| Annual Report of the Macon & Western RR |
| as of December 1, 1861, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Macon & Western Rail Road Co. |
| Macon, Ga., Dec. 1st, 1861 |
| |
| Isaac Scott, Esq. |
| President |
|
|
| The earnings of the Road for
the fiscal year terminating yesterday, have been as follows: |
| For Passengers |
$122,238.10 |
|
| " Freight |
207,479.20 |
|
| " Mails |
10,201.75 |
|
| Total |
|
339.919.05 |
| And Expenses |
|
183,672.35 |
| Net Earnings |
|
$156,246.70 |
| From which deduct Exchange paid |
|
341.80 |
| Total |
|
$156,904.90 |
|
|
|
|
The business of 1861, as compared with 1860, is:
|
|
Passengers |
|
Freights |
|
Mails |
|
Total |
| 1860 |
$142,959.59 |
|
251,428.55 |
|
$10,229.70 |
|
$404,617.84 |
| 1861 |
122,238.10 |
|
207,479.20 |
|
10,201.75 |
|
339,919.05 |
| Decrease |
$20,721.49 |
|
$43,949.35 |
|
$27.95 |
|
$64,698.79 |
|
|
|
|
the appended Tables, Nos. 6, 7 and 8 show, in
detail, the relative decrease in Freight Earnings, as compared with
the preceding year. No. 6, the Downward statement, shows an increase
in Corn and Wheat of near 500,000 bushels, or 2,000 car loads. These
two Tables sufficiently explain the disadvantage under which the
year's business has been conducted -- the Trains running upward
comparatively empty to bring down a bulky Freight, necessarily
transported at low rates.
|
|
In Cotton, also, the decrease, as shown in Table 8, is
25,500 bales -- equal to $20,000 cash earnings. This is partly due to
the short crop of the past two years, and partly to known causes,
which have decided the action of Planters in the retention of their
crops at home, until more favorable times.
|
|
The Passenger Earnings show a steady decrease from the
commencement of the year; and although Table 17 shows a slight
increase in Through travel, yet this total includes near 12,000
soldiers transported for the Government, at half the usual fare.
|
|
The Expenses amount to $183,672.35, or 54 per cent. of
the gross earnings, and have decreased $9,269.38 from 1860.
|
|
During the Spring months, the heavy produce business
increased the ratio expenses materially; since that time, the rise in
prices of all Railway supplies and the larger quantity it was thought
prudent to procure, have increased the actual outlay for working
expenses. This is evident by the Inventory (Table 15), in which,
exclusive of the New Iron purchased, there is an excess of near $6,000
in materials on hand, which has been paid and charged to this year's
expenses.
|
|
Motive Power
|
|
Tables 9 and 10 show the number and condition of the
Engines, as well as service performed by each, and cost of Repairs.
|
|
The two new Freight engines, Jno. B. Ross and Geo. W.
Adams, have been sold to the Confederate Government for $22,000 cash;
from this amount, however, there is to be deducted a sum of $1,528.00
for the cost of a set of new Driving Wheels, made in the Repair Shop
for the engine Geo. W. Adams. Those originally furnished with the
engine proving defective within the first six months of service, were,
by agreement with the builders -- Danforth, Cooke & Co. of
Paterson, N. J. -- sent back there for repairs in May last, and were
detained so long that when completed the blockade prevented their
return, so that they were replaced here. This deduction leaves the net
receipts for the engines $20,472.00.
|
|
The sale of these engines leaves the stock inadequate,
should a renewal of business occur, although sufficient for all
present needs; and it will be advisable to rebuild, or if necessary
replace, two of the older engines, which can be easily done in the
Repair Shop.
|
|
The DeKalb, reported as "receiving new
fire-box" at the close of last year, was found to need such
extensive repairs as to make it preferable to replace it entirely,
using such of the old material as could be made serviceable; not
needing the engine heretofore, the work has been postponed until
lately. It is now rapidly progressing, and will be completed in about
four months.
|
|
The remaining engines are in good condition, and have
received all ordinary repairs.
|
|
Rolling Stock
|
|
One of the older first class Passenger cars has been sold
to the Macon & Brunswick Rail Road Company for $1,000 cash, which
has been credited to operating Expenses. This leaves on hand seven
First Class, six Second Class and two Express Cars; all of which, with
the exception of one first class Car, are in good order.
