| Annual Report of the Orange &
Alexandria RR |
| as of September 30, 1861, |
| Examining Committee's Report |
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| Examining Committee's Report |
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| To the Stockholders of the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad Company |
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The committee appointed at your last annual meeting, and
charged with "an examination of the Road, and the conditions of
the improvements of the Company, and the manner in which the books and
the financial affairs of the Company are kept," ask leave to
submit to the consideration of the Stockholders, the following
statement:
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A portion of the committee, accompanied by the President
and Chief Engineer, and an invited guest of the latter, Mr. Ward,
recently and for many years engaged as a division Engineer upon the
construction of our works, proceeded to make a survey of our entire
line of improvement, including the Warrenton Branch. The residue of
the committee being unavoidably absent, the one in the service of this
Company, another appointed a State proxy of this Company, and the
last, too far distant to receive a notice of the time of examination.
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| The Warrenton Branch was
found in good condition -- the breaches occasioned by the freshets of
last fall, and adverted to in the last report, had immediately after
been repaired, and since then, no impediment has existed to a safe and
continuous passage over the road. |
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Beginning at Manassas, the nearest practicable approach
to the Northern terminus at Alexandria, all intervening being either
torn up, or in the possession of the enemy -- the committee found that
very considerable and valuable improvements had been made at that
point, in the current year; a mile or more of rail laid down, forming,
for some distance, a double track -- a number of additional switches,
and additional buildings for the accommodation of the large business
concentrated by army operations at that important point -- all such
seemed to be necessary, if not indispensable to the ready delivery of
the supplies and other freight unladen there.
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From Manassas to the Rappahannock the road was found in a
far better condition than was anticipated, in fact they were surprised
to find how little of injury was apparent in the wood and rail of that
portion of the Road. The bridges over the large streams of Broad and
Cedar Runs being recently rebuilt in the most substantial manner, and
of the best materials, both of stone and timber, and the less
important one at Kettle Run, recently thoroughly repaired, are deemed
by the committee as equal to any emergency.
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Next in order was the bridge over the Rappahannock. The
attention of the committee was especially called to this structure --
as one of magnitude and importance -- both by the President and Chief
Engineer, and the more especially because, for some reason for years
past, from time to time, suspicion had attached to its stability. It
was carefully examined and found, in their estimation, to be as strong
and permanent as any other on the route. This bridge, originally one
of the most costly and best constructed on the line, and considered as
one of the safest, has been within a short period strengthened and
reinforced by powerful arches, which support and sustain it, by a firm
union with the massive abutments and pillars beneath. The line of road
resting on its timbers presented to the eye no deflection from a right
line, or unevenness of surface which must have ensured if the timber
beneath had suffered any injury, or been insufficient in strength.
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From this point to Culpeper Court House the road is in
fine condition, and working order. From the Court House to Rapidan,
the road passes through, in part, a low, wet country, which has had
its natural effect upon the ties of the road, which were found
defective, and require to be substituted by others, which are now
being laid down by a force adequate to the purpose, and with a supply
of material heretofore not to be had in sufficient quantities in that
locality. The bridge over the Rapidan is not less important, or very
inferior in cost and dimensions to that of the Rappahannock -- never
maligned or suspected -- it looks as if it might endure for ages. From
this to Gordonsville there are no bridges, and but few culverts, and
the road is in a serviceable condition. The depots on this road are
inferior in point of finish and accommodations to those of the new
line, and the committee, under other than the peculiar circumstances
of the country and the demands of our income, would earnestly
recommend the substitution of public for private depots on the
Northern part of the line, and the enlargement of such as are
inadequate to the accommodation of the trade, or in such state of
dilapidation and decay, as make them unsafe depositories of the
products and property of their customers.
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The committee would take pleasure, before resuming their
further progress on the road, to remark here, that considering the
immense weight of transportation, averaging eight or ten heavy trains,
and often greatly exceeding that, daily over this line, the simple and
only avenue of carriage of troops, munitions of war, and supplies of
all kinds for the army of the Potomac -- it should not be a matter of
surprise that here and there something of deterioration should appear
in the road and rolling stock of the Company; but, on the contrary,
that it should be a source of congratulation, that in the beginning,
it was so well framed and constructed, as to be capable of bearing so
much, and yet, in a condition to do so much more. The committee must
think that it is owing, in a great measure, to the good management of
those to whom have been committed the fortunes of the Road.
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The committee would further remark, before dismissing
this branch of their enquiry, that the road beyond Manassas, broken up
by order of the military, will furnish abundant iron -- of the newest
and best patterns -- for the renewal of this, and, if that is done,
the road will be as stable as ever, and the rails kept in their own
line, instead of being applied to a military line in prospect from
Manassas to Centreville, the Headquarters of our army, and, that,
perhaps, there may be enough for both. It is believed by the committee
that this is in contemplation by the officers of the road. The
committee commend this to your favorable action.
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The extension from Charlottesville was examined. All here
was in the best order. This road, with all appurtenants of bridges,
depots and other connections, was found unimpaired and capable of long
service without further expense. When the improvements contemplated at
Lynchburg are made, and the committee urge that that shall be
done at the earliest practicable moment, it will be, without dissent,
a model road, as perfect, perhaps, as could be constructed. The
improvements, the committee know, are not abandoned, but only
suspended, and now that the rich and enterprising city of Lynchburg
must become, to a large extent, the mart of trade to the planters and
farmers of the lower line, it is doubly important that this connection
shall be completed into the heart of that city, and every facility
afforded to the trade, and increase of freight on the road. When the
original plans of improvement are carried into effect, the road is
finished.
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One of the most agreeable duties of the committee
heretofore was the inspection of the workshops, machinery and other
property of the Company, in their extensive establishment at
Alexandria. "That occupation's gone." The enemy hold them,
or have destroyed them, we know not which. They were very valuable, as
well as convenient and necessary for the building of cars and repairs
of engines, but poorly substituted now, with the best that could be
done, by shops at Gordonsville on a limited scale, but the cover from
weather and other exposure, which they afforded, cannot soon be
supplied. Besides this loss, the committee believe that the Company
sustained but small damage, an engine, a few cars, and other less
valuable property.
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The committee next proceeded to the inspection of the
books and papers of the Company, at their office in Charlottesville.
They examined the books, and found them kept as heretofore, in the
best manner. They examined into the receipts and disbursements, and
found them corresponding with such checks as seem proper to prevent
any frauds or mistakes. The incomes of the road are carefully
recorded, both for the whole road and each station. The disbursements
are made under proper restrictions and proved by proper vouchers, and
appear to have been compared carefully by a committee of the
Directory. The officers were attentive and promptly gave us all aid in
an examination.
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The receipts of the Company show a handsome gain over
those of the past year. The gross revenue of the last year was
$450,000 -- this year about $600,000, a gain of about $150,000. But
for all this, and further particulars, they refer you to the report of
the President and Directors and General Superintendent.
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In conclusion, we congratulate you on the prosperity of
our improvement, promising large returns, but, above all, affording at
this crisis a means of defence, without which, our armies could not be
subsisted or our rights and property defended.
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D. F. Slaughter, Chairman
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| T. T. Hill |
Committee |
| C. F. Suttle |
| P. C. Slaughter |
| John A. Porter |
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