Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-12
NORFOLK AND WESTERN
KEEPS GRIP ON EXPENSES
Mnks better Showing by Haul
Ing Moro Tons Fer
Train.
is INTRODUCING ELECTRICITY
chesapeake and Ohio to Erect Office
building mt Newport News and
Extend Yard Fncilitics-Impiuvc-
nicnts in Coal Fields.

IN addition to record volume OF
business on tho Norfolk and Western
halfway. feature of the roads opcra :
IONS is the close grip which has been
nero on expenses la the six months
OF the current iscal year, from the
FIRST of July. the road operated on u
ratio of I6.S per- cent, against $50
per cent for the same period of 1914.
Furthermore. this was accomplished in
SPIT" or an Increase I'm expenditures on
uDkccp OF roadway and equipment OF
l6 per cont.
The road spent In TRANSFORMATION
costs. that il. in the expenses directly
connected with the cost Of moviut,
trains. but 2f.5 cents on the dollar, com :
pared with 29.I cents in the same six
months OF 1914. In December. "a month
showing 80 per cent increase in the
gross. the road operated at Il rate of
J6.6 per cont, as compared with 60
per cent last year. and the transporta
ton ratio was Casper cent, as against
33.3 per cent.
The Norfolk and Western has always
been operated at Il favorable opcrat-
ing and transportation ratio. carrying,
a heavy tonnage Of soft coal as it
does and handling few passengers, but
the showing for the current fiscal year
is unusually satisfactory. The train
load has been steadily increasing on
this road reaching record figure Of
Hfl TONS IN the last iScal year, and
Indications are that in the current
fiscal period substantial further gain
VIII be shown. The company is n lib
crdl spcnder for improvements. a large
part being charged with income and
this has been AN important factor in
the steady increase In train load.
The figures for this year arc un-
usually interesting. as ii WAS last spring
that operation was started on the cleo
trined division OF the main line in the
southern part OF IVES; Virginia be
tween Vivian and I3lucncld. The sec
ton is thirty miles long and the In
stallation cost about $4,000, 900 Its re-
suits have been important and sue
cessfnl. and this section has handled
part OF tho heavy coal movemen,
during the past few months.
In connection with the enlargement
Of the electric power plant OF the Nor
folk and Western Railway ut Crewc.
ny which the company intends 20
The stations from Norfolk to the east
end Of the LynchburS cutoff. II is
learned that II is also the intention
OF the management 10 use this power
for the operation OF the pumps in the
various water stations for locomotives
II Is understood that the company
contemplatcs the installation OF auto
matte pumps. which will work when
water is needed in the tanks. and viii
cut OFF when the tanks are allied.
The Chesapeake and OHIO Railway
Company IS planning 10 erect a new
office building At Newport News work
on which Will be started in the next
few days, 10 house the forces burned
out in the elevator fire last summer.
and TO provide other Office space re-
CURED by the road in view Of the in
crcas!nG business. Tie plans for the
new building have been approved by
officials OF the road
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
has Just expended about $4,000 al
Newport News providing additional
storage trackagc. The road VIII short
Is spend about $4,000 in a receiving
yard, which will he rcarranEed TO pro-
vide better facilities for the handling
OF coal and other ira f'!c, and following
This about 100000 Will be spen, i'm
building classification yard and track
age. This company has also Just
awarded HE contract for the construc-
ton OF the Pond Fork Railway The
project route is from "A connection with
the Coal River District OF the com
pany AZ Madison, in Boone County. West
Virginia southeast ur Pond Fork to
the mouth OF LET, Fork Of Pond Fork
= distance OF about ten miles The
line is being built 10 carry timber and
coal.