Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
MONEY SPENT IN VIRGINIA
BY SOUTHERN RAILWAY
How Danville Got In for a Big Share
OF the Immense Profits
That Came.
WORK MADE GREAT PAY ROLLS
Roadway Strengthened In Pittsylva-
mia County, Danger Points Over
come. Bridges Built and Viaducts
Made Great.

inc Hscal year enued June 80 the South
ern Railway spent for improvements
to its roadway and structures sS,97O,-
s65.5o. as against s2,e7O,6SSo9 for the
previous year. an increase OF $4,000
277.4, despite the fact that during the
same period it's operating revenue
showed a decrease of sS.55l.4S7. or 1903
per cent. and its operating income
showed a decrease of s9,alo.9os, or l7.S5
per cent. Figures showing the results
OF operation for the two years md for
the months OF June. 1914 and 1915, were
announced to-day by Comptroller a. IL.
Plan. rs follows: gross revenue. this
year s62,laH.5l0; last year, s7o.75o,-
9s7; decrease, sS,55l4Si or 1908 per
cent. Operating expenses. taxes and
uncollectible railway revenue, this year.
S4S.7es.45a: last year. s5i.440o39; de-
crease, S5640,5S4 or 1886 per cent.
Operating income. this year. Sl3, .055:
last year, sl6,3lo?3S: decrease. $500
9o3. or 1855 per cent
Corresponding results for the months
of June, 1914 and 1918. We're as follows:
Gross revenue, June. 1915, A,743,-
$50; June, 1914, s5232, 400: decrease,
s4SS.s4o. or 9.S4 per cent.
Operating expenses taxes and uncol-
lectible railway revenue. June, 1915,
sS,6oi.125; June 1914. si.459.22S; de-
Operating income, June, 1915, s1.1S9.-
4sS: June. 1914. s77S,l72; increase Of
sS66,263. or 47.S7 per cent.
In addition TO the foregoing opcrat-
Ing expenses. the company spent dur
ing the month. for improvements to Its
roadway and structures. S5o9,7lSSS as
against s37a,652.4S for June, 1914, an
increase Of sl50O66.S1.
Operating income, shown above,
represents the amount remaining after
the payment of only those expenses in
CURED in the actual operation of the
railway and OF taxes, and takes no ac-
count of the charges for hire of equip
mert. rental of leased lines, terminals
and other facilities. and interest on
funded debt tbonds), all Of which costs
are charged against operating income.
WHERE DANVILLE
CAME IN FOR FILE
Much of this great amount of money
for permanent improvements has been
spent within and near to Danville, a
series of improvements, the contract
price for which was more than $1,000,
600. being now near TO completion. The
work actually completed. after opera
tions lasting year or more, includes
the building of six bridges, the longest
of which is the magnificent reinforced
concrete structure over Dan River
here in this city. and the laying of a
the heart of Pittsylvania County from
this city TO Dry Fork, or one-third OF
the way through the entire county. The
only work which now remains TO be
done is the building of n large viaduct
near the site Of the present station.
which will cost about s250,00O. Work
on the foundations of the new struc-
ture has begun, but il will not be ready
for traffic until the first of the coming
year.
The reasons given by the Southern
Railway for these extensive and ex-
pensive changes are these:
First, TO eliminate the constant cur
Nature on the present line.
Second. TO eliminate the $50 feet
vertical lift which exists today on the
present main line between Dauville and
Dry Fork.
Incidentally, the new roadbed will
render obsolete one of tho most dan
gerous pieces of trestle work on the
entire system, which is situated Just
beyond the corporate limits of this
city. The track, after coming down a
three-mile grade Of nine-tenths of !
per cent runs on 10 semi circular
high wooden trcstle. 1t was over this
that the Inflated mail train, No. 81.
plunged ten years ago. carrying seven
men TO death.
BY laying the rails Along the chosen
route the Southern. s.eincers avoid
the snake-like twists that the old
metals follow Immediately on leaving
Danville. At present train coming
in from the South faces due north
when II stops AT the station Within
few hundred yards of leaving. the
locomotive pursuing its northward
journey faces due east for q while
then veers round TO the north as it
winds up the rrcstle. The new road
bed goes directly north on leaving Dan
Vile, curvature Of 412 degrees has
been eliminated and tho vertical lift
Of $50 feet has been done away with
The grade of the new track is one-halt
Of l per cent;
Operations were started last July
when the Robert Russell firm OF
llenNer, Col. who secured the contra ct
for these improvements, began n
regular invasion OF this country. Long
trains OF machinery and equipment and
gangs OF wCrkmen We're imported unti]
there were 1000 men engaged in the
building and 'raCklaying operations
The payroll for labor amounted 10
$4,000 a month, most of which found
its way 10 Danvile Half million
dollars worth OF equipment wa.
Part Of the grading was sublet Ia
Costello Bros Of Indianapolis.
LABORERs CANE FROM ALL
POINTS OF THE COMPASS
Unable 70 secure an adequate supply
OF white labor here, laborers were i'm
ported from the North and West and
the construction force comprised men
of many nnl!onalities
Within few weeks ten camps were
scattered along the route OF the pro.
posed double track, nine steam SHOVEL.
were set mp and the thunder of dyna
mite has for the past year been a con
slant reminder to the people OF this
city OF the vast project under way
While tic track builders were busy
the Dunn NcC&rihy Company. OF Chi.
caEo, and Messys. Reid. Lowe and
Cochran, o. DaHvile were hard a,
work with The bridge and other con.
crete work The task for each of these
hrms was by no means q light one 70,
the country trarerscd was ven wood.
ed. and during the autumn and IN.
winter months the ved-mud roads aic
not give tho best transportation facili.
ties. Much OF the heavy material M,
iN