The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-23

OF railroads being then unknown. and
I'm January. 1883, the first engine and car
was put on the road. The growth OF
traffic was continuous. and In 1891
It was found that the system Of construc-
ton was OF insufficient strength to with
stand the wear and tear and Il was decld-
ed TO reconstruct the road, and this work
was completed in November. 1893. The
cost of this reconstruction at that time
was 100000 and the whole OF this was
charged to the revenue account. AS a
consequence Of this the returns from the
traffic we're insufficient to meet the in
terest on the original capital outlay and
for the sinking fund and the undertaking
had for several years to receive assist
ance from the taxes. This was granted
TO the extent altogether OF s2O6. 100. The
total capital outlay on the roads and
equipment exclusive OF the cost OF recon-
struction which has been. to March. 1897.
s305 900 and which has come wholly out
of revenue) has been $685.. 800. In the year
erdng the asst March. 1897. the total re-
ceipts from traffic, parcels, &C. was
sl4j. 205 The total cost OF operation for
the year, including $1,000 paid to the
municipal authorities for city taxes and
Sl,615 paid to the same authorities for
water and gas supplied from the city
works. was 1880: thus showing a pfont
capital invested OF S5l. IS for the year in
addition to the 81. 800 paid for taxes and
the Sic paid for gas and water. both
OF which items went TO the credit of the
Taxpayers OF the city. Including these
Items. the total profit for the year 10 the
credit of the city was $9.s on a capital
outlay OF s6S7.5Oo. This surplus OF s5l,zs5
was applied as to S30395 in payment OF in
terest on capital and the proportion OF
M ofpL n ~
the capital debt In the time fixed by
Parliament for its redemption, as TO
$1,000 in adding TO the depreciation fund
now being built up to provide for recon-
struction when required and the balance
OF $3.50 was carried forward. There has
already been accumulated towards the
repayment OF the capital invested In
the undertaking the sum OF AlsSo. Al
lowing for this accumulated fund. tho
return from the working OF the roads
therefore, last year was sufficient 10 pay
8 l-2 per cent. interest on the balance OF
the capital still invested in the undertake
ing. This surely does not speak badly for
the management OF the undertaking aid
refutes the contention of Mr.. Porter that
"Huddersfleld In lamentable efforts 10 es-
tablish municipality operated railways has
muddled away S3O66l3 In deficits and has
100000 invested In twenty-five miles OF
the Huddersheld street railros~s are not
worked on Sunday at ali and therefore a
days traffic every week which In this
country is often the best OF the whols
week, is entirely lost 10 the road. This
however, is in conformity with the ex-
messed wish OF the taxpayers, who pre-
fer to sacrifice something rather than vio-
late the sanctity OF the Sabbath. The
municipal authorities and. therefore. ths
taxpayers, also, derive a further beneht
from the roads which does not appear In
the accounts as they utilize the tracks
for hauling cars loaded with street gar
bage and refuse during the night TO the
dumps and Instructors. thus saving
considerable sum every year In horse
powed and labor. The cars are also fitted
with letter boxes and by arrangement
with the postmaster-general these are
cleared every hour and an average OF
30. 900 letters per month are collected from
them, thus showing the appreciation OK
the public of this convenience. With
such results attained as these the tax
payers OF Huddersfield are not likely TO
accept Mr.. Porter's conclusion that their
municipal authorities are not nj to be
entrust. 4 with the working and manage
ment OF their street railroads.
]. +. JACKSON.
Richmond, Va. April /. 1898.