The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-24

i
the creek at Havelock
(Signed) 'B, A. NEWLAND,
Master of Trains
When it is remembered that the
only two racks. oother than the Rocks
Bryan rack between New Bern and
Morehead We're situated between
Croatan and the creek at Havelock, il
Will be seen that this order confines
wood getting TO the Rocks station as
effectually as the first positive order
Neither Of these orders has been re-
voked, and the last mentioned one
was still on the bulletin board when
we left New Bern on the 9th of this
month.
Mr.. Bryan sought to explain these
orders by showing that certain parties
had been stealing wood from his land
and selling it TO the railroad company,
and the roadmaster confirmed this,
but said that this stolen wood had
been put on the roadside, not i'm racks,
east of Mr.. Bryan's land, while the
racks upon which the embargo was
laid We're west OF his land and two
and four miles distant from it. Even
had the parties furnishing these racks
been the thieves, it would not be prop
er for the Atlantic and North Caro-
lima railroad to be used for the pur-
pose of policing Mr.. Bryan's private
property Especially is this true
when it is remembered that the cost
of wood to the company was rapidly
moving upward, because of lack of
competition. and these orders cut off
arbitrarily the only competitors Of
the Rocks Bryan rack between New
Bern and Morehead, and must have
in soma measure contributed 10 the
advance i'm the price of wood. Mr..
Bryan further urged in explanation
of the necessity for these orders that
all the parties were furnishing wood
in a haphazard sort Of way and, in
order to induce one OF them to 6iVe
his attention to the business and keep
the rack supplied at all times, it, was
necessary to give him the exclusive
privilege between New Bern and
Morehead
We have thus exhaustively treated
the wood question for several reasons.
The question of fuel supply seems to
us to be one of the most serious prob
lens confronting the company. Dur
ing the four years from 1896 to 1892
inclusive, wood for fuel cost the com
Eany $32,340.60, while during the
same period $31.911.04 was spent for
cross ties. During the next four
years, 1900 to 1903 inclusive, the bill
for wood Jumped to 74,S95.57, while
expenditures for ties dropped TO $26,-
S2412. TO be sure, the train service
was better during the last period and
more wood was consumed, but the
price per cord had also advanced
sharply. until it now stands ct about
81 per cord average; $4,000 i'm four
years for fuel, $4,000 last year, is
very serious item for a road like the
Atlantic and North Carolina railroad,
and IT seems to us that the situation
should have induced the management
TO Investigate the feasibility of sub
Stitutng coal.
We have looked into this matter
carefully and find that coal can be
procured at a price which will re-
suit in a saving OF $4,000 to $4,000
per year, and at the same time reduce
the running time of passenger trains
between Goldsboro and Morehead by
nj least half an hour. The best Red
Jacket steam coal can be bought
under contract for one year or a term
of years for $40 per ton delivered on
cars at NeIT Bern. The Atlantic and
North Carolina railroad company
proportion of freight revenue on such
shipments of coal would be 40 cents
per ton. Since they haul it for their
own use this may be deducted from
delivered cost, making the net cost
S294 per ton delivered in New Bern.
Half q ton of coal costing, say $50,
is equal to one cord OF wood costing
say $500; saving of 80 cents for
each cord of wood consumed or its
equivalent Last year twelve thous-
and cords were consumed and so here
we have a plain saving of $4,000 per
year. The II, 600 cords not consumed by
the company would be handled rs
freight for other industries, brick
yards and the like, producing Il mimi
mum revenue to tho road of 80 cents
per cord or $4,000 per year. If not
needed by other industries it would
be left on the land, and come to the
road as rev enue producing freight at
some time in the future either as wood
or, better still, as lumber at higher
rate. Assuming that the actual cost
Of moving this freight for other part
les would amount to half the revenue
received therefor, we still have proht
of $4,000 per year from this source
TO add to the $4,000 saved in first cost
of coal rs compared with wood. max
ing saving in the use of coal of at
least $4,000 Il year.
Charge That Eleven Agents Were
Short in Their Accounts.
When Mr.. McBee took charge the
result of a check of agents accounts