Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-03
THE RAILROAD WORLD
Gratifying Increase Of the Nor
folk and Western.
Another Stop In the seaboard Air Limo
Consolidation Scheme An Open Gate
way Discovery of tho First Railroad
Constructed In North Carolina.

Following Is an official statement of
the earnings of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad for the month of February,
and from July 1st., 1899 to February
2Sth OF this year:
1900. Increase.
Gross earnings ......s1. 060.014 s2S6, 534
Net earnings $1,000. 3S4,S7s 1884
From July 1st to Feb. 2sth:
Gross earnings ......ss,1s7,775 s1.522.121
Net earnings 1890. S.6s2,oO3 1.Osa.614
CHANGE OF NAME
One OF the final steps taken toward
the changing of the name of the Rich
mond, petersburg and Carolina railroad
and Its consolidation with the other
lines composing the greater Seaboard
Air Line System, was taken yesterday
at the meeting of the directors at
Petersburg
At this meeting new Board of
Directors was elected. John Scott and
~ Randolph Williams were elected in
the places OF General ]. S. Negley and
Dewitt Smith, E. Randolph williams
being elected president of the company
The directors will meet again in a few
days to further consummate the con-
solidation scheme.
Open GATEWAY"
The New York Commercial Of yester-
day says:
Officials of the Pennsylvania have
practically admitted that the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac is
10 be made an open gateway for all
roads between the North and South,
but they decline to say to what extent
the Pennsylvania Is interested or give
any other particulars, on the ground
that the matter is not yet in shape to
be talked about. 1t Is believed that a
community of interest is to be estab-
lished or traffic alliance mad that
Will accord equal rights to all roads,
and 1t will not be necessary for the Sea-
board to build Its own line between
Richmond and Washington.
A HIDDEN TRACK.
Sundays Raleigh Post SAYS: In ex-
cavating for the foundation for the
Vance statue in Capitol Square yester-
day a portion of railroad track was
dug up.
The iron rails were found Just as
they were laid two generations ago.
The road. which was a tramway, ex-
tended from the Capitol to the rock
quarry, and was built for the purpose
OF hauling stone with which to build
the Capitol. The old rails were fairly
we'll preserved. The section that was
taken up has been placed in the Mu-
scum.
lib lotu W the quarry was the nrSt
| railroad built in North Carolina and,
according to an old citizen who was
| NJ the Capitol yesterday, was directly
responsible for the construction of the
Raleigh & CASTOR. The Capitol tram
road was built about 1888. The story
goes that n charge OF 25 cents was
made for taking people over the line,
and SO great were the profits that It
was decided that n road from Weldon
to Raleigh could be made to pay
equally as well. The gentleman who
was giving this information stated that
the construction OF the Raleigh & Gas
ton Railroad came about in that way.
QUITO A FURRY.
There was quite a furry In railway
circles as a result Of the positive an
| nouncement that the Southern had at
| last obtained entrance into Louisville
and St. Louis over its own tracks.
This Is accomplished by the purchase
Of the Louisville, Evansville and St.
Louis. which extends from Louisville
to st. Louis. The road Is $50 miles in
length. It's acquisition by the Southern
gives the latter a total mileage of
6,611.
The negotiations leading UP to the
| sale were conducted with the greatest
possible secrecy. Positive confirma-
ton of the sale was furnished by the
publication OF the court record In ST.
Louis yesterday, setting April 9Th as
the date for hearing on the decree
of sale.
1t is expected that the Southern will
begin at once to improve its property.