The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-01
RAILROADS HAVE
HAD GOOD YEAR
Both Freight and Passenger Traffic
Unprecedented.
a BIG INCREASE IN EARNINGS
soutasrn Lines Have Mad: Great Strides
Forward : Large Amounts Spent in
Rack Betternents aud FaeIi-
tics Increased.
a BIG INCREASE IN EARNINGS

tics Increased.
DprI,e 3ae pas; year OF progress and
-,rosnerjty the railroads of the country
have moi beer, backward in the race pot
have done a business that. measured %
that of twenty years ago, wonio nay
been looked upon as marvellous, h'ia
which has even far cclipsed any pFcNio@s
year IN their history.
The railroads and their condlIoil .tie !"
good barometer of the prosperity o. t,ie
n4saio coi,mtrv. and reading by THIS the
country has never been moro no. Ast .
tn, end of the year finds almost a TAM
Inc in cars. and though the WORKS Oh tAte
country are running full-handed ana W.
HE time. they have orders tar IN EXCESS
nj their ability TO fill for some Hfne 10
rome Freight transportation faclll'ses
have been overtaNed and stretched beyond
the tension they are able TO MAINTAIN n.
Some iron plants have been forced 10
close temporarily from lack of coke, pc
cause the railroads were unable 10 maui
Il in sufficient quantities.
DESPITE many obstacles, including great
freshets and consequent damage, both 10
tracks and bridges, the necessity oil large
expenditure for increased rollins STOCK
and the betteYment of tracks, the sAii-
roads show by their annual reports a
most encorraE tng State of finances. In
Bradstreet's review Of trade for the past
year. issued only a few days ago, 1t was
shown that The railroads Of this country
bad made an increase of y per cent, N
gross earnings, and of 16 per cent IN net
Earnings
This shows not only a remarkable in
crease in the earning capacity of the
roads, but an equally remarkable de-
crease in operating expenses.
PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
The passenger traffic the past year has
been no less noteworthy than the freight.
and marked Improvement has been made
In the conveniences afo11ed the travel
Ing public Wrecks and disasters of any
FERROUS nature have been exceptionally
few. considering the great number OF
heavy rains that have occurred.
The roads traversing Virginia and es-
peciaily those that enter Richmond, have
been no exception to the general pros
?erity. and the Improvement in facilities
of travel have been more marked probn-
bly, in this State than elsewhere, and the
completion of the handsome new depot
of the Chesapeake and Ohio and Seaboard
Air Line, in this city, and the erection
OF the magnificent steel yiaduct by the
former company, are only two Of many
marked improvements. Among others
could be mentioned the assumption of
control by the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac Of the entire line from this
city to Washington, the shortening of the
schedule between these points by that
road. and the installation of a direct
North and South route by the Southern
via Richmond.
THROUGH TO WASHINGTON.
Owing to the election of Major z. T. ID
Myers to the presidency of the Washing
ton Southern Railway, which extends
from Quantico tc the south end of the
Tong bridge across the Potomac River,
and the appointment Of certain officers
of the Richmond Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad Company to Ike positions
with the Washington Southern Railway,
trains. locomotives and train crews of
these two railroad companies are now
running through without change between
Richmond and Washington The arrange
ment by which this was accomplished went
into effect on the 1st of November, 1901,
and has resulted in improving the SER
vice and reducing the time between Rich
nond and Washington
Both of these railroads are Virginia
institutions in the strictest sense. extend
ing, as they GO from the capital of the
State OF the southern bank of the Potomac
River. Their officers and employees are
always alive TO the interests of Richmond
and Virginia
Chartered in 1894, the Richmond, Fred
the distinction of being one of the first
railroads built in this country. Those
who have followed its history have seen
the schedule time between Richmond
and Washington reduced by gradual steps
from fifteen hours in 1886 to less than
three, hours, the schedule of the noon
train from Elba Station to Washington.
The Washington Southern Railway,
which is now so closely identified with
irl-CJ Nd Sntn
mac Railroad, was chertered in 1890, and
until the 3ist OF October, 1901, was operat-
ed BY the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad Company. The two
companies now have seven first-class pas
senGer trains in each direction running
Between Richmond and Washington, be
sides ten local accommodation trains.
These provide convenient connections
with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad on the
north, and the Southern, Atlantic. Coast
Line, Seaboard Air Line and Chesapeake
and Ohio Railways on The south.
In ADDITION TO The trains mentioned
now running over the Richmond. Treder-
tcksburg and Potomac Railroad and the
Washington Southern Railway, there Will
be commencing about the middle OF this
month, the we'll known New York and
Florida Special, running over the lines
of these two companies in connection with
the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Atlantic
Coast Line, Plant System and the Flor
IDS East Coast Railroad. 1t is also an
nounce6 that at the same time late
train viii be run from Elba TO Ashland
for. the benefit of the suburban residents
who wish to avail themselves Of the eve
ming attractions OF the city.
THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY IN 1901.
The results which must naturally fol-
tow the practical and progressive I'o .E'sy
of the southern Railway Company are
fully in evidence With the close Of 1901
ends another favorable years operations
of that great system which is rendering
go much assistance in the development OF
that extensive and fruitful country south
of the Potomac and east of the MISSES
sippi River.
The active development of the resources
Of the country contiguous TO the South
ern Railway has led to a large increase
In new industries The more than hun
1.N-. -cDy