| Annual Report of the Richmond &
Danville RR |
| as of October 1, 1861, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Superintendent's Report |
| Superintendent's Office R. & D. R. R. |
| Richmond, December 4th, 1861 |
| |
|
Lewis E. Harvie, Esq.
|
|
President
|
|
|
|
Sir,
|
|
I submit the following report of the operations of the
road for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 1861:
|
| Earnings of the Road for
the Year |
| Local passengers |
|
$104,661.17 |
|
| Through " |
|
34,351.89 |
$139,013.06 |
| Outward local freight |
|
65,806.62 |
|
| " connection freight |
|
16,803.22 |
|
| Inward
local " |
|
121,865.46 |
|
| "
connection " |
|
10,066.67 |
|
| Intermediate local " |
|
4,100.47 |
|
| "
connection " |
|
9,756.01 |
|
| Coal
" |
|
9,947.78 |
|
| Stone
" |
|
486.46 |
|
| Bell
Isle
" |
|
971.69 |
239,804.38 |
| Express |
|
|
5,272.14 |
| United States Mail |
|
|
10,652.28 |
| Confederate States Mail |
|
|
3,527.50 |
|
Total |
|
$398,269.36 |
| State of Virginia and Confederate States
transportation, viz: |
|
|
| Passengers |
|
37,060.16 |
|
| Freight |
|
10,721.90 |
|
| Baggage |
|
1,408.51 |
49,190.57 |
|
Total Earnings |
|
$447,459.93 |
| Expenditures for the year |
|
$274,711.59 |
|
| Expenditures not chargeable to the working of the
road |
$23,981.42 |
|
|
| Excess of inventory this year over last |
7,061.66 |
|
|
| Rent received from other roads for use of cars |
3,801.26 |
34,844.34 |
|
| Working expenses for the year |
|
|
239,867.25 |
|
Nett earnings |
|
$207,592.68 |
| Working expenses 53 60-100 per cent. of
the gross receipts |
|
|
| Nett earnings 46 40-100 per cent. of the
gross receipts |
|
|
| Expenditures for the
Year |
| Accounts registered
during the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1861 |
| For Construction |
|
|
$6,720.33 |
| " Personal property |
|
|
810.02 |
| " Transportation |
|
|
2,270.19 |
| " Repairs of road |
|
|
40,580.21 |
| " Contingent expenses |
|
|
6,093.44 |
| " Wages |
|
|
126,240.35 |
| " Machinery |
|
|
7,427.83 |
| " Repairs of machinery |
|
|
16,190.97 |
| " Repairs of depots |
|
|
2,.111.80 |
| " Oil and waste |
|
|
5,126.60 |
| " Provision |
|
|
13,322.03 |
| " Relaying track |
|
|
5,339.36 |
| " Negro clothing |
|
|
3,911.86 |
| " Repairs of bridges |
|
|
1,077.67 |
| " Wood |
|
|
21,893.29 |
| " Wells and water stations |
|
|
355.80 |
| " Stock killed |
|
|
164.16 |
| " Lost freight |
|
|
2,076.20 |
| " Negro hire |
|
|
24,368.67 |
| " Telegraph expenses |
|
|
3,680.56 |
| Total amount as per register |
|
|
$289,761.34 |
| Amounts chargeable to fiscal year ending
September 30th, 1861, and registered subsequent to that date |
|
2,643.84 |
|
|
|
$292,405.18 |
| Deduct amounts chargeable to fiscal year
ending September 30th, 1860, and included in above list of
accounts, registered after that date |
|
27,046.71 |
|
|
|
$265,358.47 |
| To which add salaries of President,
Directors, Auditor, Treasurer and Auditor's clerks |
|
9,353.12 |
| Expenditures for year |
|
|
$274,711.59 |
| Expenditures Not
Chargeable to Working of the Road |
