The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-10-09
TWICE A WEEK. 81 50 A YEAR

you from any idle curiosity to pry
into the business of your company,
but to carry out our sworn duties Of
railroad commissioners of this State
under the statute governing our acts.
We were only asking information to
place ourselves in correct position
before the general assembly of South
Carolina III our next annual report"
The Southern Railway company
knows the condition in South Caro-
lima and has experts in traffic man.
a"emrnt TO make Investigations into
trade condition, and really, the road
has suffered as much as has the gen
eral public on account Of the increase
III business, which came with such a
rush and bound that it found the
road mprcparcd in track or in equip
ment.
1t was decided by the commission
yesterday to require the railroads to
put rolling truck wagons ut the sta
tions in all towns of over 500 inhab
tants in order that baggage may bc
handled more rapidly. The passen-
GER trains are delayed because so
many trunks must be carried out of
the car-and sometimes pitched out.
These trunks can be rolled under the
door Of the ear.
Col Andrews talked very frankly to
the commission yesterday and told
them OF the trouble the management
had been having to gel rails and roll
ing stock shipped, according to con-
tract. lie stated that the troubles has
been largely on account of the light
rails. On the Spartanburg, Union Il
Columbia there will be all heavy rail
by the first of the new year. The Co.
lumbia and Grccnvillc will also be
ruuipped in similar manner. The light
rails are unable to hold the heavy
trains. The tracks were built for So
tom engines, and the road is now us-
ing Srmr IC..un engines and the ca
pacity Of the ears has been increased
very considerably also.
The road has ordered 100 engines.
Some of these have been delivered
and the others will be delivered lust
as rapidly as can be turned out by
the makers. The orders for these en-
glncs had been placed long time ago.
~ great many new box cars have been
ordercl also, and these have been de-
laycd by one cause and another. The
entire roadbcd of the system is to
be ballaStcd. Some Of the lines are
now in excellent condition, but others
need rock ballast and will be treated
in this manner as soon rs The railroad
company can get 10 them in the work
of Improvement. II Is said that large
improvements are being held up on
ac"tllnt uf the "mcrgcr Suit in this
State. Bu that was no, referred to
by Col. Andrews yesterday. lie will
submit Il statement in writing as soon
rs he goes back to his office.
The best managed road in the world
is said to be the Pennsylvania, and
yet this great system hal cOn9rsted
conditions ut Piilsbnrg and Harris
bar" last year. The Southern cali
moi h" blamed entirely for lack OF
Foresight. for the increase in business
in this State has been SO marvellous
that il is hard 60 hriicvr what one
>"rS ON paper aS Il record of what has
been done.
The gross tonnage in this State has
increased over 100000 tons in the
last five years. The gross earnings
have increased from $4,000,0OO per
annum to $5,000,0OO per annum in
the last five years. The gross earn
ings of all railroads in South Caro-
lima five years ago amounted to but
$l0,O00,000 and last year this had in
creased to $15,000,000.
Such a marvellous increase of bus
mess was not looked for, and in the
natural course Of events was not to
be expected Last year the entire
gross cravings Of the railroads on
their South Carolina business was
$i4,S56,O00, and for the year ending
June 30, 1906, the gross earnings were
$l5 5,750,000. This is an increase Of
nearly $1,000,000 within the year.
COl AndrnwSstoted vootordo,, +L.A