| From the Selma Morning Reporter |
| |
| May 16, 1864 |
| |
| Alabama & Mississippi Rivers Railroad
Company |
| The annual meeting of this
Company took place at Demopolis last Thursday. We did not have the
pleasure of attending, and have not been favored with a copy of the
proceedings. |
| A friend, however, informs us
that the meeting was not largely attended. A considerable majority of
the stock was represented by proxy. |
| The assembly was a very
harmonious one. The reports of the officers of the Company are
interesting, showing a very large amount of business done during the
year. |
| The gross revenue amounted to
a little the rise of one million dollars, yet the net profits of
the business were not much, owing to several causes, the principal of
which was the want of rolling stock of the Company's own, and the
manner in which the Company has been paid by the Government, the loss
by this last cause alone being near one hundred thousand dollars. |
| This is a road of vast
importance to the Government and people, and the stockholders, having
waited a good many years for profits on their capital expended, ought
to be allowed to make something by way of encouragement to them to
keep the road up in good order and the highest efficiency. The
interest of the Government and people is but concurrent in this, if it
could be seen. |
| The bridge over the Bigbee
ought to have been built long since. The Government and people have
lost immensely for want of it. Indeed, it is, perhaps, not too much to
say that had this bridge been built two years ago and the Alabama
& Tennessee road been connected with the Georgia roads at Dalton,
of Rome even, before the battle of Murfreesboro, the independence of
the Confederacy and peace had been won long ago. But it is not yet too
late to recognize the power of mechanics and machinery in carrying on
successful war. |
| The stockholders re-elected
the old board of Directors with one exception -- R. H. Adams in place
of Cars. Walker. |
| The new board stands: J. W.
Lapsley, W. S. Knox, Jas. L. Price, R. H. Adams, W. P. Bocock, H. W.
Reese, L. F. Whitehead. |
| Some important committees were
appointed -- one to pass over the road and inspect the same in all its
appointments and operations, consisting of Geo. G. Lyon, Maj. Ross and
___, and report to next meeting. |
| Messrs. M. A. Lyon, W. S. Burr
and A. G. Mabry a committee to examine the books and acts of the
officers of the company and report thereon. |
| The election of President did
not take place at this meeting. We will probably discuss the reports
of the officers hereafter, to-wit: W. P. Bocock, the President; A. Y.
Sharpe, Secretary, and M. B. Prichard, Superintendent. |