| New Buildings, Permanent
Construction, Tools, &c. |
| For new buildings and improvements at depots |
|
$5,057.24 |
|
| "
" culverts |
|
635.50 |
|
| "
" trestle work for siding at Meherrin |
|
331.91 |
|
| "
" girder bridge at Staunton river low grounds |
|
854.99 |
|
| "
"
"
" " Boston |
|
531.82 |
|
|
" "
trestle
" " Staunton river
low grounds |
260.81 |
|
| " paving in
depot yard at Danville |
573.60 |
|
| " excavating in
Boston depot lot and branch track at Barksdale's |
491.32 |
|
| " seating
freight cars for transporting troops |
374.22 |
|
| " canal boat |
611.41 |
|
| " 1 platform and
2 depot scales |
210.18 |
|
| " 1 5 cwt. steam
hammer |
600.00 |
|
| " 1 upright
bench drill |
129.00 |
|
| " 1 pump and
test guage |
75.00 |
|
| " 1 lathe and
scroll chuck |
160.00 |
|
| " personal
property |
810.00 |
|
| " relaying track |
7,522.56 |
|
| " Telegraph line |
3,464.59 |
|
| New passenger car |
544.56 |
|
| "
box
" |
28.32 |
|
| "
flat
" |
660.65 |
|
| "
crank
" |
39.22 |
|
| "
powder " |
14.50 |
$23,981.42 |
| Working Expenses |
| Maintenance of Roadway
and Real Estate |
| Repairs road-bed and track, as per
statements |
77,442.01 |
|
|
" buildings, as per statement |
9,146.98 |
|
|
" bridges and culverts |
2,593.30 |
89,182.29 |
| Repairs of Machinery |
| Engines, as per statement |
7,690.62 |
|
| Cars,
"
" " |
9,111.63 |
|
| Shop expenses |
7,028.35 |
23,830.60 |
| Operating Expenses |
| Salaries of President, Directors,
Auditor, Treasurer and Auditor's Clerks |
9,353.12 |
|
| Salaries of Superintendent, Clerks and
Office expenses |
6,348.57 |
|
| Gas and water rates |
428.56 |
|
| Printing and advertising |
3,446.84 |
|
| Depot expenses, as per statement |
44,124.47 |
|
| Coalfield incline plane |
1,338.13 |
|
| Wells and water stations |
1,084.35 |
|
| Telegraph officers |
2,180.17 |
|
| Conductors and baggage masters |
5,505.89 |
|
| Brakesmen |
3,762.99 |
|
| Engineers, firemen and cleaners |
24,145.24 |
|
| Train expenses |
5,091.41 |
|
| Oil for engines and cars |
3,544.93 |
|
| Waste for
"
" " |
490.90 |
|
| Wood
"
"
" " |
10,412.20 |
|
| Mail expenses |
1,328.86 |
|
| Transporting freight across river at
Rocketts |
410.96 |
|
| Stock
killed
"
"
" " |
164.16 |
|
| Lost
freight
"
"
" " |
2,076.20 |
|
| Car
rent
"
"
" " |
1,098.17 |
|
| Casualties
"
" "
" |
400.00 |
|
| Incidentals
"
"
" " |
118.24 |
126,854.36 |
| Working
expenses for the year |
|
$239,867.25 |
|
|
The gross receipts for this year, as compared with
last year, have decreased $113,444.50, while the working expenses have
diminished only $38,708.73 and there has been consequently a decrease of
$74,735.77 in nett earnings.
|
|
The ratio of working expenses to gross receipts have been
increased 3.91 per cent.
|
|
The falling off in the gross receipts is due to the
decrease in local and through travel, and in local freight business; the
increase in through freight, and the heavy transportation performed for
the general Government, having been inadequate, owing to the low rate of
charges, to compensate for the loss on these first named items.
