AR, VC 10/1/1863 S

Annual Report of the Virginia Central RR
as of October 1, 1863,
Superintendent's Report
 
Superintendent's Report
Office of the Virginia Central Railroad Company
Richmond, October 1, 1863
 
E. Fontaine, Esq., President
 
Sir,
   The following report of the operations of this Road for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1863, is respectfully submitted.

The earnings from all sources are as follows:

From passengers $926,407.41
From freight 4?8,961.58
From express 147,748.42
From mail service 15,661.87
From use of road by the Orange & Alexandria Railroad Company 2,799.21
From miscellaneous receipts 532.85
From dividends on telegraph stock 241.50
From rent of real estate 614.93
  $1,522,967.77
The amount expended for operating the road was as follows:
For conducting transportation, including miscellaneous, legal expenses, &c. $294,684.11
For repairs of locomotives and cars 160,296.46
For repairs of workshops and tools 8,403.78
For maintenance of way, including repairs of depots and water stations 213,521.57
For salaries 16,797.50
For taxes paid Commonwealth 44,781.19
For insurance on buildings 1,668.37
For repairs on real estate 1,545.43
$741,698.41
Sundries charged to transportation expenses:
Repairs of engines and cars for other roads and for Confederate States $1,838.84
Construction of new car shops 11,145.93
    12,984.77
    754,683.18
Nett earnings $768,284.59
   There has been an increase in the receipts as follows:
From passengers $225,213.46  
From freight 175,979.29  
From express 103,192.61  
From other sources 1,424.94  
506,810.00
   There has been an increase in expenditures as follows:  
For conducting transportation, &c. 167,806.26  
For repairs of locomotives and cars 93,038.21  
For repairs of workshops and tools 5,511.19  
For maintenance of way, &c. 103,914.36  
For salaries 3,291.50  
For taxes 1,207.95  
For other items charged to transportation expenses 8,103.65
382,873.22
Increase in nett revenue over last year $123,936.78
It would be proper to add to the expenditures for deficiency of wood and cross-ties $100,000.00
   The real expenses also include the depreciation in iron and machinery, the cost of new buildings and bridges to replace those burned by the enemy, and the cost of other work, which, for want of materials or labor, has been deferred for the present. I present no estimate of this amount because it is not in contemplation to do the work at present prices. I mention to show that the amount of nett revenue is more apparent than real.
   The amount actually expended and charged to transportation expenses is nearly 50 per cent. of the receipts.
   The raids of the enemy in May and June interrupted the running of the trains to some extent and caused a loss in revenue. On the night of May 1st the enemy came to Louisa Court House, and the trains east of Gordonsville were stopped until the 8th. The enemy next came to Hanover Court House on the 26th of June, and besides other damage, burned the trestle works near that place and that over South Anna river. The trains which were west of the South Anna river were run on the track of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad Company, between Richmond and Hanover Junction, until July 25th. During these intervals the expenses of the transportation were not sensibly diminished.
   The most of our cars, after carrying supplies to the army, have been returned empty. If return loads could have been furnished, our revenue from transportation of freight would have been materially increased without much additional expense.
   These interruptions and this tendency of freight in one direction may be expected to continue, and I do not anticipate a further increase in revenue without a further advance in the rates of transportation. On the other hand, the expenditures are increasing very rapidly.

