| Annual Report of the Charleston &
Savannah RR |
| as of January 1, 1864, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Office Engineer and Superintendent |
| Charleston & Savannah R. R. |
| Charleston, January 28, 1864 |
| |
|
R. L. Singletary, Esq.
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| President |
| |
| I respectfully submit the
Fourth Annual Report from this office since the completion of the
Road, being for the year ending December 31, 1863. |
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The Earnings for the year have been derived from the
following sources, viz:
|
| From Passengers |
$142,934.98 |
|
| "
Freight |
169,932.49 |
|
| "
Extra Baggage, etc., per Passenger Train |
7,001.28 |
|
| "
Express Freight |
16,304.93 |
|
| "
Mails |
13,389.33 |
|
| "
Government Passage |
165,913.23 |
|
|
"
" Freight |
163,684.61 |
|
| "
Earnings of our Trains on other Roads |
30,845.41 |
|
| "
Minor Sources |
2,150.90 |
|
|
|
$712,147.16 |
| The cost of Operating the Road for
the same time has been: |
|
|
| For conducting Transportation |
53,458.17 |
|
| " maintenance of
Ferry |
33,978.66 |
|
|
"
"
" Way |
65,940.49 |
|
|
"
"
" Structures |
2,750.02 |
|
|
"
"
" Cars |
37,770.38 |
|
| " Motive Power |
82,893.35 |
|
| " General Expenses |
24,924.60 |
|
| " Hire of Cars
from other Roads |
17,232.22 |
|
|
|
$318,947.89 |
| Leaving for Net Earnings over 55 per cent., or |
|
$393,199.27 |
|
|
There has also been expended during the year for
Materials and Supplies, not yet used, the sum of $27,434.02 -- the
stock on hand at present amounting to $44,360.11 against $16,926.09 at
the date of the last annual report. This increase is occasioned in a
great measure by the enhanced cost of railroad supplies, while the
actual quantity on hand is but little in excess of the previous year.
The account for Construction and Equipment has been charged with the
following amounts:
|
| For Station Buildings and Platforms |
$2,250.60 |
| " Wood Sheds and
Water Stations |
706.66 |
| " Completion of
Freight Cars commenced 1862 |
26.43 |
|
$2,983.69 |
|
|
As compared with the previous year, there has been an increase in the
Earnings of $291,659.26, or 69 per cent.: and in the Operating
Expenses of $121,919.97, or 61 per cent. By comparing this increase in
the receipts and expenses for the past year, it will be observed that
the advance in the rates of freight and passage which have been made
from time to time, have been fully warranted by the corresponding
advance in the cost of labor and material. More detailed information
respecting the receipts, expenditures, and condition of the Company's
property for the past year, will be found in the appended Statements.
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|
The transportation incidental to an army present upon our
line, has still continued to form the larger portion of the business
of the Company -- the receipts from Passenger Trains having been
seriously affected by the Siege of Charleston. The want of Freight
Cars has also deprived the Company of business which, from this cause,
it was unable to undertake.
|
|
Ten Box Cars have been purchased during the year from the
South Carolina Railroad Company, and efforts have been made to add
still further to our Rolling Stock, either by purchase or through the
government, which, however, were without success. The car hire paid
other roads in 1863 amounted to over $17,000.
|
|
The Train Service has been conducted with remarkable
immunity from accident, though, in consequence of heavy trains and
inferior wood, occasional delays have been unavoidable. On the 27th of
April a second passenger train was put on the Road, and discontinued
on the 12th of July, when the interruption to travel through the City
of Charleston rendered it no longer necessary.
|
|
I have to report but one accident to our trains -- in
which instance a freight train was thrown off the track by a cow, and
the engine considerably damaged. Two persons, both employees of the
Company, have been killed upon the Road: one, a Conductor, in
attempting to get upon a train in motion; the other, a negro, while
coupling a train together. On the 7th of April the first engine
crossed the bridge over the Ashley river built under the authority of
the Executive Council; since which time it has been of great service
in the transportation of live stock, heavy guns, and other government
stores, and also in supplying the wood distributed by the City
Council, as the steamboat employed on our ferry could not have
performed this additional service.
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While the general condition of the Rolling Stock and
Machinery is very satisfactory, it has been with great difficulty that
the labor and material necessary for repairs have been obtained. An
additional number of mechanics, and a large supply of wheels and
axles, will be required during the coming year.
|
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In the Roadway department, nothing has been attempted
beyond ordinary repairs. The Track is in good order; 18,477 ties have
been put in the Road during the year, leaving 1,237 on hand; 223,365
feet B. M. of timber have been used in the repairs of bridges and
trestles. Arrangements have been made which, it is believed, sill
secure the necessary materials, provision, and clothing for the
ensuing year.
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For the supply of provisions, the Company is indebted to
the liberality of Wilson Ferebee, Esq., a planter on the line of the
Road, who has engaged to furnish them at the prices paid by the
government.
|
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An effort was made by the enemy on the 12th of September
to intercept telegraphic communication between Charleston and
Savannah. They had succeeded in connecting their wires to the line,
when they were discovered by Mr. Burckhalter, Master of Roadway, and
most of the party were captured.
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In closing this Report I desire to notice, as heretofore,
the satisfactory manner in which the several officers of the Road have
managed their respective departments -- as to them, in a great degree,
must be ascribed the success which has attended the operations of the
past year.
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Respectfully submitted
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|
H. S. Haines
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Engineer and Superintendent
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