The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-01-05
A UNIQUE RAILROAD.
LINE IN RHODE ISLAND JUST
TWO MILES LONG.
Has Twenty-Five Locomotives and
One Man IL the Whole Grew
Road Is Prosperous and Good
Dividend Payer.

New York.-Rhode Islands two-mile
railroad--just two miles long-with its
% locomotives, two passenger and nine
freight cars, 33 employees, one bridge
and half dozen grade crossings, is one
Of the most prosperous in the state, II
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 lire of the New York, New Haven
& Hartford, near Pawtucket, to ter
minus in Saylesville, thriving forctory
and industrial hamlet
The road is unique in many ways.
There is no combination car and locomo-
tive, like the one on the Moshassuck, in
use in any other part of this country, 1t
Is believed by the operators of this one,
which runs up and down the country side
between Woodlawn and Say lesville 13
times day.
James Andrews is the engine driver Of
the car-locomotive, and he has enjoyed
the employment of pulling the lever so
well, being his own fireman all the while,
that he has held on to his position for
nearly is years.
When a passenger stops off at the
Woodlawn station to take peep at one
of the shortest railroaos in the country,
II not in the world. he finds the combina-
ton car and engine veritable novelty
in the science of railroaoing.
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 Mineral
Springs pike, one of the most attractive
thoroughfares in northern Rhode Is
land
The inquripg passenger is whizzed
from one end of this remarkable rail-
road to the other in just ten minutes,
and he Is told by boy. who attends the
gates. that 10000 passengers we're car
ried in the past year about $500 less
than the year before, because of trolley
opposition.
The two-mile railroad has been pros
porous since ii was incorporated, June
IL, 1874, and the surplus earnings are
$50094.56, or S9456 more than the
amount of capital stock.
The net earnings of the past year, how
ever, were only $l,12I54, or less than
s25 week, and when the figures were
considered by Frank A. Sayles, the
president, and the four other directors
II was decided TO appeal to the general
assembly for the right to construct an
extension to tide-water in the city Of
Pawtucket and to also run the road up
lpr
tance farther, to meet the growing COM
petition of the trolley roads,
Another matter discussed by the five
directors was the proposition to run a
New York sound line of steamers in con-
nection with this two-mile road. The
plan of Mr.. Sayles Is to have the steam
ers depart from the port Of Pawtucket
on the Sookonk river and to carry pas
sengers and freight.
As the legislature has authorized the
Moshassuck Valley company to go ahead
with their plans, there is no doubt that
Mr.. Sayles will do something to make
his two-mile railroad profitable one
hereafter as it has been in the pas., for
he is many times a millionaire, and his
extensive properties are almost sutii-
cient in themselves to keep the road in
operation.
The gross earnings during the past
year were $63,412.35.
1t is said that no amount OF money
could buy out or lease this little rail-
road; that no combination with the
great Consolidated could obtain 1t from
the coterie of wealthy men who control
1t and revel in its ownership.
One of the notable stops is that at the
Office of one of the mills owned by the
Sayleses. II is always made, and let
ters and packages for the concern owned
by them at Saylesville are placed
aboard the car for delivery at the fac
tories. The road in this and other in
stances savors of the private concern
but It Is a common carrier, and any per
son can use the passenger or freigh
cars, and the rates are said to be mod
crate.
The road begins operations each da,
at six In the morning. and there are 1;
hours of railroading for the veteran en-
gineer, and all of the runs are mad,
that are considered advisable to catcl
the business.
STOMACH Is ELECTRICAL.