| Annual Report of the Mississippi &
Tennessee RR |
| as of October 1, 1861, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Office of the General Superintendent, Mississippi &
Tennessee Railroad Company |
| Memphis, October 1, 1861 |
| |
| Col. F. M. White, President |
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| Sir, |
|
I beg to submit the following report of
the operations of the Road for the fiscal year ending this day. The
receipts from all sources have been as follows, viz: |
| From Passengers |
$81,564.87 |
|
| From Freight |
122,458.38 |
|
| From Express |
2,207.33 |
|
| From Mails |
8,712.50 |
|
| From Privileges |
244.17 |
|
| Gross Receipts |
|
$215,187.25 |
| The operating expenses are as follows: |
|
|
| For Conducting and Transportation |
$33,580.05 |
|
| For Motive Power |
24,807.21 |
|
| For Maintenance of Way |
31,490.60 |
|
| For Maintenance of Cars |
9,010.92 |
|
| Total Expenses |
|
$98,897.78 |
| Net Earnings |
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$116,280.47 |
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The above exhibit shows a falling off in the gross
receipts from those of the last year of $18,339.84. This falling off
has been wholly confined to the freight department, as there has
been an actual increase in the receipts from the other sources,
Mounting to $9,257.84, while the actual decrease in the freight
receipts amounts to $27,597.68. The freighting of men, supplies and
other materials, for all the contractors, on sixteen miles of new
road built and put in operation during the past year, including iron
rails, chairs and spikes, cross-ties, bricks, cement, etc., has not
been credited to the traffic account. This service, at fair rates,
would cost at least $25,000. |
|
The local passenger travel is less by 3195 passengers
this year than the previous year, but the deficiency has been made
up in the increased mileage and by the through traffic since July.
The causes operating thus against the prosperity of our road are
well understood by yourself and the Board, and call for no comment
from me When our countrymen return to their industrial avocations,
and peace once more reigns over the land, your investment in this
enterprise can hardly fail to pay. |
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At the commencement of this fiscal year our southern
terminus was Oakland, seventy-eight and one-half miles from Memphis.
On the 22d of November our trains commenced running to Garner
Station, nine miles farther south, and eighty-seven and one-half
miles from Memphis. This station continued to be our southern
terminus until July 5th, when we commenced running through to
Grenada, over the whole length of the line. |
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Permanent Way |
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The repairs of the permanent way have not been as
thorough and extensive as I could have wished, yet I believe the
track is as smooth and safe as any in this part of the country. More
ditching should have been done, and some of the embankments require
to be widened. An insufficiency of motive power has obliged us to
defer those improvements. The new track has required us to keep a
large force upon it, as the gradual shrinkage and washing of
embankments and settling of the superstructure has called for
constant and unwearied attention. There have been 14,296 cross-ties
replaced in the old track, between Memphis and Tallahatchie river,
and a somewhat larger number will be required during the next year. |
|
Trestles and Bridges |
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$8,089.79 has been expended on these structures, with
which amount we have been able to keep them in a safe condition,
though a much larger sum might have been profitably expended if the
finances of the Company would have justified it. More extensive
renewals will be required, particularly in the trestles, within the
next two years, unless the policy should be to substitute permanent
embankments in their place, which, in my opinion, should be done, if
the means can be raised. |
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This permanent work has been carried on to some extent as
will be seen by the report of the Chief Engineer, but was suspended
in consequence of the difficulties attending every enterprise of
this nature at present. |
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Motive Power |
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We commenced the year with seven engines in running
order, and it was supposed that, if no accident should occur to
deprive us of any of them, we should be able to run the road with
this number until April, when the track was to have been completed,
and at which time four new locomotives were to have been received
from the Taunton Locomotive Manufacturing Company. But early in the
fall the DeSoto broke its crank axle, which deprived us of
its use for several months. On the 11th of January
{should be 4th of January} the engine
"D. S. White" exploded its boiler, damaging it so severely as to
require a new boiler. I beg to refer you to my letter of January
5th, for the particulars of this accident. The engine cannot well be
repaired during the continuance of this blockade; but, under
favorable circumstances it could be done for $4,000, which amount I
consider the actual loss of the Company. |
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While our motive power has been lessened by the
destruction of one engine, the work has been greatly increased. The
mileage of locomotives this year has exceeded that of the preceding
year by 19,013 miles. This has rendered the work in our repair shops
much more difficult and expensive than it would have been under more
favorable auspices. Two of our engines are requiring some repairs,
but not extensive; with these exceptions, our engines are in good
running order. |
|
Cars |
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During the year we have built three first-class passenger
cars and one baggage and express car; and our car stock now consists
of: |
| 9 |
passenger cars |
| 2 |
mail and second-class {passenger}
cars |
| 2 |
baggage and express cars |
| 37 |
box freight cars |
| 68 |
platform cars |
| 12 |
hand cars |
| 8 |
dump cars |
| 6 |
rubble cars |
|
|
Machine Shops |
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These buildings are very unsafe, and quite inadequate to
the wants of the Company. They contain much valuable property that
should be better housed at the earliest possible date. The machinery
and tools, both in the machine and car departments, are in good
order. |
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Casualties |
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January 4th, 1861. The explosion of the engine "D. S.
