The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-20
WILL ELECTR|FY
PORTION OF LINE
Norfolk and Western Preparing
Contracts for Change Near
Blueheld, w. Va.
COAL is GREATEST FACTOR
During Past Year N. & w. Has
Hauled More Than 81 100000
Tons Of Mine Products.
COAL IS GREATEST FACTOR

Contracts for acquiring the necessary
apparatus and equipment for the cleo
IRRIGATION of thirty miles OF it's line
between Blueheld and Vivian, w. Va,
arc being prepared by the Norfolk and
western Railway Company. The board
OF directors has authorized the expendi-
turo OF S1.o00.o00 for this work, which,
1t Is estimated. will require two years
TO complete. and will cost approx
mately $780, oOo
The management OF the road, after
careful investigation, determined that
that part OF the line could be operated
with much greater economy by hand
ling with electric power the heavy coal
traffic In that district. where the
density of train service Is the greatest
and the opposing grades are the hcavi-
est. An electrical power-house will he
erected near Bluestone. w Va. with
necessary substations at other points
Coal Is Lnrgest Freight Item.
Btumlnous coal is the largest single
item OF revenue freight carried by the
Norfolk and Western Railway. In the
elaborate tables prepared by President
IT, +. johnson to show tho stockholders
OF the road In detail It's exact condi-.
ton. this product equalcd 6i per cent
OF the freight tonnage hauled for the
fiscal year ending June 80 In all, a.
lso.532 tons OF coal we're hauled. the
total tonnage for the year being as
b3s.o5i tons. This is an increase of
more than 10 per cent over the previ-
Gus year.
The larger part OF the coal comes
from the Blueheld district. and 1t
passes over the thirty-nile stretch
ig a1a ntrif Th.
grades at that point are extremely
heavy. and even with the gigantic
moguls which have been purchased
within the past few years it is "a Sc
rous problem to keep the traffic NOV
Ing by steam.
Money for improvements
President Johnsons report is the
seventeenth TO be presented TO the
stockholders OF the road. the Norfolk
and Western Railway Company having
started operations on October ]. 1896.
Since that time si07,9l7,l46S6 has been
spent on the road and its equipment.
During the last fiscal year the sum OF
Si0,SJ1,l9lSI was spent on improve
ments. By means OF these cXpendi-
lures, the company has added 400 miles
Of main line and branches. 3sl miles OF
second track and 1l3 miles of sidinSs.
and has added 10 its equipment 63S
locomotives. III passenger train cars.
26.aSS freight cars and 9l5 work train
cars. The equipment has Increased
$40 per cent in tractive power and 362
per cent In ton capacity During the
past year new equipment has been re-
ccved as follows:
Five passenger locomotives, forty
Zine freight locomotives. six all-steel
baggage and express cars, eight all
steel baggage and mail cars. ten all
steel mail cars. 500 ali-steel dropbot
tom gondolas. il5.oo0 pounds capacity;
one allsteel drop-bottom gondola.
100000 pounds capacity; 1886 ll-steel
hopper coal cars. $4,000 pounds ca
lacity; twenty cabin cars. two
second hand refrigerator cars, two
steam derrick cars. one pile drivcr car.
three locomotive cranes and one scoop
car.
Road Suffered by Floods.
There is an average mileage Of @,
o22.s5 OF road operated, and an aver
age mileage OF 3,55o.o2 track operated
by the Norfolk and Western. The to-
tai operating expense or the road was
s5.5i2. 96o.oi. or S2.74cl7 for every mile
OF road operated. and Sl,56l.39 for
every mile OF track operated. The de-
tailed financial statement for the year
las been published heretofore.
The road suffered heavily by the
hoods in Ohio last March The direct
physical loss TO the company from ex-
tcnsive washouts and damage 10 and
destruction OF bridges was approx
mately 100000. In addition to the
work OF restoration. al expenditure
Of about 100000 will be made TO put
the line beyond reach of similar dam
age in the future by providing ample
waterway at bridges and by protecting
banks and Nils. The cost OF the mere
restoration is being charged TO ope-
rating expenses. The interruption to
traffic had a marked effect on the gross
earnings of the company.
The of Congress. approved March
]. 1913. directing a physical valuation
of railroads by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. will require the
preparation OF an enormous volume of
information. and will be big expense
on the various companies. In order
that proper economy can be practiced,
President Johnson has appointed a
valuation committee" consisting of
the chief engineer. general claim agent
and statistician. who have been re-
iicved OF all other work. and are de-
voting their whole time to the mat
ter. The work. it is expected, will ex-
tend over several years