:80 ROADS AND RAILWAYS. 



.ftu average rate of tliree uinety-two-one liuiidred cents 2)er ton 

 per mile. The total freight earnings were ';^10,156. 



1893. 



In 1893 the gros.s earnings of the railway from all sources were 



.$79,884, being an increase, as compared with those of 1886, of 



.^33,162, or over 70 jjer cent. 



In the same year there were carried over the line 58,791 i)as- 



.sengers, for whicli service the sum of ^48,815 was received. The 

 .earnings per passenger per mile, including both 1st and 2nd 



.classes, were 2.37 cents, and tlie average distance travelled l)y 



.each passenger was thirty-five miles. 



There were, in 1893, 10,181 tons of freight carried, for wliich 

 was received the sum of ^22,294 ; the earnings per ton ])er mile 

 were 4.18 cents ; ami the avei'age distance hauled each ton was 



.52.40 miles. This shoAvs an advance in the freight trattic of 104 

 per cent, as compared with 1886, and an increase in passenger 

 traffic of over fifty per cent. The receipts for mail service be- 

 tween St. John's and H.arbour Grace are ^*7,200 per annum. 



Considerable imjn-ovements on the line were carried out in 

 1892-93, including the substitution of six iron bridges on 



.granite abutments, for trestle Ijridges, and improvements at the 



■St. John's and Whitbourne stations — the erection of snow 

 fences, etc. The engines and all other rolling stock were main- 

 tained in excellent condition. In September, 1893, a i-eduction 



.of 20 to 25 per cent, on the freight tariff was made. 



All this shows a steady and satisfactory advance, and proves 

 that in Newfoundland, as else\vhere, railways will create a grow- 

 ing traffic for themselves, and when judiciously managed, will 

 give fair returns. The Government sul)sidy of .^45,0u0 per 

 annum, added to the earnings, gives a fail- dividend per annum 

 to the bonddiolders after the exjienses of operation and main- 

 tenance are met. 