White" (the particulars of which are given in another part of this
report) caused the instantaneous death of William Dougherty,
engineer, and Frederick B. Downs, fireman. |
|
February 28th, 1861. As the southward bound freight train
w leaving the Como station Mr. David Townsend, who kept the
postoffice at that depot, leaped upon the back end of a loaded
platform car, when, losing his balance, he fell upon the track, and
two cars passed over his body, causing his death in a few minutes.
Mr. Townsend was not a passenger. It is supposed that he jumped upon
the car for his own amusement, intending to leave it before the
train acquired too great a velocity. |
|
March 15th, 1861. Mr. Thomas McWilliams, Master of Bridge
Repairs, in the employ of the Company, attempted to get upon the
southward bound freight train at White's Station, while it was in
motion, by jumping up between two platform cars, but losing his
hold, he fell between them, upon the rail, and was run over and
killed. |
|
May 22d, 1861. A passenger car attached to the freight
train southward, ran off the track upon an embankment, one mile
south of Memphis depot, and fell over down the embankment, causing
the death of Mrs. John Grider, and slightly injuring three other
passengers. This car is supposed to have run off in consequence of
the breaking of a wheel, one of those unfortunate accidents incident
to railway transportation. |
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Explanations of the Tables |
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In the tabular matter annexed: |
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Table A is a statement of the operating expenses for the
year. |
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Table B is an exhibit of the mileage and expense of
locomotives. |
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Table C is a condensed statement of the gross and net
receipts from all sources. |
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Table D shows the amount of receipts from passengers from
each station, the amounts collected by Conductors, the amounts
received from through passengers, North and South; and the amounts
received for transportation of troops. |
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Table E shows the amounts received for freights forwarded
from, and received at, each station. |
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Table F shows the number of bales of cotton received at
Memphis from each station. |
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In closing this report it affords me great pleasure to be
able to acknowledge the valuable assistance received from the
officers and clerks of the different departments, who have all
discharged their duties with energy and ability, and have manifested
a commendable devotion to the interests of the company. |
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For myself I desire to tender my grateful
acknowledgements for the kindness I have ever received from the
President, Secretary ad Board of Directors, not only in their
official capacity, but as private individuals. |
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I am, Sir, very respectfully, yours, etc. |
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R. Hough, General Superintendent |
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Office General Superintendent Mississippi & Tennessee Railroad |
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Memphis, January 5, 1861 |
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Col. F. M. White, President |
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Dear Sir, |
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It becomes my painful duty to give you an official
account of the explosion of the locomotive engine "D. S. White,"
about one o'clock, P. M. on the 4th inst., on the main line, about
one thousand feet north of Love's Station, while attached to the
northward bound freight train. I received notice of the sad
occurrence by telegraph, just as the mail train was leaving
southward, and by it repaired to the scene of the disaster. I there
found the wreck of the engine on the spot where the explosion took
place and the dead bodies of the engineer, Wm. Dougherty, and
fireman, Fred. R. Downs, kindly and decently shrouded by Dr. W. K.
Love. Before proceeding to clear the ruins from the track, I made as
careful an examination of them as the exigency of the case would
admit of, in order to ascertain, if possible, the cause of the
explosion. The limits of this letter will not allow me to adduce the
minutia of evidence from which I form my opinion with regard to the
cause of the explosion, but as the case does not differ essentially
from others where the causes are well ascertained, I will simply
mention some of the general characteristics, which not only apply to
this case, but to nearly every other which it has been my lot to
investigate. I am prepared to give the details of this case at the
proper time and place. The presumption is that this engine had as
little water in the oiler as it could be safely run with at the time
of her arrival at the station. The train remained at the station
twenty minutes or more, during which time the steam was escaping
from the safety valves, though not rapidly. At the time of starting
the water had fallen below the crown sheet of the fire-box, and the
nearly or quite below the upper row of flues; a heavy fire was
burning at the time, heating these exposed surfaces to a red heat.
The act of opening the throttle valve of an engine under a pressure
of steam, causes the water to rise above its proper level in the
boiler. The forward movement too causes the water to flow backwards,
and in this case, the pumps were ejecting cold water into the
boiler. I judge that these three causes operating together raised
the water to a height sufficient to throw it over these heated
surfaces, which being thus suddenly submerged, caused an
instantaneous generation of steam (or as some say, hydrogen gas)
which resulted in a fearful explosion. The engine was not
overloaded, having but twenty-three cars at the time. I had
cautioned the conductor by telegraph not to load too heavily. A copy
of these messages you will find herewith. I deem it my duty to state
with regard to Mr. Dougherty, that I considered him a skillful and
careful engineer. What should have caused him to commit the error
which resulted so fatally to him, He alone knows before whom he was
so suddenly summoned. With regard to the pecuniary loss to the
Company, I am not at this moment prepared accurately to estimate it
but from my examination of the site, I should value the remains of
the engine about four thousand ($4000) dollars, including the
tender. Before closing, I deem it a simple act of justice to inform
you of the kindness and timely aid received from Dr. W. K. Love, who
rendered both the living and the dead all the assistance in his
power, not only with his whole force of negroes, but with his own
hands and the hospitalities of his house, for which he refused to
receive any remuneration. |
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I am, dear sir, |
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Respectfully and truly yours, |
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R. Hough, General Superintendent |
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Memphis, February 15, 1861 |
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The undersigned hereby certify that we were present at
the time and place of the explosion of the engine "D. S. White," and
that the statements given herein is true, so far as regards the
circumstances attending said explosion. |
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Wm. K. Love |
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R. T. Rogers, Conductor of the Freight Train |
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