| Annual Report of the Macon & Western RR |
| as of December 1, 1863, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Macon & Western Rail Road Company |
| Macon, Ga., Dec. 1st, 1863 |
| |
| Isaac Scott, Esq. |
|
President
|
|
|
|
The earnings of your Road for the fiscal year,
terminating yesterday, have been as follows:
|
| For Passengers |
$306,966.70 |
| " Freights |
515,716.88 |
| " Mails |
10,201.75 |
| Total |
$832,885.33 |
| And Expenses |
489,031.63 |
| Net Earnings |
$343,853.70 |
| To which add Interest Received |
979.56 |
| Total |
$344,833.26 |
|
|
The business of 1863 as compared with 1862 is:
|
|
Passengers |
|
Freights |
|
Mails |
|
Total |
| 1863 |
$306,066.70 |
|
$515,716.88 |
|
$10,201.75 |
|
$832,885.33 |
|
1862 |
206.032.70 |
|
194,244,07 |
|
10,201.75 |
|
410,478.52 |
| Increase |
$100,934.00 |
|
$321,472.81 |
|
|
|
$422,406.81 |
|
|
The increase in gross earnings is wholly due to demand
for Government transportation. The Road laying between the army of
Tennessee and the grain producing country of South-Western Georgia,
has been the avenue over which the principal army supplies have
passed, and the pressure upon it has been so heavy and continuous
during the year as almost to preclude the transportation of any
private freight. The expenses are 58 7/10 per cent. of the Gross
Earnings, but have been charged in the month of November with an mount
of $52,741.65 for five setts of Engine tyre bars. Deducting this
amount, which is fairly chargeable to the coming year, the percentage
would be but 52, or about the average of the past three years.
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|
Motive Power
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Tables 7 and 8 show the number and condition of the
Engines, also service performed by each and cost of Repairs.
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The new freight Engine "Sunshine," commenced in
the repair shop in January is rapidly approaching completion, and
should no accident prevent, will be placed in service in the spring.
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The increase of travel has taxed the Passenger Engines
severely, and it may become necessary to afford them relief by
purchasing or renting some of a heavy class from the upper Roads.
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In June last an arrangement was effected with the house
of Henry Adderly & Co., of Nassau, N. P., by the assistance of the
South Carolina R. R., to import material for Engine repairs, which has
been carried out with comparative success, as shown by the appended
statement. The two last items only have been lost. In addition to
this, as before stated, Tyre Bars for five Engines have been
purchased, so that sufficient material is now on hand to complete the
new Engine and also maintain the others in fair order during the
coming year
|
|
Material |
Cost |
|
|
|
| Received |
12,108 |
lbs. Boiler Plate |
L429 |
16 |
4 |
|
|
|
| " |
3,600 |
" Engine Tyres |
315 |
12 |
4 |
|
|
|
| " |
242 |
sq. feet Perforated Iron |
36 |
12 |
10 |
|
|
|
| " |
167 |
lbs. Sheet Brass |
43 |
18 |
2 |
|
|
|
| " |
6 |
Steam Guages |
38 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
|
| " |
17 |
doz. Guage Glasses |
28 |
1 |
9 |
|
|
|
| " |
231 |
lbs. Russia Iron |
15 |
15 |
1 |
L907 |
18 |
3 |
| Lost |
3,600 |
" Engine Tyre |
315 |
12 |
4 |
|
|
|
| " |
6 |
Steam Guages & Balances |
98 |
7 |
0 |
413 |
19 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
L1,321 |
17 |
7 |
|
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Rolling Stock
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The Passenger Cars have been kept in running order with
the exception of one of the oldest class, but as their constant use
has prevented such thorough repairs as they have usually received, it
has been thought advisable to hasten the completion of the two first
class cars commenced last year. These are now more than half finished,
and will be ready for service in three or four months.
|
The stock of Freight Cars consists of
| Box |
94 |
|
Box |
117 |
| Platform |
25 |
|
Platform |
31 |
| Cattle |
15 |
|
Cattle |
15 |
| Coal |
7 |
against in 1861 |
Coal |
8 |
|
141 |
|
|
171 |
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Deducting the fifteen box cars sold to the Navy
Department this shows a loss of fifteen cars: eight box, six platform
and one coal car. All of these with the exception of five box cars
have been on the road during the year and may yet come to hand. The
Government needs for transportation have often compelled the use of
this Company's cars by other roads, and they have been at times so
widely scattered that it is a matter of congratulation that the loss
has not been greater.
