|
Office of the Southern Pacific R. R. Co.
|
| Marshall Texas |
| June 1st 1863 |
| |
| Hon. C. R. Jones |
| Comptroller of Public Accounts |
| Austin Texas |
| |
| Sir, |
| In conformity with the existing laws of
the State, we beg leave to submit a report of the affairs of the
Southern Pacific Rail Road Company, for the year ending May 31st 1863. |
| Answer to First
Interrogatory
|
The Capital Stock of this company
on the 31st day of May 1863 was $282,957. |
| The amount as stated above, is of
course only an approximation; as, owning to the condition of
our country, it is impossible for the stockholders in the sold
out company to communicate with this office, and equally
impossible for the company to gain information from them. The
policy of the present company admits as stockholders persons
who held stock in the sold out company and had complied with
certain requirements of the present company. There were many
persons who, at the fall of New Orleans held stock in the sold
out company, and were residents in that city, and who had
complied with most of the requirements of this company; but
the policy referred to, declares that no stock shall be
acknowledged, if the owner thereof shall have aided or abetted
the enemies of the Confederate States. It is possible that a
portion of the above amount may be held by persons who have
aided and abetted our enemies, and which must of course be
deducted from the aggregated amount. There will probably be
other stockholders, who may be in the condition contemplated
by the policy of this company, whose stock will be
acknowledged by the company, and which will add to the above
amount. |
| We beg leave respectfully to
refer you to our Report of June 1st 1862, for fuller details
as to the Capital Stock of the company. |
|
| Answer to Second Interrogatory |
| For the purchase of lands |
$0.00 |
| For the construction of the road |
$61,621.48 |
| For buildings |
0.00 |
| For Engines cars |
0.00 |
|
| Answer to Third Interrogatory |
| A mortgage to the State |
$150,000.00 |
| Interest due |
12,502.22 |
| Salaries due |
7,775.00 |
| Company's obligations |
43,909.07 |
| Due on general account |
18,172.95 |
| Due on construction |
5,185.50 |
|
{Total |
237,544.74} |
| Due the company |
43,798.86 |
|
| Answer to Fourth Interrogatory |
| For transportation of
passengers |
$5,756.85 |
| For Transportation of Freight |
1,096.96 |
| For Transportation of mail |
280.00 |
| For Storage |
1,500.00 |
| From the State (U. S. Bonds) |
150,000.00 |
| From all other sources |
46,169.86 |
|
{Total |
$204,803.67} |
|
| Answer to Fifth Interrogatory |
| The amount of freight |
| Of Cotton |
16 Tons |
| Of merchandize |
215 Tons |
| The business of the road, in
respect to freights has necessarily been much diminished by the
stoppage of commerce on Red River. Scarcely a boat, which ventured
to make a trip on that river, went above Shreveport; and therefore
did not come to the terminus of the road, some forty miles above.
Hence goods shipped from Shreveport by wagons would continue in that
mode of transportation westerly, and not be reshipped to be carried
fifteen miles over the road, to be reloaded at Marshall. This will
explain the small amount of tonnage transported westward.
There has been but little freight carried eastward, for the
reason that the capture of New Orleans deprived this section of the
State of a market; and when supplies of provisions for our army had
to be conveyed, the trouble and inconvenience of transshipment
required their transportation by wagon rather than partly by the
railroad and wagons. To avoid this inconvenience, and at the same
time promote their own interests, the company, on the 19th day of
September 1862, leased for a term of 20 years, from the Vicksburg,
Shreveport & Texas Rail Road Company, that portion of their line
of road west of Red River and terminating a Shreveport, which was
only partially graded. The arrangement was made by this company
after having procured iron rails for laying the track from
Shreveport to a point west of Marshall, and contracts were made for
the unfinished grading and bridging on the western section of the
road. It however happened that by the sanction of the Confederate
Government, the iron rails were seized to construct gunboats and
casement batteries erected at Gordon's landing and other points. It
is therefore the misfortune of the company, for the reasons stated,
that its business has been small and not remunerative. |
|
| Answer to Sixth Interrogatory |
| For Repairs |
$4,231.75 |
| For Engines, Cars and Buildings |
0.00 |
| For Salaries |
9,125.00 |
| In addition to the above, this
company has liquidated upwards of 300,000 dollars of claims against
the sold out company, which, by the sale of Septr 3rd 1861 were barred
forever, but which were assumed by this company, and thus greatly embarrassed
its operations and delayed the construction of the road. Nearly the
entire amount of indebtedness of the present company, (the debt to the
State and amount due for salaries being excepted), was incurred in
liquidating the just claims against the sold out company. |
|
| Answer to Seventh Interrogatory |
| No Dividend have as yet been declared or paid |
|
|
| Answer to Eighth Interrogatory |
| We have no regular engine house |
|
| Shops |
1 |
| Engines |
3 |
| One of the engines is of 20 tons capacity,
in good condition, and in constant use.
Another is 18 tons capacity, very much out of repair. Two others much
out of repair. |
| Passenger Cars |
1 |
| Box Cars |
4 |
| Platform Cars |
2 |
|
| Answer to Ninth Interrogatory |
| The trains for passengers also carry
freight, and the distance run is 6570 miles. |
|
| Answer to Tenth Interrogatory |
|
1 |
Superintendent |
|
1 |
Conductor |
| 1 |
Engine driver |
| 1 |
Fireman |
| 1 |
Brakeman |
| 1 |
Foreman |
| 8 |
Repair Hands |
|
During the year, a large force has been
employed on construction & repairs, but on the 31st day of May ult,
the number was as stated above. |
|
| Answer to Eleventh Interrogatory |
| No person has been injured in life or
limb upon the road during the year. |
|
| Answer to Twelfth Interrogatory |
| No accident of any discretion has occurred
upon the road during the year. |
|
| Answer to Thirteenth Interrogatory |
| This company has received from the State
250 sections of land, has sold 162 sections and has on hand 88
sections, all of 640 acres each. |
|
|
| G. G. Gregg Treasurer |
| Southern Pacific RRd Co |
| EA Blanch, Superintendent |
| Southern Pacific R. R. Co. |
| |
| The State of Texas |
| Harrison County |
| This day personally appeared before me J. A. Harris an
acting Justice of the Peace in and for
said County G. G. Gregg and E. A. Blanch and makes oath that the facts
above set forth are true and correct. Given under my hand, this 16th
day of June 1863 |
| T. A. Harris |
| J. P. H. C. |
|