| Annual Report of the North Carolina RR |
| as of June 1, 1861, |
| President's Report |
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| President's Report |
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| President's Office, N. C. R. R. |
| July, 1861 |
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To the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Rail Road
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Gentlemen,
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I have the honor to submit to you a brief report of the
operations of the North Carolina Rail Road for the year ending the
10th instant.
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The receipts from all sources have been, as set forth by
the tables of the office:
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| For Passengers |
$182,884.49 |
| " Freights |
211,477.40 |
| " Adams Express |
4,000.00 |
| " U. S. Mail and C. S.
Mail |
22,300.00 |
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$420,661.89 |
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The Treasurer's Abstract will show the amount and nature
of Disbursements.
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The Office of Transportation will furnish reliable data
as to the quantity and kind of freight both ways: including, besides,
statements as to passengers.
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The Machinery and Road Departments will be properly set
forth.
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I am unable to give you in this paper my usual summary of
the business and condition of the Road and Company -- always
heretofore annually made with carefulness in detail. My imperative
engagements for weeks past in the State service -- together with the
absolute necessity of devoting every hour it was possible for me to
take from these pressing occupations to the detail of office business
-- and to bestowing the requisite attention upon the constant heavy
transportation of troops and supplies, have afforded me no time for
making out the statement. I have directed it to be made out from the
office -- and trust it may be done well, and to your satisfaction.
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The Road is in better condition than it was this
time last year: the sill superstructure sounder, and the iron less
broken by wear. Many thousand new sills have been put ink and the iron
extensively repaired. This has of course largely increased the cost of
this department -- but, it has, in a much greater proportion,
increased the value and safety of the track.
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The Bridges have been constantly examined and
thoroughly repaired -- and are now closely watched. The repairs of
this department to be most economically made, must be constant -- so
as to keep careful pace with the incessant wear and tear.
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The important matter of ditching, owing to the continuous
rains of the Winter and Spring -- and to the heavy transportation of
the past three months, which employed all our engines almost
constantly -- has not been so well attended to as usual: a fact
regretted by me, but which was unavoidable.
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The Machinery Department has been well sustained
and economically administered. The report of the Master Mechanic shows
the work done on engines and cars, as well as the new work turned out.
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The present condition of the country shows the value of
your shops. No one can now doubt the good judgment of their
construction on the scale adopted, and their inestimable importance to
the State, the people, and the South. In fact, it is hard to see how
the road could now be worked without their present completeness. I can
say that the matters of this department have been conducted with
energy, efficiency and skill.
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The Transportation Department has had good conduct
and safe management -- and, with a single extraordinary and
unaccountable exception, less than usual of the "loss and
damage" cost, which, to some extent, must always inevitably
attend it. The circumstance to which I allude -- a collision of
engines -- occurred in January; causing the death of an engineer of
great faithfulness and high character, and the wounding of several
train-hands. Nothing of this kind had ever occurred on the road since
its completion; and with the man who was to blame -- a man who, before
this, had been of unquestionable skill and character -- surprised me
to incredulity until I saw it. I consider the whole affair to have
been one of these events, which are as astonishing as they are
deplorable. Of course those blameable in the matter were at once
removed from the service of the road.
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It gives me pleasure to repeat the assurance of my
continued confidence, as stated last year, in the faithfulness and
capability of Mr. Wilkes -- who, excepting during absence on my part
-- (and I was on the road when the accident above referred to took
place) -- has been employed, not in the ordering of trains, but in the
General Transportation Department of Freight -- and in the transaction
of much other general business on the road.
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It remains for me, in this brief, and I regret to feel,
imperfect report, only to express to you my entire appreciation of
your invariable kindness and indulgence at all times during the years
of our official intercourse. We separate as friends, having had the
most agreeable and undisturbed relations of confidence and kindly
association. It is known to you, better than to any one else, how much
there is of labor and of difficulty in the position I have held. It is
also known to you, as to many personal friends on the line of the
road, that only my sense of the importance of this work, and the need
of experience in its administration, added to the most flattering acts
of the Stockholders toward me, have caused me so long to devote myself
to its labors, at a heavy cost to my private interests.
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I am able to say that at all times it has been my earnest
effort to do whatever seemed to me best for the interest of all
concerned -- the State and the Stockholders.
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I beg leave to make through you to the body of
Stockholders, my very sensible acknowledgement of their marked
kindness and confidence, as so constantly expressed towards me.
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I remember it as abundant recompense for much that has
been wearisome and discouraging during my term of service on this
State work. And I offer to yourselves and to the Stockholders, in
parting from you, as well remembered friends, my best and very sincere
wishes for your individual prosperity and happiness.
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Your Ob't Serv't
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Charles F. Fisher
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