AR, A&NC 6/1/1862 P

Annual Report of the Atlantic & North Carolina RR
as of June 1, 1862
President's Report
 
President's Report to the Stockholders of the Atlantic & North Carolina Rail Road
 
Gentlemen,
   It is a painful duty we have to perform in making known to you the present condition of your Road. At your last annual meeting, some fears existed for the safety of this work, in consequence of the collection, North, of a fleet of vessels destined, as many believed, for our waters. But we must frankly admit that we had not the remotest idea, then, that we would now be compelled to acknowledge to you the loss, for a time at least, of more than one-half of your Road and the total destruction of a number of your costly and magnificent Bridges. But such is the fortune of war; and if it were your misfortune to be the first to suffer by the action of an unscrupulous foe, we are consoled to believe that you will be the last to complain of the action of your own Government, however hard it may bear upon you, if it were necessary to prevent the invasion of North Carolina.
   On the 21st January last the Treasurer, Mr. J. C. Justice, was directed to take the valuable books and papers of the Company to some secure and convenient place on the North Carolina Rail Road; as it was believed at that time, immediately before the fall of Roanoke Island, that probably the descent of Burnside would be upon Newbern. On the 12th day of March following, the enemy's fleet appearing in the mouth of Neuse River in such numbers as to leave no doubt of its destination, the subjoined order was issued by General Branch, commanding our forces, and received by the President of the Road on the afternoon of the same day:
 
Headquarters, District of Pamlico
Newbern, 12th March, 1863 {should be 1862}
 
John D. Whitford
President A. & N. C. R. R.
 
Sir,
   The enemy having appeared in the river, you will please have all your engines fired up and prepare trains for them.
W. G. Cannady
A. D. C.
 
