| Annual Report of the North Carolina RR |
| as of June 1, 1862, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Superintendent's Report |
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| Office
Superintendent N. C. R. R. Co.
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| Company
Shops, June 1st, 1862
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Thomas Webb, Esq.
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| President
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Sir,
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I herewith give you a statement of the operations of the Road
for the year ending 31st May, 1862:
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The earnings of the Road from all sources are as follows:
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| Through Passengers |
$25,856.91 |
| Local
" |
239,749.39 |
| Freights |
148,863.00 |
| Government Transportation |
318,431.87 |
| Southern Express Company |
23,765.46 |
| Confederate Mails |
26,375.00 |
| Other sources |
8,022.05 |
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$791,063.68 |
| Expenses of Working the Road |
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| For Repairs of Road |
$18,925.31 |
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"
" Bridges |
375.00 |
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"
"
Buildings & Water Stations |
2,897.55 |
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"
" Engines |
11,421.28 |
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"
" Cars |
9,841.54 |
| " Oil and Tallow |
10,027.29 |
| " Waste |
184.42 |
| " Wood |
19,751.39 |
| " Conductors and
Train Hands |
9,097.90 |
| Engineers |
14,958.87 |
| Firemen |
2,125.02 |
| Cross Ties |
37,317.51 |
| Salaries of Officers |
13,275.00 |
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" Station
Agents |
12,850.00 |
| Subsistence |
22,655.68 |
| Clothing |
3,501.15 |
| Hand hire, 7 months, '61, $23,962.38 |
33,921.93 |
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" "
5
" '62,
9,959.55 |
| Medical |
768.79 |
| Loss and Damage |
1,102.38 |
| Station expense and Printing |
8,665.84 |
| Coal |
1,587.30 |
| Telegraph |
1,233.00 |
| Bridge Watchmen |
3,020.39 |
| Rent of Engines and Cars |
1,080.00 |
| Miscellaneous |
65.90 |
| Stock killed |
1,308.73 |
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$241,959.17 |
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This includes all expenses of the Road for the fiscal year
ending 31st May, 1862.
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The plan adopted at the commencement of the present year, for
the Treasurer to pay along the Road once every month, has given great
satisfaction to our creditors. We have little or no floating debt
unprovided for.
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The cost of working the Road has been about 30 ½ per cent of
the whole earnings.
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Passengers
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On reference to the Table it will be seen that the number of
Local Passengers has been 111,648; Through, 5,679; Government, 87,055;
making a total of 204,382; showing an increase over last year 118,749
passengers. The receipts have been $460,502.77, showing an increase
over last year of $277,618.27. This immense increase you are aware,
has been transported until the 10th May, with our limited
equipment. No passenger equipment has been more severely tried than
has ours, during the last twelve months. The Cars without exception
have averaged the entire length of the road daily – 223 miles.
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Freights
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Great complaint has been made of the want of promptness in
moving Freights. This has been unavoidable, and has arisen from our
limited equipment and the immense demands made upon us by the
Government. Situated as we are at the end of the line of 4 ft. 8 inch
gauge, with the large amount of outgoing freight, it has been
impossible for us to keep our Cars upon the road. Our cars have been
taken by Government many times when those of connecting Roads have
been standing ready to receive freight. Every exertion has been made
to keep the equipment on the Road.
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Receipts from Private Freight have been $148,863.00; Government
freight, $123,535.40; showing an increase over last year of
$60,910.22. The tonnage has been ------ lbs.
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The receipts from the Southern Express Company have been
$23,765.46. The receipts last year were $3,999.99; showing the
increase to be $19,765.47. The number of pounds transported has been:
Way, 1,717,940; Through, 2,011,748; Total, 3,729,688 lbs. This
transportation has not been done wholly upon Passenger Trains, but a
great deal has been performed on Freight. Owing to the facility
given, the Express train freight is more remunerative to the Company
than any we carry.
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While on this subject I would suggest that Freight carried on
the Accommodation train be fast freight, and per-payment and first
class classification for all freight so carried be required.
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The
Road
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Up to the first of February the road bed was in good condition,
and much better than it ever had been at that season. Since that time,
owing to the excessive rains and the unavoidable disturbance of the
bed in renewing Sills, it has gone down, but at no time during the
year has the track been in as rough condition as at the same seasons
of previous years. The number of Cross Ties put in this year is
93,082; the number required for the coming year will be about 100,000.
It is to be much regretted that those now being delivered are not at
points where they are most required. The Contracts now giving out are
with reference to the Track to be repaired.
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The
Road from Concord East to Goldsboro’, except the Morrisville grade,
has been thoroughly ditched. This work was performed previous to
January 1st; since that time, owing to the press upon us to
carry Freight, we have not been able to spare an Engine for that work.
We now having received more motive power, the trains will be
immediately started. With the assistance of the Telegraph these Trains
will be able to do very effective service. Besides ditching, these
trains have ballasted with gravel a number of points. I recommend that
this work be pushed forward with vigor. The rough points in winter
being well defined, having been so every winter since the road was
opened, these should be secured first, and the work continued until
the whole road is
ballasted. This would not only effect a great saving in keeping up the
road bed, but also in the machinery.
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During the severe rains this Spring the track East of Raleigh
has suffered much from the washing out of culverts and embankments. In
one instance, in May, the Accommodation train going East was wrecked a
quarter of a mile West of Smithfield station – the fireman killed
and the wood-passer mortally wounded; the engineer, Mr. Binns, one of
the most efficient and careful men on the road, providentially
escaped. On the same night two other washes occurred on the same
section. These washes are now being repaired with substantial trestle
works, leaving the water-ways the same that the streams have made.
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There are many cattle guards on the road that require securing;
these have been kept in safe condition by small repairs; many require
rebuilding.
