AR, L&N 7/1/1861 P

Annual Report of the Louisville & Nashville RR
as of July 1, 1861
President's Report
 
President's Report
 
To the Stockholders of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company:
 
Gentlemen,
 
   The President and Directors of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, in compliance with the charter, and the order of the Stockholders, at the meeting in October, 1860, to terminate the fiscal year on the 1st of July, submit this their Report, for the ten months, from the 1st of September, 1860, to the 1st of July, 1861.
   The Report of Willis Ranney, Secretary of the Company, is herewith submitted:
   Table No. 1 of said Report exhibits the cost, resources, and liabilities of the Main Stem, to the first of July, 1861. Table No. 2 of said Reports, exhibits the cost, resources, and liabilities of the Lebanon Branch to same date, and Table No. 3, the cost, resources and liabilities of the Memphis Branch to same date.
   Table No. 4 of said report, is a consolidated statement to same date, of the cost, resources, and liabilities of the Main Stem, and both of said branches.
   They also publish herewith, the Report of J. B. Anderson, Superintendent of Transportation, with various tables, giving in detail all necessary information of the Passenger and Freight business of the Road, and the earnings and expenses of operating the same.
   It will be seen that the earnings for the ten months, up to the first of July, 1861, has been $807,934.67, and the expenses of operating the same $345,964.25, making the net earnings, $461,970.42, viz: 57 18/100 per cent. of the gross earnings.
   The report and tables are referred to for other valuable information.
   They also publish herewith, the report of A. Fink, Superintendent of Machinery and Road Department, with various tables, exhibiting in detail the expenditures for the ten months under appropriate heads, with a revised estimate of the cost of fully completing the Main Stem and Lebanon Branch, and an estimate of the cost of completing the Memphis Branch. This Report is referred to for the detailed information it affords, and the comparison of the ten months' expenditures with those of the preceding year, under the same head.
   The expenditures in constructing the Main Stem, have been as follows:
The first and second year's expenditures, to the 1st October, 1853, were $115,861.85
There are no reports on file in the office, for the two succeeding years
The fifth year's report to the 1st October, 1856 1,467,260.26
   "   sixth   "          "       "              "          1857 2,289,150.19
   "   seventh "        "       "              "         1858 3,834,980.07
   "   eighth  "          "      "               "         1859 6,127,292.15
   "   ninth    "          "      "               "         1860 6,674,248.53
   "   tenth    "          "      "               "         1861 6,609,056.70
   The net earnings of the Road, up to the 1st of January, 1860, were credited to interest and discount, and interest and discount charged to construction; and since that date, the interest on the debt the Company owes has been paid out of the net earnings, and the surplus has been credited to interest and discount. The total amount so credited is $660,899.37, leaving the whole cost of the Road on the 1st July, 1861, 6,609,056.70.
   It will be seen by reference to the Secretary's consolidated statement, that the stock and stock liabilities of the Main Stem, and Lebanon and Memphis Branches, to the 1st of July, is $5,631,469.65; and the bonded debt, $3,260,500.00; and floating debt $348,076.24. Total cost of Road and Branches, to date, $8,695,332.22; Resources, $586,651.91.
   A. Fink's estimate for fully completing the Main Stem and both Branches, is $806,185.85.
   By the annual report to 1st October, 1860, there had been expended on the construction of the Main Line, including equipment, the sum of $6,674,248.53; on the Lebanon Branch, without equipment, the sum of $1,007,736.13; and on the Memphis Branch, and equipment, the sum of $848,733.49.
The sum expended on the Main Line since 1st October, 1860, and interest on Co. St'k Bonds, payable in St'k, is $155,349.54
On the Lebanon Branch 19,962.16
    "    Memphis Branch 209,843.74
Making in all the sum of $385,155.44
   It will be seen that there is a discrepancy between the Secretary's Report of construction account of Main Line, and Memphis Branch, differing from above statement of expenditures, as the construction account of Main Line has been credited with its net earnings for the ten months ending first of July last, the sum of $220,541.37, and the Memphis Branch $11,555.02; the two latter sums being excess of earnings over operating expenses and interest.
   The floating debt of Main Line and Branches first of October, 1860, was $661,269.53, and per Secretary's statement No. 4, was on the first July, 1861, $348,076.24, showing a reduction in ten months of $313,193.29.
   The equipment of the road with motive power and rolling stock is not sufficient for a first class road with an extended and increasing business, which in prosperous times may be reasonably expected; nor is the road fully completed as a first class one should be.
   The earnings of the road have been relied upon to furnish the means of paying interest, the floating debt, additional equipment, and its full completion according to the estimates. During the ten months the road has been gradually improving in condition, and has the motive power and rolling stock, and the portion of the earnings required for the operating expenses considerably reduced, giving promise of a still further reduction as the road progresses to full completion.
   It is believed, when the road is well and permanently ditched, and a dry road-bed secured, with a full ballast, the culverts made permanent with stone arched culverts, and the wooden bridges reconstructed with iron trusses, that the annual expenses of repairs will be greatly reduced, and that there will be greater security in the transportation of passengers and freight.
   It is true, certain items of repair will be increased in the future, particularly for cross-ties, and for new rails, and repair of rails; but other items will be diminished, viz., the repair and keeping dry the road-bed, the repair of bridges and culverts, and also the repair of motive power and rolling stock.
   The President and Directors have reason to be satisfied with the management of the Transportation Department, under the superintendence of J. B. Anderson, Esq., and of the Machinery and Road Department, under the superintendence of A. Fink, Esq., and return to them and the employees under them, their sincere thanks for the able and efficient services in the operation of the road, and economy of management, under the difficult and embarrassing circumstances they have encountered.
Very respectfully, yours,
James Gutherie
President

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