|
|
The usual character of last year's business is perhaps a
sufficient explanation of the increased ration of working expenses to
gross receipts; and when it is seen that the expenses per mile run have
been slightly reduced, it will be evident that the road has not been
more expensively worked this year than last, but that the unfavorable
exhibit is owing to the unremunerative character of most of the
business. Still, I think it well to call attention to the fact, that
while the work done this year was practically as great, and the
improvement in the condition and characteristics of the road very nearly
equal to that of the previous year, the portion of the gross receipts
unexpended either in working or improving the road is somewhat more this
year than it was last, notwithstanding the great falling off in gross
receipts; and to state in explanation of this, that in preparing this
year's report, I have allotted to working expenses disbursements, which
previously it has been customary to include in expenditures not
chargeable to working the road. By a more liberal estimate of what
constitute items of expenditure with which transportation should be
credited, the ration of working expenses to gross receipts could be
reduced to less than 50 per cent.; but I deemed it best to include in
these, such expenditures only as, in my opinion, were clearly not
chargeable to working the road.
|
|
In Tables marked B and C, the details of the gross receipts
are given, and a comparison made with last year's business.
|
|
Passengers
|
|
In Table marked J, will be found a report of the travel to
and from each station during the year, and a statement giving the
classification of the travel; and in Table marked K, the travel paid for
by the State of Virginia and the Confederate States is given in detail,
showing the number to and from each station. From this last table it
will be seen that this road has brought to Richmond for the Government,
32,498 men, 28,601 of this number having come upon the road from the
South Side Railroad at the Junction.
|
|
The transit of passengers is as follows:
|
|
1859-'60 |
1860-'61 |
Decrease in 1860-'61 |
| Local passengers |
58,104 |
48,959 |
9,145 |
| Through " |
28,226 |
19,637 |
3,589 |
|
81,330 |
68,596 |
12,734 |
| Government passengers |
|
|
34,680 |
| Increase in total travel |
|
|
21,946 |
| Total mileage of local passengers |
|
2,610,245 |
|
| Total mileage of through passengers |
|
1,104,089 |
|
| Total mileage of government passengers |
|
1,858,004 |
|
| Total mileage of all passengers |
|
5,567,338 |
|
| Average number of miles travelled by local
passengers |
|
|
53.31 |
| Average number of miles travelled by through
passengers |
|
|
56.22 |
| Average number of miles travelled by government
passengers |
|
|
53.43 |
| Average number of miles travelled by all passengers |
|
|
53.90 |
| Receipts from local passengers |
|
$104.661.17 |
|
| Receipts from through passengers |
|
34,351.89 |
|
| Receipts from government passengers |
|
37,060.16 |
|
| Total receipts from passengers |
|
176,073.22 |
|
| Average receipts for carrying one local passenger
one mile |
|
|
4 cents |
| Average receipts for carrying one through passenger
one mile |
|
|
3 111/1000 cents |
| Average receipts for carrying one government
passenger one mile |
|
|
2 cents |
| Average receipts for carrying one passenger one mile |
|
|
3 103/1000 cents |
|
|
From this statement it will be seen that the ordinary local
and connection travel has been much diminished during the past year; but
owing to the number of persons carried over the road for the State and
Confederate authorities, the total number of passengers carried is
21,947 in excess of that of last year, while the receipts from passenger
business have increased only $23,484.29, owing to the low rates at which
the transportation for the Government is done.
|
|
The average receipt per passenger the last fiscal year was
$1.87, this year the average is $1.70, and by comparing the increased
receipts from passengers this year with the increase in number of
passengers carried, it will be found that the receipts from the increase
of travel have averaged only $1.07 per passenger, and consequently that
at last year's rates, the increase in receipts would be nearly double
what it is, or about $40,000.
|
|
Depots and Buildings
|
|
The freight and station houses are in good order, repairs
to the amount of $1,084.35 having been done during the year.
|
|
The passenger house at Richmond has been somewhat altered
and thoroughly repaired and painted during the year, and a roof put up
over the outside platform. Still further improvements to this building
are now in progress, with a view of increasing its convenience.
|
|
The platform bridges over the James River and Kanawha
Canal have been carefully examined, and all necessary repairs have been
made.
|
|
In Manchester, our depot facilities have been much
increased by additional earth filling, extending existing sidings, and
putting in several new sidings.