   This requisition was at once complied with and five trains were held and run subject to military direction. Fortunately the mail train was stopped in Newbern, instead of making its usual run to Morehead that night, which may have prevented its capture on its return the next morning, as a number of Burnside's troops were landed at Slocomb's Creek and immediately marched out to the Rail Road Bridge, no doubt with the intention of intercepting it. This passenger train was the only one left in the possession of the company, although the military trains, by order of the Commanding General, were run under the direction of the President, and our officers and employees under his control. The small force stationed near Newbern for its deference, without any prospect of having it reinforced, and the formidable fleet of gunboats and transports in view of the town, on Thursday, created much doubt and apprehension in the mind of almost every one as to its safety, or of the ability of our troops to hold it against a combined land and water attack of the enemy, however gallantly they might resist the overwhelming numbers opposed to them. Therefore, orders were given on that day to the officers and employees of the Road, and particularly to our Master Machinist, and those under him and connected with the shops, to make the necessary preparation for the hasty removal of everything of value in his department. This order was complied with as far as the limited amount of rolling stock of which the Company had control would allow, and enabled us to save in value material to the amount of several thousand dollars. All the stationary machinery, and many thousand dollars more of other property of the Company in and about the Machine Shop and Passenger Shed at Newbern, could and would have been sent up the Road, but for the reason above stated. The Locomotives and all the Cars except 5 boxes and flats at and near Newbern and 2 at Morehead City, all of which were in the service of the army, were brought away. As the military trains were held below and at Newbern until the route of our troops and the bombardment of the Depot by the enemy, their escape was almost miraculous and we believe was owing in part to the good management and faithfulness of Mr. Hudson, our Master Machinist, and to the brave and true Locomotive Engineers, Messrs. Grisweld, Clayton, Casey, White and Hollister. For, notwithstanding many of the cars in the trains were heavily laden with the ordnance and ordnance stores of the Government, and the trains, including the Locomotives and tenders, gorged to their utmost capacity with the families of the citizens of Newbern and with refugees from the battle-field, and shelled by the gunboats of the enemy as they drew out from the Newbern Station -- as the enemy admit in some of their reports of the battle, published in the Northern Journals -- they were all run up the Road, without an accident having occurred to any person on either one of the trains. One car only was struck by a shot and that was but slightly damaged. We are not indebted, however, to the enemy to this escape for their shell bursted over and around the trains in such close proximity as the leave no doubt on their desire and intention to destroy them, if in their power, with the precious burthen of women and children. In connection with this subject we wish, also, to bear testimony to the activity and zeal displayed for the interest of the Company by Messrs. Hancock, Thomas and High, Conductors; Messrs. Fagel, Hunter and Taylor, Carpenters; Messrs. Clark, Sheeler and Honeycutt, employed in the Machine Shops and Foundry; Nr. Hall, Ticket Agent; Mr. Wm. H. Harvey, Acting Transportation Agent; Messrs. Burnam and Cook, Section Masters, and Mr. Huggins, who, since the capture of Newbern, has acted as Road Master. Messrs. Metts and Primrose were absent in the army. These officers and employees all followed the fortunes of the Company, notwithstanding many of them in doing so were compelled to make sacrifices of no ordinary character. But they had engaged with the Company, and have been as true to us in our adversity as they were in our prosperity; and if further evidence was required to prove to you how faithfully they have discharged every duty, we would but refer you to the report of our excellent Treasurer, Mr. J. C. Justice, who has been equally as watchful for your interest, and there you would see that, perhaps, no Rail Road Company ever performed the same amount of labor with as little expense, and more regularity and safety. Furthermore, the number of new cross ties procured and paid for -- upwards of 20,000 during the past year -- and the excellent condition of the Road and Rolling Stock at the time of the fall of Newbern, must be satisfactory evidence to you that we were looking to the future as well as to the present condition of the work which you had entrusted to our management.
   While it may be deemed useless, at the present moment, to speculate in reference to the future prospects of the Road, we nevertheless believe that that portion of it between Kinston and Goldsboro' can be operated to your advantage, and all the Rolling Stock kept profitably employed during the next year. And, unless the Government concludes to give up the country during the war through which it passes, we hope, ere long, to be able to announce that a forward movement of our troops, now in the vicinity of Kinston, will place you again in the possession of the entire Road to Beaufort Harbor. However, whether this should be so or not, your loss must be immense, and it will be left with the Confederate Government at the proper time, to remunerate you for the destruction of your property, by military orders. We also believe it would be but an act of justice, in consideration of the great disaster which has overtaken you in this enterprise, that our Legislature should allow the remission of the interest due on the State Loan of $400,000 to the Company. None of your property has been destroyed by order of the President and Directors, or any irresponsible person.
   The detail of the annual operation of the Road is shown by the following:
Receipts from Passengers $52,614.94
Receipts from freight 40,961.90  
Receipts from Confederate States for Transportation of troops and freight 20,000.00  
Rent of Locomotive to W. & W. R. R.  986.67
Mail service 4,750.00  
Freight collected on R. Road line 26.34  
Total receipts for Transportation as per Treasurer's statement for the year ending 31st May, 1862   $119,330.35
Am't due by Confederate States for Passengers -- Troops $14,777.76
For Freight 23,035.69  
 For use of Engines and Cars at Goldsboro' 4,663.00  
Total mount due by the Confederate States for the year ending 31st May, 1862   $42,476.44
Amount due by State of North Carolina for Passengers -- Troops $17,771.56  
For Freight 10,800.37  
   "  Master Machinist's bill 2,979.42  
   "  Road Master's           " 239.26  
   "  Road Master's           " 293.50  
Use of Locomotives 1,510.00  
Total amount due by the State of North Carolina up to May 31st, 1862   $33,603.11
Total amount as per Treasurer's statement, and also amounts due by Confederate States and State of North Carolina   $195,418.90
Deduct for Transportation due from North Carolina previous to the year ending May 31st, 1861   15,065.70
    $180,353.20
Operating expenses for the year as per Treasurer's statement   49,420.79
    $130,932.41
being 6 1/2 per cent. upon the cost of the Road.    
 
   The corresponding expenses were for 1861, $64,943.39, and for 1862, $49,420.70, being a decrease of $15,522.60.
   The State of North Carolina and Confederate State accounts for Transportation have not been audited, but the aggregate amounts will probably vary but little, as they were both made up from prices approved by Government for transportation of troops and freight.
   For further information of the operations of the Road we refer you to the report of the Finance Committee.
   The painful duty now devolves upon us to announce to you the loss, since your last annual meeting, of one of the most zealous and intelligent Directors of this Company. After a protracted illness, in the month of July last, calmly and peaceably, surrounded by his family and friends, the earthly career of George S. Stevenson, Esq., was brought to a close, and his spirit winged its flight from the boisterous scenes of this world to that "bourne whence no traveller returns." It is well known to you that Mr. Stevenson was an early and able advocate in his political career for the internal improvements of North Carolina, and, whether in the Legislature or before the people, he always fearlessly and ardently advocated all those great schemes of improvement which will stand as durable monuments to the wisdom and foresight of their projectors and advocates. He served as a member of the Board of Directors from the organization of the Company to the time of his death, having been first elected by the Stockholders and afterwards appointed by the State. For the same period he acted as Attorney for the Company with energy and ability; and, from the commencement of this work to the latest moment of his life, he manifested the deepest interest in its welfare, and almost with his expiring words he regretted he could not live to see his predictions, as to its success, verified, and, as he believed, the commercial independence of our beloved State.
   The vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Stevenson was filled, by the appointment by the Board of Internal Improvements of North Carolina, of Mr. Council B. Wood, of Craven County.
Respectfully submitted,
John D. Whitford
President

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