to report that no
loss of life or injury to passengers has
occurred during the year.
The organization of the company at the
close of the meeting to-day was unchang-
ed. J. n. Camden presided, and Geo. A.
Burt was made secretary. Forxr-seven
thousand shares of the total capitalza-
ton of 1900 were represented and voted.
Only one ticket was presented and Capt
Geo. w. Moffatt was appointed to cast
the vote of the stock present for the for
eign directors. The foreign stockholders
present were S. w. Cotton, Jr., and f. w.
Clark and E. r. Hardness, Of New York
The directors will meet and organize lat
err on, probably in New York