|
|
No material changes have been made in the shops, except the
construction of a wood shed at the south end of the machine shop, but in
the shop yard quite an extensive system of drains has been constructed,
doing away with the open trenches which were both unsightly and inconvenient.
|
|
It will be seen that the item of shop expenses for this
year is large, this is owing not to an increase in current expenses, but
to some improvements introduced during the year. These though of no
great magnitude are numerous, and need hardly be mentioned.
|
|
At Rockfield station, the old buildings formerly occupied
by the agent have been removed, and a section house built for the master
of the first section, who attends to the wood and water supplies in
addition to his other duties.
|
|
At Mossingford a shed has been put up over the freight house
platform during the year.
|
|
At Roanoke station the agent's house has been moved, its
former location being very unhealthy from proximity to the river.
|
|
New engine houses have been erected at Junction, Clover and
Danville, one at each station, and the old engine houses at the last two
named places have been moved to more convenient positions, and put in
good order.
|
|
A new siding has been laid down at Coalfield; and at eight
of the stations where sidings were short, and had but one connection
with main track, they have been extended, and another connection made
with the main track. Altogether, about one-half mile of additional
siding has been laid, and with slight exceptions all of this work is
included in repairs of roadway, and charged to working expenses. The
material used was principally such as had been taken out of the main
track.
|
|
The wells and pumps are in good order, and during the year
there has been at all times an abundant supply of water for our engines.
|
|
The wood sheds have been repaired during the year, and some
of them have been improved by the addition of platforms and travelling
wood racks.
|
|
A new turntable is now building at Keysville station.
|
|
At Barksdale's station a branch track for receiving and
delivering freight to the boats on Dan river has been commenced, and is
now nearly completed. This has been constructed as a preferable
arrangement to the trestle track and hoisting apparatus now in use,
which is so decayed that it cannot be used much longer without renewal.
The grading of this branch has been charged to permanent construction,
but the expense of the track is included in cost of maintaining roadway
and real estate.
|
|
The operating expenses at the stations are shown in Table
marked I, and the cost of repairs in Table marked E. The aggregate of
these two tables amounts to $53,271.45, and is $1,471.69 more than the
expenditure for the same items last year, but as this year's statement
includes the fuel used at stations, which was left out in previous
reports, and amounts to $2,095.35, this year's expenses are actually
$623.66 less than those of last year.
|
|
Roadway and Bridges
|
|
At the close of the fiscal year there was 99 miles of heavy
rail, and 41 1/2 miles of flat bar track on the main line of the road;
and 9 1/2 miles of heavy rail, and 6 1/2 miles of flat bar in sidings.
The total length of sidings is 16 miles.
|
|
During the year 6 1/2 miles of heavy rail has been
substituted for flat bar in the main line, 2 1/2 miles of the iron laid
having been purchased the previous year, 3/4 of a mile of it received
from Roanoke & Clarksville railroad {Roanoke
Valley RR} in payment of a freight bill, and remainder, namely 3
1/4 miles, obtained from the sidings by substituting the flat bar for
it. Some of the iron taken from sidings had to be repaired before it
could be used in the main line, but this was done at the moderate cost
of $4.60 per ton, and during the year 88 tons, or about one mile of
heavy rail {both tracks} has been repaired
in the shops of the Company.
|
|
In addition to the 3 1/4 miles of heavy rails substituted
for the flat bar in the main track, 1 1/4 miles of heavy iron has been
obtained from sidings for repairs of track between Richmond and
Appomattox river, making in all 4 1/2 miles of heavy iron obtained from
sidings, some of it in as good condition as when first purchased, having
been but little used.
|
|
There was on the 1st of October, 1861, but 4 3/4 miles of
flat bar track between Richmond and the Junction; and some of this had
been substituted with heavy rail since that time, the work or re-laying
being continued from time to time.
|
|
In the statement of cost of relaying track which I have
reported, as an expenditure not chargeable to the working of the road, I
have included only the cost of new chairs and spikes purchased for the
new iron, and the expense of making the transfer.
