| Annual Report of the Charlotte & South
Carolina RR |
| as of January 1, 1863, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Supt's. Office, Charlotte & S. C. R. R.
Company |
| Columbia, S. C., January 1, 1863 |
| |
|
To the President and Board of Directors of the Charlotte &
South Carolina Railroad Company:
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| |
| Gentlemen, |
| The earnings of the road for
the year ending the 31st December, have been as follows: |
| From Through and Way Passengers |
$199,157.79 |
|
| Transporting soldiers |
105,309.21 |
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Total from Passengers |
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$304,467.00 |
| From local and through freight |
$204,292.81 |
|
| Confederate freight |
71,774.37 |
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Total from freight |
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$276,067.18 |
| From mails |
|
11,000.00 |
| Southern Express |
|
44,609.13 |
| Other sources |
|
5,377.45 |
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Total receipts from all sources |
|
$641,520.76 |
| Expenses for same time: |
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| Maintenance of way |
$62,479.27 |
|
| Motive power |
34,091.46 |
|
| Machine shops |
35,413.39 |
|
| Maintenance cars |
12,258.68 |
|
| Conducting Transportation |
34,823.18 |
|
| Loss and damage |
1,171.35 |
|
| Bonds lost |
5,000.00 |
|
| War Tax |
4,096.88 |
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Total expenses |
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` |
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Net receipts |
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$452,186.55 |
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The operating expenses are 29 per cent. of the earnings.
It is, however, proper to remark, that our inability to procure a full
supply of material for the different departments, has, in a great
measure, tended to reduce the present expenses.
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The item of expense, $5,000, is for Confederate Bonds
lost last May.
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The difficulty of procuring supplies, together with the
large amount of business, has rendered it impossible to maintain the
road and machinery in that state of efficiency that is desirable in
works of this kind.
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The deterioration can only be partially met until such
time as our ports may be opened, or until our own people are
stimulated by the high prices to the production and manufacture of the
necessary supplies. Whenever this occurs, we must look for a large
expenditure to recuperate our stock, which is now being very rapidly
worn out. To work your road with economy, we require engines of a
larger class than those which have been heretofore purchased.
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We have purchased one locomotive, which is now on the
line doing good service.
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The condition of the engines will be seen by reference to
the table prepared by the Master Machinist.
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At the commencement of the war the Company owned one
hundred and forty-six freight cars. We have at this time only
eighty-six, the balance having been carried beyond our reach and
control by connecting roads. Repeated efforts have been made to
recover them, but thus far without success. The impolicy of exchanging
cars with connecting roads has been fully illustrated in this
instance.
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The character and condition of your cars may be seen by
reference to the annexed table, which has been carefully prepared.
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I would recommend the building of twenty-five box cars at
the earliest practicable moment. We also require six new passenger
coaches, and four second class cars.
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On taking charge of your road, I found the supply of
material very short in all the departments. The deficiency has been
supplied as far as the limited state of our markets would permit.
Contracts have been made with responsible parties for a supply of
cross-ties and stringers. Contracts for wood have also been made,
which, if complied with, will give us ample supply.
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We have been compelled to diminish our transportation to
a large extent, from the inability of connecting roads to move the
freights we have delivered them.
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The magnetic telegraph is fast coming into use as a means
of communication along the line of railways, and nothing serves so
well the purpose of adjusting the movement of trains, of transmitting
orders, and of keeping the General Superintendent informed at all
hours of the exact condition, in detail, of the whole road, and of all
its trains. In moving trains by telegraph, nothing is left to
chance. Orders are communicated to the conductors and engineers of
the opposing trains, and their answers returned, giving their
understanding of the order, before either is allowed to proceed. Their
passing place is fixed and determined, with orders positive and
defined that neither shall proceed beyond that point until after the
arrival of the other; whereas, in the absence of a telegraph,
conductors are governed by general rules and their individual
understanding of the same. It is a question whether a reliance on
these general rules may not, in many cases, lead to danger by
producing recklessness, and thus increase, instead of diminishing, the
danger sought to be avoided. A judicious use of the telegraph would
often save connections which would otherwise necessarily be lost. I
would earnestly recommend the establishment of telegraph offices at
all our agencies.
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The Atlantic, Tennessee & Ohio Railroad will be
completed to Statesville within a very short period, and will add
largely to your receipts.
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The early completion of the Danville connection {the
Piedmont RR} will place your road on the great through line
from Richmond to Montgomery, and cannot fail to benefit you largely.
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Your prospects for the future are most flattering. You
have but to make your line "first class" in all its
appointments, and you cannot fail to command a large share of the
through travel and freight.
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Your former Master Machinist having resigned, the vacancy
has been filled by the appointment of A. Murphy, Esq., a gentleman of
great skill and large experience. The important post of Road Master
has been filled by the appointment of S. Martin, Esq., whose energy
and experience have already been demonstrated by the improvement of
the track, and the life and vigor infused into tht very important
department.
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It affords me much pleasure to testify to the zeal with
which the employees of the Company have generally discharged their
duties.
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Respectfully submitted
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E. Hulbert
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General Superintendent
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