Centennial Passenger Traffic of the Pennsylvania Railroad.--The following is extracted from the thirtieth annual report of the company, just issued :
In order to accommodate the immense passenger traffic of the Centennial year, it was necessary to make important changes in the system of tracks in the West Philadelphia yards and at the new Centennial station, all of which were accomplished in time to meet the requirements of the Company. A large passenger station was built immediately opposite the main entrance to the Centennial grounds, and the tracks for the incoming and outgoing trains were constructed in the form of a circle, so that there could be a continuous arrival and departure of trains without interference. This plan worked most satisfactorily; the risk of collisions or other accidents to trains was avoided, and the Company was not only enabled to provide for the increased number of trains over its own lines, but to furnish accommodations for the North Pennsylvania and Bound Brook Lines, and for the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. The movement of all passenger and freight trains, to and from the Centennial Grounds aM the station at West Philadelphia, was placed under the immediate charge of Charles E. Pugh, with a sufficient corps of officers under him to take prompt care of the great concentration of traffic at those points.
During the Centennial season, between the 10th of May and the 10th of November, 20,.'231 passenger trains, with 12/',296 cars, and 2,343,499 passengers, arrived at the West Philadelphia Station, Thirty-second and Market streets, and during the same period 22,372 trains, with 141,28t cars, and 2,612.213 passengers, arrived at the Centennial Station, making a total of 42,603 trains, with 268,580 cars, and 4,955,712 passengers. This large .movement was accomplished without the slightest injury to any passenger. Durin~ the period referred to, 90 per cent. of this whole amount of passenger traffic was handled between the hours of 7 and 11 o'clock in the morning, and 4 and 7 o'clock in the afternoon.
The total amount of baggage received and delivered at the West Philadelphia, Centennial, Kensington and Market Street Ferry Stations, was 730,486 pieces, and of this aggregate but 26 pieces were lost or mislaid, the claims for which, as presented, amounting to the small sum of 81906.99.