| Annual Report of the Virginia Central RR |
| as of October 1, 1864, |
| Road Committee's Report |
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| Report of Committee to Examine the Road |
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| To the Stockholders of the Virginia Central
Railroad |
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As a member of the Committee to examine the Road, I make the
following report:
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The extensive injuries to the Road between Staunton and
Waynesborough, in September lasst, by the enemy, have been repaired. The
span of the iron bridge at the latter place, which was destroyed, has
been replaced by a substantial trestle structure, and the Road is in a
better condition from Staunton to Richmond, than for many years past.
The ditching is nearly completed along the whole line. Between
Gordonsville and Louisa Court House the iron is more worn than on any
other part of the Road; but if the iron bent by the enemy, east of the
mountain, were straightened, and used in place of the worn iron, the
Road might be kept in good condition for running the trains for many
years, without any additional outlay for iron.
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| On that portion of the Road
east of the Blue Ridge, nearly all of the cross-ties on hand, were
used in repairing those parts of it destroyed by the enemy in May and
June. There is a scarcity of both wood and cross-ties, so that an
increased force will be needed during the coming winter to keep a
supply equal to the demand of the Road. The stock of locomotives is
fully sufficient for the Road, and most of them are in good order. |
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We would again urge on the Stockholders the importance of
appropriating a specific sum annually to ballast that portion of the
road east of the Blue Ridge, beginning with the wet cuts and
continuing the work till it shall be completed.
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Mr. Whitcomb, General Superintendent, and Mr. Richardson,
Road Master, accompanied me, and furnished every convenience for
making the examination.
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R. H. Nelson
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November 10, 1864
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