|
|
The road bed and track are in good order, the latter having
been furnished during the year with an adequate supply of materials for
repairs.
|
|
During the year, sills sufficient to lay 24 miles, and
stringers for 8 miles of new track, have been put in the main line. A
large portion of the sills have been used for repairs of road between
Staunton river and Danville, where the sills are giving way very
rapidly, after having been in use for nearly six years. The repairs of
these upper sections were very light, until the re-silling commenced,
and when it is completed for the whole distance there will be but little
material needed for repairs for another 6 years, by which time it is
probable that the iron will also require renewal.
|
|
The temporary pile constructions in Staunton river low
grounds have been removed during the year and permanent bridges built in
their place; and the stone piers erected there some years previous, with
a view to such a substitution, form a part of the present structure. One
span near Staunton river bridge has been replaced by iron girders, but
at the three spans nearest the station a substantial wooden bridge has
been built. This last structure, though in use, was not completed at the
close of the fiscal year, and only a portion of the expense of its
construction is included in this year's statement.
|
|
At Boston station, a timber structure, carrying the main
track over the ferry road, has been removed and replaced by an iron
girder bridge resting on substantial stone abutments. It was intended in
the original plan to have three spans of girder bridge, instead of one,
and thus to decrease the expense of the masonry abutments, but the
impossibility of obtaining the rolled beams for the two end spans made
the present mode of construction necessary.
|
|
The bridges generally have been kept in good order, all of
them having been repaired to some extent during the year; the small
bridge at Scottsburg has been completely renewed.
|
|
The cost of repairs of roadway is given in Table marked D,
and in comparing the item of expense with that for last year, it will be
seen that there is a reduction in total cost of $34,334.69.
|
|
Motive Power
|
|
There has been no increase in the stock of locomotives
during the year, and no material changes in their condition.
|
|
The re-building of the Potomac was completed early in the
fiscal year, and she was sent out of the shop November 1st, 1860, since
that time she has been running regularly, and has given satisfaction.
|
|
The engine Chesterfield has been re-built during the year,
and is now completed.
|
|
The engine Danville is in the shop for repairs, and the
work of putting in a new fire box is nearly completed.
|
|
The mileage and cost of repairs, and maintenance of the
Company's engines, will be found in Table marked G, and will be found to
compare favorably with that reported last year. The weight, capacity and
condition of the engines is given in Table marked L.
|
|
Rolling Stock
|
|
Soon after I submitted the last annual report, I discovered
that the list of cars which had been furnished me, and which I embodied
in my report, was obtained by adding to the previous inventory, those
built during the year, and that this was the method of preparing the
list of cars for several of the previous reports. Satisfied that such a
method could not give accurate results, I directed an inventory to be
made from actual count, and on comparing it with the list of cars which
I had reported, I found that the number was greatly overstated.
|
|
As near as I can ascertain, the list given last year
overstated the number of cars as follows:
|
| 1 |
Baggage car too many |
| 2 |
Second class cars too many |
| 6 |
8-wheel box cars
" " |
| 17 |
4-wheel
"
"
" " |
| 6 |
8-wheel flat cars
" " |
| 6 |
4-wheel stone cars too many |
| 8 |
4-wheel wooden coal cars too many |
| 1 |
6-wheel iron coal
car
" " |
| 5 |
gravel
cars
" " |
| 52 |
cars overstated |
|
|
The error in second class cars is explained by the
ascertained fact, that a second class car that was altered to first
class, was returned in the next inventory as both first and second
class, and the error in the baggage cars to the fact, that two baggage
cars were unfit for service on mail train, were used as boarding cars,
and on the next inventory returned as both baggage and boarding cars.
|
|
I have prepared the above list showing error in estimate,
by comparing the inventory made in February last with the list of cars
in the last report, and it is probable that some worn out cars in
existence when the report was made, and included in the inventory, were
broken up prior to the inventory taken in February, but I am satisfied
that the over statement of the report, as compared with the effective
rolling stock, was as great as I have stated.
