| Annual Report of the Orange &
Alexandria RR |
| as of September 30, 1861, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Report of Chief Engineer and General
Superintendent |
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| Office Orange & Alexandria R. R. Co. |
| Charlottesville, Va., Nov. 5, 1861 |
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John S. Barbour, Jr., Esq., President
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Sir,
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It is not possible for me to make a report in detail of
the operations of the road in my department for the past fiscal year,
or to give you the aggregate working expenses, owing to the fact, that
important books containing that information, from 1st of October,
1860, to the 1st of May following, are not in my possession.
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I can only estimate them from recollection, and by the
operations since May, for information in a general way, and to show a
comparison between them and the revenue.
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I am quite confident that when the books are obtained
they will not increase them over my estimate of two hundred and twenty
thousand ($220,000) dollars, which gives a ration of working expenses
to revenue of thirty-seven per cent; the revenue being six hundred and
four thousand and twenty-five dollars and forty-four cents, ($604,025
44/100) made up from the following sources, viz:
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| From |
passengers |
$206,668.85 |
| " |
Government Troops |
194,520.35 |
| " |
Freight |
67,104.34 |
| " |
Individual
" |
92,137.43 |
| " |
United States Mail |
22,600.79 |
| " |
Confederate States Mail |
6,108.33 |
| " |
Southern Express |
7,071.33 |
| " |
Adam's
" |
6,846.95 |
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News Agency |
305.00 |
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Telegraph |
662.07 |
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Total |
$604,025.44 |
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We have sixteen Locomotives belonging to us; one of them
was undergoing repairs in the machine shop at Alexandria at the time
of the invasion, and was in such condition that it could not be moved;
another, the Fairfax, was regarded only valuable as old iron; and a
third, the Fauquier, though brought out of Alexandria, has been of no
service, owing to her light weight and general uselessness, so that we
have thirteen locomotives in actual use; and at this time they are all
in running order. Since the 17th day of April, these engines mostly
have been without shelter, and depending upon a lathe and blacksmith's
forge for repairs. It almost seems that they felt it to be their duty
to keep themselves in order for the occasion, though much credit is
due to those connected with the machinery and running department for
their skill and watchfulness.
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Of course they are wearing considerably, and, whenever we
shall have time, will require both work and expense to place them in
the condition they were in at the commencement of the extraordinary
demand upon them.
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The road department has not been placed in as complete a
condition as it would have been, had we been able to supply ourselves
with iron rails and ties; but I consider it in good order, and with
the materials on hand and procurable, can keep it so.
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Three accidents have occurred to the trains during the
year; one at Orange Court House, on the 25th of May, caused by the
passenger train running into a standing troops train on the main
track, causing the death of one person, and injury to two persons --
one between Gordonsville and Madison, caused by the breaking of a
coupling on a descending grade, and a collision between the two parts
of the train, causing the death of two persons, and the third was near
Rappahannock Station, to an empty freight train, caused either by the
breaking of a chord of a small bridge, or by some derangement of cars
upon the bridge, resulting in the breaking of three freight cars, but
no injury to any one.
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Great credit and praise is due to officers and men, in
our service, for the manner in which they have performed their several
duties, enduring the hardships of their various posts without
faltering or murmuring.
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I regret that for the want of material I am obliged to
make you so meagre a report, but I am gratified that the result of the
operations of last year, is the best that we have had since the
opening of the road.
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Respectfully,
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H. W. Vandegrift
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Chief Eng'r and Gen'l Gup't.
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