| Annual Report of the Orange &
Alexandria RR |
| as of September 30, 1862, |
| 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 Examining Committee, appointed at the last annual
meeting, beg leave to report:
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The Committee have given as much time and as diligent
attention to the subjects committed to their consideration, as their
means and opportunity afforded. They have examined the old road, so
far as it is now worked by the Company, about 30 miles beyond
Gordonsville to Culpeper Court-house, and have found the general
condition of the road, and its appurtenances, as satisfactory as could
have been expected under the peculiar circumstances which have marked
the destinies of this road for the last two years. This part of the
road has been a contested subject between the rightful owners and
their destructive, unscrupulous enemies, and has shared a like fate
with all other roads which have fallen under their temporary dominion
and control. The fine bridges upon the Rapid Ann and cedar Run, which
had been destroyed by fire, are now substituted by others of inferior
quality and less durability, which, though coarse, compared with those
which preceded them, are strong and safe, and every way adequate, for
present purposes, for which they have been designed and constructed.
The same remarks are applicable to the bridges over the Rappahannock,
and elsewhere, which your committee had no opportunity of inspecting.
The road-bed, though worn and giving evidences of hard and constant
service in its timbers and iron, will be, by judicious repairs and a
substitution of new material for such as may be found impaired, made
serviceable for years to come.
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| The depots and station houses
on this portion of the road are as presented in the report of last
year. The committee, however, would not feel authorized in
recommending any considerable outlay upon this road and its buildings
at the present time, but would prefer to postpone it to a more safe
and propitious future, when the condition of affairs and the
settlement of that region would justify such an appropriation. They,
therefore, limit their recommendation to such repairs only of road and
buildings as may be indispensably necessary to the safe and convenient
accommodation of trade and travel upon it. |
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The extension, or new road from Charlottesville to
Lynchburg, is in the best condition, as yet unimpaired by use, and
affords the best example of which the committee is appraised, of a
perfect road. Years will elapse, before we shall be called on to
repair or re-furnish this road, unless some accident of fire or flood
should anticipate the event.
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The committee have examined the work-shops of the
company, established in this city for the repairs of engines and cars,
and, although greatly inferior in all accommodations and conveniences
to those lost with the city of Alexandria, yet, restricted as they
are, have enabled us to run our road creditably, and at an expense
incommensurate with the small means invested in them. They show with
what small means great results may be accomplished, and how
well-directed economy may compass its ends, and do that, which lavish
expenditure alone is thought capable of achieving.
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Our road has been worked through its whole extent, has
met every demand upon it, its rolling stock in good and effective
working order, and the shops to make the repairs and keep it in that
condition, occupies a space and employs a force that exceeds but
little that which is to be found in a village blacksmith shop.
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This, in a great measure, is due to the adoption, at an
early period of the war, of a system of slower speed in the passenger
and transportation line, by which engines and cars are preserved in
good working order, the wear greatly diminished, and the rolling stock
and road saved from the wear and abrasion, the inevitable consequence
of more rapid movements. The rate of speed being much reduced, we are
more than paid for the loss of time in the preservation of our
valuable property, which, in its stock, has received no additions for
the last two years.
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Besides this advantage, it has secured a safety of life
and property, when the travel has been most heavy, not equaled by any
other road known to your committee.
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The books and records of the company were examined, and
compared vouchers with receipts, as far as time permitted. The system
adopted, and lately much improved, in the departments, appears to
surround the receipts and disbursements with all necessary checks.
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The disbursements are made under judicious restrictions;
the earnings of the road are carefully classified and entered, both
for the whole road and each station, and attested by vouchers with
which the respective entries seem to have been carefully compared by a
committee of the Directory. The records, though voluminous, are of
easy reference, and the officers prompt to furnish every explanation
desired.
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The receipts of the road show a considerable increase
over those of last year, and are gratifying both in that fact,
and in their actual amount. The gross revenue of the present year, is
$747,247.12; total expenses, $220,713.14; net revenue, $526,533.98.
For further particulars upon the finances of the road, and its
practical management, we beg leave to refer to the President's Report
and accompanying documents, and that of the Chief Engineer and General
Superintendent. All of which is respectfully submitted.
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D. F. Slaughter
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John A. Porter
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Thos. T. Hill, Committee
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