|
|
The lumber for two new Cars has been purchased, and is
now in the yard seasoning for use. The amount of material on hand for
Passenger Cars is $1,686.00 -- an increase of near $1,000.00 from last
year.
|
|
The stock of Freight Cars consists of --
|
| Box |
117 |
|
Box |
110 |
| Platform |
31 |
|
Platform |
39 |
| Cattle |
15 |
|
Cattle |
15 |
| Coal |
8 |
|
Coal |
6 |
| Total |
171 |
Against, in 1859 |
170 |
|
|
Two of the Box cars have been rebuilt for Express
service, and are not included in this list. One Box and one Platform
car condemned and broken up. Four Box cars built in the Repair Shop,
and four Platform cars refitted for carrying Coal.
|
|
Road Repairs
|
|
58,000 cross-ties and 200 tons of new Rails, with the
requisite Chairs and Spikes, have been expended in maintaining the
track this year. This account shows an increase of $13,016.30,
principally caused by the increased amount of material used; as
follows:
|
| 1861 |
58,000 Cross-ties, @ 30c |
$17,400.00 |
|
|
200 tons new Rails, etc |
10,157.00 |
$27,557.00 |
| 1860 |
38,000 Cross-ties, @ 30c |
$11,400.00 |
|
|
100 tons re-rolled Iron, etc |
4,465.00 |
15,865.00 |
| Excess in 1861 |
|
$11,692.00 |
|
|
The Inventory shows, also, in the items to credit of
Repairs of Road, an increase of $2,260.00 in cross-ties and Tools on
hand. The Road-bed has been well ditched out during the past Summer,
and the entire track is in every respect in good order.
|
|
Repairs of Buildings
|
|
Authority was given in October, by the Board of
Directors, to build a Shed for the shelter of Passenger Cars while not
in service, at this point. The requisite lumber has been ordered and
the work will be commenced this month. The estimated cost is
$3,500.00. This building is one which has long been needed, as the
exposure to the weather of the Cars, while standing idle, especially
since the discontinuance of one Train, is far more injurious in its
effects than the actual service performed on the Road.
|
|
Water Stations
|
|
The principal expenditure charged to this account during
the year has been for the Station at Milner {the
midpoint of the road}, where a steam engine of eight horse
power has been placed for supplying wood and water. A substantial
Wood-shed, capable of storing 400 cords of wood, and an Iron Water
Tank, of 12,000 gallons capacity, solidly mounted on stone masonry,
have also been erected there. The entire cost of the Station has been
$2,700.00, which is an increase of $900.00 over the original estimate;
but the greater permanence and completeness of the work, was believed
to justify the expenditure.
|
|
The result of this step has been so satisfactory that it
would be a measure of economy as well as convenience to erect two
similar stations at Crawford's and Lovejoy's Stations, by which no
less than six of the minor Stations can be dispensed with, which now
cost yearly about $300.00 each.
|
|
The amount of Fuel on hand is 3,342 cords.
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
The Inventory shows, in detail, the comparative valuation
of the movable property of the Company at the close of the present and
past years. The Tools in the Carpenter shop have been carefully
repaired, and a new Boring Machine and Circular Saw added to the
stock, which will facilitate the work on Car repairs.
|
|
On the 4th of August, the Night Express Train was
discontinued, and but one Passenger Train each way, per day, is now
run; the decrease in travel allows this course without inconveniencing
the public needs.
|
|
|
| General Summary |
| Receipts per mile of Road |
|
$3,300.00 |
| Expenses
"
" |
|
1,783.00 |
| Receipts
" run by Passenger
Trains |
|
1 76.0 |
| Expenses
"
"
"
" |
|
81.4 |
| Receipts
"
"
Freight
" |
|
1 51.0 |
| Expenses
"
"
"
" |
|
89.9 |
| Total Receipts per mile run |
|
1 59.9 |
| Total Expenses
" " |
|
87.4 |
| Per Centage of
Receipts |
| For Passengers |
34.9 |
|
| " Freight |
62.0 |
|
| " Mail |
3.1 |
100.0 |
| Per Centage of
Expenses |
| Maintenance of Way |
38.2 |
|
|
"
Rolling Stock and Tools |
13.8 |
|
| Operating Engines and Trains |
36.7 |
|
| Miscellaneous |
11.3 |
100.0 |
|
|
|
|
All of which is respectfully submitted.
|
|
Alfred L. Tyler
|
|
Superintendent
|
|