| Annual Report of the North Carolina RR |
| as of June 1, 1864, |
| Examining Committee's Report |
| |
| Report of Committee of Inspection
|
|
| To the Stockholders of the North Carolina
Rail Road Company:
|
|
| Gentlemen,
|
|
Your committee of
examination have endeavored to discharge the duty assigned them,
and beg leave to submit the following report as the result of
their observations:
|
|
Culverts and Bridge Masonry
|
|
Two of the
culverts, near Raleigh, have given way during the past year, proving
but too conclusively the correctness of a previous report. The
culverts, west of the first division (terminating six miles west of
Raleigh,) generally answer well the purpose for which they were
erected. Your bridge masonry remains very much as it was two years
ago; and, though, as then intimated, some slight repairs at a few
points, would be beneficial, yet it is all safe and substantial.
|
|
Bridge and Superstructure
|
|
Yadkin bridge, the
most important on your line, has been thoroughly overhauled and
repaired; a new roof has been put on, and new stringers and stringer
plank put under the track. Walnut creek, Back creek, Haw river, East
Buffalo, Leonard’s creek, North Potts’, Irish Buffalo, Caudle
creek, and Rocky river bridges have all been overhauled, and are now
in good condition, with the exception that some of them require new
stringer plank under track. Neuse river, Jimmie’s creek, Rich Fork,
and Swearing creek, all in good order, with the exceptions just named.
Crabtree, Stony creek, Upper and Lower Eno require new roofs, and new
stringers under track, otherwise in good condition. Abbott’s creek
bridge has two defective floor beams, otherwise in good order. Little
river bridge requires new wall plates at one end; West Buffalo is now
being overhauled.
|
|
Road Bed and Track
|
|
Notwithstanding the
increased number of heavy trains passing over your road, the road bed
and track are generally in better condition than hitherto, showing
conclusively the favorable effects of several causes; namely, the
previous years increase of section masters and hands, the reduction in
speed of trains, and the remarkably favorable weather of last winter.
More ballasting has been done, and the ditching is generally in better
condition than heretofore. The alignment of track and cross section of
same are generally good; with the exception of the iron, some of which
has become laminated and requires renewal, the track is in good
condition.
|
|
Complaints have
been made to your committee, respecting the bad condition of some
cattle guards and the impassable condition of a public road bridge
over the railroad near Lexington; we, therefore, recommend immediate
attention to this matter and the avoidance in future of any thing
causing discontent and irritation, when it can be remedied by a prompt
compliance with a duty that must be performed.
|
|
Ware-House
|
|
Some of your ware-houses
have been repaired, and the drainage improved. More repairs, and
better drainage are necessary at some points. The joint ware-house, at
Charlotte, has been divided: and its good effects seen in the neatly,
improved appearance of the interior, and we doubt not, felt by the
company in the diminution of lost goods. More room is needed, at this
point, for the accommodation of freight. In the vicinity of this
station there is much cotton lying scattered in a very bad condition;
said cotton is not only wasted, but made a nuisance and subjects your
property at that point to great danger from fire. If it has been
brought there for shipment over the road, it ought to be given as
quick transportation as possible, and if not brought for that purpose,
it ought not to be allowed to be put so near your depot. At
Greensboro’ a new joint warehouse will be necessary as soon as the
Piedmont railroad makes a proper connection with yours.
We are gratified to find that the loss sustained by you on
account of lost or stolen goods, is very much diminished; and it also
affords us much pleasure in being able to state, that there is a
marked improvement made generally by your agents at ware-houses in the
arrangement of freight and the neat, cleanly manner in which the
interior is kept. There is still room for improvement at several,
especially around the buildings. At Mitchenor’s or Smithfield
station every thing within and without shows order and cleanliness,
while at Durham’s depot things out-doors are, apparently, under
negligent treatment.
|
|
Passenger Accommodation at Stations
|
|
At Salisbury the
passenger trains now pass through the joint passenger shed, adding
much to the comfort as well as convenience of the traveling public. As
stated in a previous report many passengers are compelled to lie over
here, awaiting the trains; more room is necessary for their
accommodation; a small expense would make the empty wood station
answer the purpose. At Hillsboro’, Charlotte, Goldsboro’, and
Raleigh, things remain very much as they were last year, except that
the drainage, at the last named place, has been improved. From the
completion of the Piedmont road, the passenger accommodation at
Raleigh will not require to be made s extensive, while a joint
passenger shed will be very much needed at Greensboro’.
|
|
Wood and Water
|
|
The supply of wood
appears short betwixt Raleigh and the Shops. The supply of water has
been increased, and several new tanks have been erected, and others
are now building.
|
|
Engines and Cars
|
|
Your engines are
well kept up, and are generally able to do efficient service, except
some that are now being overhauled. Since your last meeting one engine
has been entirely built, and named the Gov. Morehead; another is now
being re-built. The work done on these engines is both neat and
substantial, and reflects much credit on your master machinist, Mr.
James Anderson, and the machinists under him.
|
|
While both freight
and passenger cars have received extensive repairs, and some new ones
have been built, we think that they are still insufficient for the
business of the road, and the passenger cars seem to be proportionally
in worse order, more especially as regards cleanliness, than any other
department on the road.
|
|
Work Shops
|
|
Much has been said
in previous reports respecting the vast importance of this department
to the successful working of your road; all of which has been fully
verified. Without this establishment, your trains would soon stand
still. It cannot, therefore, be watched with too much vigilance or its
interests nursed with too much care.
|
|
At your last annual
meeting, you authorized the building of a round house for stabling the
engines, and more quarters, for the accommodation of hands; not only
has this resolution failed to appear in the published proceedings of
your meeting, but the round house has failed to be erected; the reason
of the former we do not know, but the difficulty of obtaining material
has been the cause of the latter. Some additional quarters have been
built.
|
|
The ability shown
in the foundry, the mechanism displayed in carpenter department, the
skill manifested in the machine shop, and the art exhibited by the
painter, together with the order and energy with which the whole is
directed, satisfy your committee, that, if properly supplied, this
department can furnish the road with every thing it requires, from a
broom-handle to a first-class engine.
|
|
Before closing our
report, we cannot refrain from expressing our gratification at the
present good general condition of your road, with its appurtenances,
and the harmony that seems to prevail amongst your officers and
employees. In these times of trial, when supplies of every kind are so
difficult to be procured, it must be gratifying to every stockholder,
that, when thrown upon its own resources, your road has been enabled
to sustain itself so well, and render such a vast amount of services
to our bleeding country.
|
|
Hoping that your
road may continue to improve, and that your officers and directors may
be enabled, to render increased accommodation to our government, as
also to our citizens generally,
|
|
We remain respectfully,
|
|
Your obedient servants,
|
| Wm. Murdoch |
Com. |
| John M. Morehead |
| William R. Holt |
|
|