CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND QUINCY RAILROAD COMPANY. This company has extended its branch roads into all territory in which it could hope to obtain remunerative business, although other roads may have been established therein, The length of the roads of the system is now 3,646 miles, and the branches now under construction will probably increase it to nearly or quite 4,000 miles before the end of the present year. Inspection was made by the engineer of that portion of the road (originally a part of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Nebraska) from Plattsmouth to Kearney Junction. The road-bed has been considerably improved since the date of his last report, and the track kept in very good condition. Stone ballast now extends 38.63 miles, gravel and cinders being used upon 62.23 miles. The worn iron rails are being replaced by steel, but during the last year only a small quantity has been found necessary. Over 25,000 new ties have been put in the track, and some work done in filling up trestles which were rendered useless by changes in the drainage system, 538 lineal feet having been filled. The wooden bridge (No. 164) near Crete, has been replaced by an iron truss of 150 feet span. Improvements and additions have been made at several stations. Ten stalls have been added to the Plattsmouth engine-house, five to that at Lincoln, and five at Hastings. At Ashland and at Fairmont good station-houses have been built of wood, 24 by 30 feet, and a new water station, with a good tank and windmill, has been erected at Fairmont. All the lines of this company are kept in excellent condition, are furnished with good rolling stock, and prompt attention seems to be given to the requirements of the business of their territory. The equipment of the company on the 31st of December last comprised 598 locomotives, 398 cars in the passenger service (including five dining cars), 22,291 freight cars and 1,909 cars for road and miscellaneous use, showing an increase for that year of 11 locomotives, 12 passenger cars, 1,814 freight cars, and 126 miscellaneous. This company, together with the various companies with which it has consolidated, has received from the Government 2,781,714.77 acres of land, of which 2,673,345.98 acres have been sold, and the company still owns 108,368.79 acres. The total sum received from the sale of lands to December 31, 1885, was $15,725,314.90, and the amount outstanding on account of time sales was $3,670,104.83. Financial condition of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, December 31, 1885. Comparative statement of the earnings and expenses of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad system. This road, extending from Dubuque to Sioux City, is 142.89 miles in length, and has also 25.19 miles of sidings. Since October 1, 1867, it has been operated by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, under a lease running twenty years from that date. The inspection of this road was not practicable. During the year 1885 the sum of $8,814.61 was expended in ballast and other improvements to the road-bed. The company owns no equipment. This company received from the United States a grant of six sections of land per mile, aggregating 548,697.60 acres, but the meager reports received at this office fail to show what disposition has been made of it. Comparative statement of the earnings and expenses of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad Company. The length of the main line from Iowa Falls to Sioux City is 183.69 miles, and the company owns 16.24 miles of sidings, making the total track mileage 199.93. Inspection of this road was not practicable. The road is leased to and operated by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The company owns no equipment. The company has received patents for 640,256.11 acres of land, of which it has sold 613,808.74, and still retains 26,447.37 acres. The total sum received to June 30, 1886, from sales of these lands is $4,093,758.78, and there is outstanding on contracts $148,907.08. Financial condition of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company, June 30, 1886. Comparative statement of the earnings and expenses of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad Company. The Saint Joseph and Pacific Railroad Company and the Kansas and Nebraska Railway Company were consolidated March 29, 1877, into the Saint Joseph and Western Railroad Company. The latter company, by deed dated February 18, 1880, purchased the Hastings and Grand Island Railroad. In June, 1885, the Saint Joseph and Western and the Hastings and Grand Island Railroads were sold under foreclosure and purchased by a committee of bondholders. Immediately thereafter, the Saint Joseph and Marysville Railroad Company, a Kansas corporation, was organized to acquire and operate the road from Elwood to Marysville; and the Grand Island and Marysville Railroad Company, a Nebraska corporation, to acquire and operate the road from Grand Island to Marysville. These two corporations were consolidated June 23, 1885, under the corporate title of the Saint Joseph and Grand Island Railroad Company. That portion of the road between Elwood and Hastings having been aided by a grant of lands, it was inspected by the engineer of this office, whose report thereon is generally favorable. The entire line from Saint Joseph to Grand Island was opened for business in November, 1879, and from that period to January 1, 1881, was operated by the Union Pacific Railway Company; since the latter date it has been operated as an entirely independent line. A fund of about $700,000 has been provided for the purpose of laying the entire line with steel rails, purchasing new equipment, building new depots, replacing wooden bridges with iron, &c. During the year 7,000 tons of 60-pound steel rails and 70,000 new cross-ties were placed in the track, and 5 locomotives and 500 freight cars added to the equipment, which at present consists of 26 locomotives, 17 passenger and baggage cars, and 661 freight cars. Financial condition of the Saint Joseph and Grand Island Railroad Company, December First-mortgage bonds. Second-mortgage income bonds.. 31, 1885. LIABILITIES. Bonds of constituent companies, certificates, funded interest, &c Total debt Capital stock Total stock and debt .... $6,860, 000 00 1,623, 000 00 196,534 16 77,500 00 8,757, 034 16 4,600, 000 00 13, 357, 034 16 Statement of the earnings and expenses of the Saint Joseph and Grand Island Railroad Company for the year ending December 31, 1885. |