|
|
The following is a correct statement of the cars of the
Company on the 1st October, 1861. Some of those returned on the list
will not be fit for service until re-built, but an expense for renewal
the coming year, equal to that of the past year, will keep the rolling
stock in as good condition as at present.
|
| 11 |
first class passenger cars |
| 7 |
second class cars |
| 5 |
mail and baggage cars |
| 4 |
conductor's cars |
| 3 |
express cars |
| 1 |
wreck car |
| 192 |
eight-wheel box cars |
| 1 |
powder car |
| 1 |
snow plough |
| 41 |
eight-wheel flat cars |
| 27 |
four
" stone " |
| 10 |
material cars (8 wheel flats) |
| 13 |
four-wheel wooden coal cars |
| 2 |
"
" sand cars |
| 55 |
six
" iron coal cars |
| 17 |
four
" gravel cars |
| 8 |
eight "
boarding cars |
| 1 |
four
"
" " |
|
|
The rolling stock generally is in good condition, 15
8-wheel box cars, 12 8-wheel flat cars, 11 4-wheel flat cars, and 5
gravel cars have been renewed, and one first class coach thoroughly
repaired, repainted, and newly upholstered during the year.
|
|
The use of our cars this year has not been confined to
transportation over our own road, but we have been called upon by the
Government to send out flat and box cars with heavy ordnance and
ammunition long distances over connecting roads, a service that has been
very injurious to the cars engaged in it.
|
|
During the year our cars have run on connecting roads
107,826 miles, or about one-tenth of the whole mileage for the year, and
for this service we have received $3,801.28; a sum which, in my
statement of expenses, I have credited to car repairs.
|
|
At a recent date, 21 of our 8-wheel box cars and 26 8-wheel
flat cars were off the road on trips with Government freight to New
Orleans, Mobile, Columbus, and other points in the South and West, and
some have been absent nearly two months.
|
|
The statement of cost of repairs, and maintenance of cars,
will be found in Table marked H, and shows a decrease of $4,620.09.
|
|
Telegraph
|
|
The completion of the telegraph, and the date of
transmission of the first message from Richmond to Danville was
mentioned in my last report, and since then the only important change in
the condition of the line is a further supply of telegraph instruments,
which has enabled us to increase the number of telegraph offices, and
place one in each depot on the road, except those known as neighborhood
stations.
|
|
The receipts and expenditures of the Telegraph line are
given in Tables marked O and P, and it will be seen that there is a
deficiency of $739.10 in receipts to meet expenditures.
|
|
The small amount of receipts is doubtless owing to the
stagnation of business during the past year, and the expenses have
probably been much greater in starting a new line than they will be in
working it, when fully organized and systematized; but should we be
disappointed in this, and find that the receipts barely meet the
expenses, still the telegraph line will, I think, bring a full return
for the investment in the increased safety and facility in working the
road.
|
|
In the security it has afforded in moving troops, it has
been invaluable during the past summer, and without it, it would have
been impossible for us to furnish prompt and safe transportation over
our road at all hours of the day and night, upon short notice as we have
done.
|
|
1859 and '60 |
1860 and '61 |
Decrease |
| Mileage for the year |
257,829 |
223,162 |
34,667 |
| Receipts per mile run |
$2.17 54/100 |
$2.00 50/100 |
$0.17 04/100 |
| Expenses per mile run |
1.08 04/100 |
1.07 48/100 |
0.00 56/100 |
| Receipts per mile of road |
$3,921.02 |
3,184.76 |
736.26 |
| Expenses per mile of road |
1,982.74 |
1,707.24 |
275.50 |
| Decrease in mileage, as compared with
last year |
|
13 4/10 per cent |
|
" "
receipts
"
"
"
" " |
|
22 2/10
" " |
|
" " working
expenses, as compared with last year |
|
13 8/10
" " |
|
|
All of which is most respectfully submitted by
|
|
Your obedient servant,
|
|
Chas. G. Talcott
|
|
Superintendent
|
|