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The depreciation in the condition of the cars is chiefly
in axles and wheels, and early in the year accidents arising from the
defective condition of these last, forced the company to manufacture
for themselves. Thus far the attempt has proved successful. Wheels
sufficient to supply all demands have been cast in the foundry, which,
although perhaps of inferior quality, have as yet met all
requirements. A hundred and fifty tons of pig iron have been purchased
at an expense of $35,000 for this purpose, and charged to Repair of
Freight Cars.
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Road Repairs
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Thirty-five thousand new cross-ties have been expended
upon the track, which is in fair condition, notwithstanding the heavy
tonnage which has passed over it.
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A hundred new rails have been procured from the Navy
Department in partial exchange for old iron furnished them, which,
added to the amount of 120 tons now on hand, will probably be
sufficient for the coming year. The most serious need in this
department is that of cross-ties, which, owing to the scarcity of
labor, have not been delivered on the line of road in usual
quantities, and the Company has been compelled to give out contracts
on the line of the Macon & Brunswick Rail Road, which increases
the transportation some fifty miles in distance and the expense in
proportion.
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The heaviest expense under this heading has been for the
support of the negroes, which has increased from an average of $300 to
near $700 yearly, per head, giving a total of over $40,000 for the
year in excess of any previous one.
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Repairs Buildings
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A two story brick building 53x28 has been added to the
Repair Shops this year -- the lower story for an Iron House and the
upper for a Pattern Shop. An addition has been made to the Machine
Shop to accommodate a Steam Hammer, enclosing the space between the
Blacksmith Shop and Stationary Engine, and a small Brass Foundry 20x25
also built.
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The total amount of brick laid this year, including some
small ovens for annealing wheels, coking coal, etc., has been 300,000,
at an expense of near $11,000.
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Water Stations
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At Crawford's, a wood shed, capable of storing 500 cords
of wood, has been built; the Iron Tank, which alone remains to
complete the Station, is already cast, and will be set up this present
month. The entire cost of the work, including an additional acre of
ground purchased, does not exceed $6,000. Nothing has been done thus
far at Lovejoy's, which is the third and last point where such a
permanent Station is needed; but as soon as the contract for masonry
can be let and the weather permits, it will be prudent, and indeed
necessary, to proceed with the work.
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Much difficulty has been found in providing fuel for the
Engines this year, and the price has been advanced from $2.00 to $7.00
per cord. It has even at times been necessary to detach a force from
the Road Repairs to cut wood. Arrangements have recently been made (as
in the case of cross-ties) by which supplies can be obtained in
sufficient quantity from the lower Roads, although at a necessarily
increased expense. The amount now on hand, per Inventory, is 1090
cords.
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Miscellaneous
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As mentioned under the heading "Buildings," a
Steam Hammer has been built in the Repair Shops, this year, at a cost
of $4,000, which has been of much service in welding up old axles, and
also in general work. A machine for bending the Tyre bars recently
purchased is now in process of construction.
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The Inventory has been estimated at the actual cost to
the Road of each article instead of, as usual, at the market value
Dec. 1st; the varying cost of all Railway supplies has caused the
adoption of this plan, as more fairly representing the relative
expenses.
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The remarks made at the close of the last report seem
applicable to the present one. The expenses of the Road, although more
than double those of any previous year, are still increasing. Wages
have been increased near 400 per cent during the year, and material
has increased from 300 to 3,000 per cent. Oil, which could be bought
usually at $1.25 per gallon, now costs $36.00 for the raw material.
Wood, as before mentioned, has increased from $2.00 to $7.00 per cord;
Pig Iron from $30.00 to $350.00 per ton; Bar Iron from 6 cents to
$1.50 per lb.; and coal, since the loss of the Tennessee Mines, can be
procured only in small quantities from Selma, Ala. at an enormously
increased cost of transportation. No estimate can be made for the
coming year's expenses, but it is hoped that by proper exertion the
mechanical operations may be carried on as successfully as heretofore.
|
| General Summary |
| Receipts per mile of Road |
|
$8,086.00 |
| Expenses
"
" |
|
4,47.00 |
| Receipts
" run by Passenger trains |
|
4.26 |
| Expenses
"
"
"
" |
|
2.18 |
| Receipts
"
"
Freight " |
|
4.49 |
| Expenses
"
"
"
" |
|
2.74 |
| Total receipts |
|
4.39 |
| Total
Expenses |
|
2.58 |
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All of which is respectfully submitted,
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Alfred L. Tyler
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Superintendent
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