The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-01-07
UNIQUE RAILROAD.
LINE IN RHODE ISLAND JUST
TWO MILES LONG.
Has Twenty-Five Locomotives and
One Man Is the Whole Crew
Road Is Prosperous and Good
Dividend Payer.

Road Is Prosperous and Good
Dividend Payer.
New YOrk.-RhOde Islands twO-mIls
raiiroad-just two miles lCng-with its
% locomotives, two passenger and nine
freight cars, 20 employees, ono. bridge
and half a dozen grade crossings is one
Of the most prosperous in the state, il
not in the country.
The corporation is known as the Mos
hassuck Valley railroad. and the track
runs from the Woodlawn depot on the
main line Of the New York, New Haven
d Hartford. near Pawtucket, 10 a ter
minus in Saylesville, a thriving forctory
and industrial hamlet.
The road is unique in many ways.
! There is no combination car and l0como.
[ tive, like the one on the Moshassuck, in
use in any other part of this country, ii
is believed by the operators Of this one,
which runs up and down the countryside
between WOOdlawn and Saylesyllle u
times a day.
""ibF' " - INT tAIElh' tlANNl VI
the car-locOmotiye, and he has enjoyed
the employment of pulling the lever SC
well. being his own fireman all the while
that he has held on to his position for
nearly - years,
When a passenger stops off At the
Noodlawn station 10 take a peep at one
Of the shortest railroads in the country |
If not in the world, he finds the combina.
tion car and engine a veritabIe novelty
in the science of ~railroaGiug.
There are three stations and five regu.
lar stopping places. and on the run TWO
Of the principal streets Of Pawtucket are
passed over, including the Minerai
Springs pike, one of the most attractive
th~oroughfares in northern Rhode Is
land.
The inqliring passenger is whizzed
one end of this remarkable rail
road to the other in just ten minutes,
and he is told by a boy. who attends the
gates. that 10000 passengers we're car.
ried in the past year, about $500 less
han the year before, because OF a trolley
opposition.
The tw0-mile railroad has been pros
since it was Incorporated, June
II, 1874, and the surplus earnings are {
$50, o94.56, or $94.56 more than the i
mount Of capital stock. ,
The net earnings Of the past year, how
yer, were only $1,121.54, or less than I
,OE q waoR aud tuhap Tho 6ouroe ,traro :
Considered by Frank A. Sayles, the 7
resident. and the four other directors. T
was decided to appeal to the general @
Ssembly for the right to construct an n
to tide-water in the city of q
aWtuCbet, and to also run the road up c
ITO the country a considerable dis =
lncc farther. to meet the growing com u
of the trolley roads. .
Another matter discussed by the five v
.rectors was the proposition 10 run a n
York sound line OF steamers in con- ~
ection with this twO-miIe road. The {,
an of Mr., Sayles is to have the steam
s depart from the port of Pawtucket >,
the SookOnk river and to carry pas !,
myers and freight. -
As the legislature has authorized the =,
oshaSsuCk Valley company to go ahead -
tn their plans, there is no doubt that :,
+. Sayles will do something to make =,
5 two-mile railroad a profitable one :,
'%reafter, as il has been in the past. for ~
is many times a millionaire. and his :,
.tensive properties are almost sutfi- =
nnt in themselves to keep the road in !,
"
The gross earnings during the past -
We're S63,412.35.
is said that no amount of money Z
Md buy out or lease this little rail-
ad; that no combination with the -
eat Consolidated could obtain it from
e coterie of wealthy men who control
and reyel in its ownership.
One Of the notable stops is that at the
ice OF one of the mills owned BY the eu
1t is always made, and let I'll
5 and packages for the concern owned er
them at Saylesville are placed VI
Oard the car for delivery at the fac pe
ries. The road in this and other in Sd
lnces savors of the private concern, 10
t it is a common carrier, and any per- ie
| can use the passenger or freight cr'
$. and the rates are said to be mod a
tie. pc
The road begins operations each day ins
six in the morning, and there are IL an
of railroading for the veteran en- eV
~
ieer, and all of the runs are made Al
1t are considered advisable to catch an
business. to