Roadway

   The roadway east of Gordonsville has suffered from want of labor and materials and from the raids of the enemy. The whole road is deficient in cross-ties. The want of this timber will be severely felt on that portion of the road which is not naturally good or has not been ballasted as soon as the winter rains have softened the road bed. So alarming was the condition of the track on portions of the road last spring that I had serious apprehensions that it would be difficult to supply the army during the coming winter if we relied longer on the contract system for supply of cross-ties. I feel less apprehensive at this time; for, besides the ties we have received from contractors a considerable addition has been made to our stock since the 1st of July by the aid of the Company's force. We have also a saw-mill engaged in cutting ties, and expect to have another in operation in a short time, the products of which will, with the number already secured, enable us to renew the worst portions of the road. The withdrawal of this force from labor on the road bed has prevented us from ditching and surfacing the road, as it should have been, during the dry weather, but the other work was of more importance.
    From the want of this timber and the character of the road bed, more than from ordinary wear, the iron has suffered to some extent, and a considerable amount of new iron has been laid. Sound economy demands that the road should be ballasted as soon as the necessary labor can be obtained. When this is done, the trains can be run with more regularity and speed; the repairs of road, and especially of machinery, will be diminished, and the capacity of the road increased. Some of the worst portions of the road east of Gordonsville have been imperfectly ballasted during the year, and this has enabled us to put in tolerable order some portions which were nearly impassable for trains. The raids of the enemy in May and June added materially to the repairs of the road and interrupted the work. Many of the hands were carried off or deserted. In these respects the road has probably suffered more than other roads in Virginia still in operation.
   The enemy succeeded in damaging the Chickahominy bridge, destroying the trestles near Hanover Court House and over South Anna river, and in burning the station buildings at Hanover Court House and Tolersville. Several water stations were considerably injured and the track was torn up in many places.
   The track west of Gordonsville, and especially west of Charlottesville, is in good condition. This is partly owing to the limited amount of business on that portion of the road, but more to the superior character of the road bed.
   The effect of the passage of heavy trains over the Rivanna bridge has become more apparent, and, as the guard bridges are decaying rapidly, it is important to remove the iron work and replace it with a wooden bridge. The iron truss can be used at Little river, where two spans of fifty feet are needed, and for which it is abundantly strong. The necessary alterations to fit the bridge to the masonry will not be difficult or costly.
   For several reasons it has been thought advisable to rebuild the Cow pasture bridge. This work is in a forward state and may be ready by the 1st of January next. It was found necessary to repair and add to the masonry, and this part of the work is now behindhand mainly for want of labor.
   The Wilson's Creek bridge has been rebuilt in a very substantial manner. The work of these two bridges has been under the charge of the principal assistant engineer, Mr. S. A. Richardson. The amount already expended is $16,543.60.
   The trestle over the South Anna river is a substantial structure and well protected against ordinary floods. It is not advisable to rebuild the bridge during the war.
   The repairs of the Cowpasture and Wilson's Creek bridges, and of other damages done by the enemy, have been charged to repairs of road, and notice of this should be taken in comparing the amounts expended in this and previous years. In addition to this, a considerable amount of wood has been cut by the hands employed to work on the road, which should have been credited to repairs of road, and charged to train expenses. Six ox teams and twelve horses, with the necessary fixtures, have been purchased to haul wood and ties and charged to this department. The large increase in prices of provisions, clothing, materials and labor, has added materially to the expenses of this as well as other departments.
   The number of cross-ties cut by the Company's hands since the first of July is 13,158; amount delivered by contractors during the same time 4,458. The whole number put in the road during the year is          .

Station buildings and fixtures

   A new freight house has been built at Beaver Dam and needs only the floor and joiners work to complete it; a new water station has been completed; a passenger house and another water station at this point will make the arrangements very convenient. New buildings are required at Hanover Court House and Tolersville to replace those burned by the enemy. Passenger houses are needed at several points, but owing to the scarcity of labor and materials it cannot be expected that the Company should construct them at present.

Machinery

   Two locomotives have been purchased from the Confederate authorities at a cost of $50,000. The whole number belonging to the Company is twenty-nine. Four of these are too light to be of much service, and are so much out of repair as to be out of use. Five others are too light for freighting purposes or the mail service, but are used on lighter trains and as extras. Two of the remaining engines are suitable only as assistant engines on the temporary track at Millboro'. There are seventeen locomotives in running order, and, but for the want of good tires, the most of them would be in excellent condition. Two others are in good order with this exception, but for want of them are out of use. It has been found necessary to forge tires at the Company's shop, and since we have received the necessary details from the army good progress has been made in supplying this want, and it is expected that all the locomotives will be provided with them in a short time.
   For the greater part of the year this department has been under the charge of Mr. W. G. Freeman, and much credit is due to him for the condition of the machinery. I regret that a painful and serious accident has deprived us of his services for some time past.

Cars

   Five box and seven gondola cars have been purchased from the Confederate authorities at a cost of $18,000, and four were burned by the enemy at Hanover Court House.
   The cars are generally in running order, but a larger number of new wheels and axles are needed than we have been able to purchase. Seven box and two platform cars have been built during the year to replace those burned by the enemy or unfit for further service.
   The stock of cars is larger than was reported last year; it was found that several had not been renumbered, and therefore not counted.
   The department has been under the charge of Mr. J. B. Chiles, and the management is creditable to him.
The stock of cars is as follows
16 passenger cars
4 mail and servants' cars
4 baggage cars
100 box freight cars
34 platform cars
2 gondola cars
10 stock cars
4 hay cars
8 conductor's cars
22 four-wheel sand and gravel cars

Workshops

   A new carpenters' work shop has been completed and adds to the facilities for building and repairing cars. A large part of the work and much of the material expended in its construction is included in transportation expenses.

The unfinished work west of Jackson's river depot

   From the report of Mr. S. A. Richardson, who has recently examined the road bed between Jackson's river and Covington, I am enabled to state that it is in excellent condition, having suffered but little from slides or other causes. The superstructure of the Jackson's river bridge is the only thing needed to complete this section, when it will be ready for the track.
   Full details of expenses, mileage, tonnage, &c., will be found in the following tables.
   In conclusion I commend to your favorable notice the officers and employees under my supervision. With few exception, they have faithfully performed the duties of their several stations. I especially mention the services of Mr. G. S. Netherland, who has rendered me valuable assistance in the discharge of my duties.
   All of which is respectfully submitted.
Your obedient servant,
H. D. Whitcomb
General Superintendent of Transportation

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