Stories from Deli

This company has had much to do with the general prosperity of Sumatra, as the facilities offered by it to producers have resulted in a large expansion of the area under cultivation for coffee, rubber, and other tropical products. At the end of 1915 the capital of the company was F. 8,ooo,ooo in paid-up shares and F. 11,408,000 in debentures, and the volume of business transacted has allowed the payment of very liberal dividends. Of late years the company has made praiseworthy efforts to tap new districts, and in August 1915 the line from Tebing Tinggi to Tanjong Balei (93,862 kilometres) was opened, while in the December following that from Deli Toewa to Batu (3 of 2 kilometres) was ready for traffic. Then, again, the section from Tebing Tinggi to Siantar (48,5oo kilometres) was brought into use in May 1916.

In addition, it was expected that the line from Tandjong Balei to the port of Telok Niboeng (5 kilometres) would be opened for traffic early in 1917. Further, the company has applied for a concession to construct a line from Pang-kalan Brandan to Besitang (14 kilometres). With the completion of this section, communication will be established with the Atjeh tramway.
The company also intends to lay a narrow-gauge line from Besitang to Pulo Soesoeh, whereby a
connection with Aroe Bay and the Deli railway will be effected. For the year 1915 the total receipts of the Deli Railway Company amounted to F. 3,433,636, the working cost totalling F. 1,562,960. Passenger traffic was responsible for a revenue of F. 1,231,259, and goods traffic for F. 1,995,853. The rolling stock of the company at the end of 1915 consisted of 45 locomotives, 119 carriages, and 1, 129 wagons, while 17 carriages were under construction. Eighty-one stations have been built along the lines, and the staff employed consists of 1.83 Europeans, 389 native officials, and 2,273 native workmen.

The telephone has been fitted throughout the line, and at the end of 1915 had a length of 16, of 1 kilometres. The management of the company is in the hands of Mr. Radersma, who had been previously chief engineer of the Government Railways of the Netherlands Indies. The head office of the company is in Holland. The local board of management consists of Messrs. W. H. van Tijen (president), H. J. W. Westenberg, and E. Goldenberg.