AR, WNC 7/1/1865  S

Annual Report of the Western North Carolina RR
as of July 1, 1865,
Superintendent's Report
 
Superintendent's Report
 
Office  Chief Engineer and Superintendent
Statesville, N. C., August 31st, 1865
 
To the President and Directors of the W. N. C. R. R. Co.
 
Gentlemen,
   Since the last report which I had the honor to submit to your body, many alterations have been made in our condition, affecting alike corporations and individuals.
   During the first nine months of the fiscal year our earnings were as satisfactory as we could expect, as will appear from the report of the Treasurer. None of this fund was ever kept on hand; the dividend was first paid, then the negro hire for the present year was settled in advance, instead of giving promissory notes as had been customary. By this means when hostilities ceased,, we had but few accounts to settle, due in Confederate money, and a very small amount on hand, though we had a large amount due from the Confederate States which we were unable to collect in time to dispose of.

   By your advise a lot of Cotton was shipped to Nassau to buy supplies for the Company; this proved a complete success -- in return we received a large supply of gum-belting, paints, oils, screws, tacks, tin, &c., -- materials greatly needed and which could not be obtained in the Confederacy.

   Our Road suffered, as you know, immense damage by the raid of Gen'l Stoneman's command, and consisted as follows, estimated in round numbers: Joint Passenger Depot and Shed, Salisbury, $12,000; Depot, $6,000; Shops, $20,000; Round House damaged, $5,000; Water Tank, $1,500; Fence and Scales, $1,500; Material, $5,000; Tools, $8,000; Water Tank, six mile post, $1,500; Second Creek Bridge, $3,000; Third Creek Station, $3,500; Third Creek Bridge, $3,000; Depot and Tank, Statesville, $4,500; Depot, Icard's, $2,500; Depot, Head of Road, $500; Saw Mill, $600; 10 Box Cars, $3,800; 3 Flats, $900; 2 Passenger Coaches, $4,000; 1 Second Class Car, $1,200; 1 Baggage and Mail Car, $1,500; 2 Locomotives seriously damaged, $7,000; 1 ditto slightly, $500; Dump Cars, $2,000; Damage to Track and Iron, $2,000; Total Damage, $111,000.
   During the last winter our trains were impressed by the Confederate authorities to do service on other roads, rendering it impossible to keep a ditching train on our own; by Spring, this caused our deep and narrow cuts to be nearly impassable. A large fore had been hired to put the track in thorough order during the Summer, but was broken up by the raid by Gen'l Stoneman, followed in quick succession by the fall of the Confederacy, thereby setting the slaves at liberty. Since then difficulty of getting steady labor and the great scarcity of money has retarded work greatly. We are, however, able to report a considerable amount of work done.

   At Salisbury a new Shop has been commenced, in which ordinary repairs can now be made. At the Six Mile post a new Tank and house for the Section hands has been rebuilt; the place of the bridges over Second and Third Creeks has been supplied by most excellent trestles, which are, in fact, better than the former structures, these having been insecure for several years. A temporary depot has been built at Statesville, the slight injury at Catawba Bridge repaired, the Saw Mill and Tank at Icard's rebuilt and the road itself extended to within two and a half miles of Morganton. At this terminus a small depot has been put up.

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   It affords me pleasure to bear testimony to the very general faithfulness of the employees under my direction, during a year unparalleled in its drain upon their energies.

Respectfully Submitted,
James W. Wilson
Chief Engineer and Superintendent

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