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We have experienced much difficulty in obtaining tools and
supplies. Owing to want of coal and iron, the T iron repairs have not
been kept up. We however as yet, have an ample supply of renewals in
our side tracks.
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Repairs of road for the year, including cross ties, hand hire,
&c., were $90,164.75, being $404.40 per mile.
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Bridges
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At the beginning of the present fiscal year the Bridges were
very generally overhauled. New abutments, track and stringers were put
upon Rocky river, Coddle creek, Yadkin river, Potts’ creek, and
Swearing creek Bridges. East end of Neuse Bridge has had new chord
inserted. Leonard’s creek Bridge requires the heavier repairs of
superstructure; these would have been done but from the impossibility
to obtain the iron work; the lumber is on hand. This bridge now has
trestles under it, making it perfectly safe. Several important bridges
require new roofing – among them are the Yadkin, Haw and Eno. The
bridge force is now employed in rebuilding culverts east of Raleigh.
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I would recommend the building of a permanent bridge at
Cates’ creek, in place of the trestle at that point – this trestle
has been repaired this year, but requires more work to be done upon it
– the strengthening of Back creek, Buffalo, Leonard’s, Coddle
creek bridges, and re-roofing Yadkin, Eno, and Haw River bridges. This
work can be done with a small increase of labor by the present force
of the road.
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Buildings
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The Station Buildings on the East end of the road have been all
repaired. Several Platforms require re-roofing. Those on the West end
also require work to be done to them. Additional house room is
required at the Shops; small repairs are needed on nearly all the
houses at that point; these are all very light. The metal roofs on the
road all require painting, and it should be done without delay, could
the materials be obtained. The Station buildings, on the western
division nearly all want slight repairs. The houses belonging to the
company are generally in good order, and but slight repairs required
upon any. At Raleigh we are still in need of a passenger shed, for the
proper accommodation of our travel. We also require more freight,
track, house and platform room. Also at Charlotte more track and house
room are needed; at this point a platform has been built 200 by 30,
which assists the dispatch of freight. More room is required at nearly
all the stations.
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Water
Stations
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There is an insufficiency of water everywhere on the line of
road. Between Raleigh and Mebane’s there have been continual
failures, resulting in the delay and derangement of trains. A new
station has been started at Harton’s, (built two years ago) a pump,
put up at Morrisville, and at Brassfield’s a tub; these with
proposed stations at Morrisville and Hillsboro’, will, we think,
give a sufficient supply for our increased business. On the Western
division the water station at High Point has been rebuilt – it is
proposed to put up Stations at Rich Fork and Rocky river. The old
pumps are being repaired and will be placed in the stations in place
of those now at work.
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Wood
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On the Eastern Division we have an ample supply for the year
contracted for, and could get much more were it required. On the
Western Division, I would respectfully recommend that the Company
should buy tracts of wood and bring it to the road with our own labor.
The white labor is now not in the country to get the wood or to
contract for the increased amount. The number of cords used during the
year has been
cords. The amount required for the ensuing year will be much
larger.
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Rolling
Stock and Cars
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I refer you to the Report of the Master of Machinery for the
cost, &c.
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Owing to the severe tests put upon our machinery, a number of
failures have occurred. Our Passenger equipment has done an
extraordinary amount of mileage. With our Passenger coaches no failure
has occurred of a serious nature. But having been obliged to use box
cars for baggage and passengers to accommodate our increased travel,
these have failed. In every case they have been selected with care and
repaired from day to day.
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The failure of cars has been from broken axles or trucks, or
from rigid side bearings, not allowing the cars to curve. Defects in
axles cannot be foreseen; fortunately but one accident has resulted
fatally.
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In the latter part of April there was a contract made with the
Manassas Gap Rail Road Company, renting from them one engine, six
passenger and mail cars, and eighty-three box and gondola cars; these
commenced coming on the road in May. We also have six baggage and
second class cars, belonging to the Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac Rail Road, and one passenger, ten box, and twenty flat cars of
the Seaboard & Roanoke Rail Road; these have not all been
delivered.
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We are now running on the road two Government engines, and one
of the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road, one on the
material, one on freight, and one shifting in Charlotte.
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Our present equipment
of cars is as follows:
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N. C. R. R. |
M. G. R. R. |
S. & R. R. R. |
R., F. & P. |
| Passenger, 1st Class |
13 |
3 |
1 |
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"
2d " |
3 |
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6 |
| Mail |
4 |
2 |
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| Baggage |
6 |
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| Box |
147 |
43 |
10 |
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| Flat |
56 |
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20 |
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| Gondola |
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10 |
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| Dump |
12 |
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| Hand |
22 |
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| Pole |
22 |
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{N. C. = North Carolina RR; M. G. = Manassas Gap
RR; S. &. R = Seaboard & Roanoke RR; R. F. & P. =
Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}
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During the next year this equipment will require to be
increased by one mail car, six passenger, fifty box, and fifty flats.
Of cars of the latter class, we only have those that have been built
in the last three years. We have now also running on the road a large
number of C. S. A. (Government) cars, which if they are continued upon
the road, will give us stock enough to do our increased business.
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Accidents
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We had many; caused in most cases by the breaking of axles or
failure of machinery, which no human eye could see or avert. Our
Passenger trains from being run during previous years with two cars
lightly loaded, and with a proper lay over for repairs, have now their
six, eight and ten cars heavily loaded to their utmost capacity, with
no time for laying over, or for sufficient repairs. This has been
unavoidable – every exertion has been made both by building and
renting. Our Freight equipment in common with all roads in our
country, that have had the immense transportation to perform, is run
down. Many of the cars should have been stopped off the road. Although
strange to say, the old cars have been the most successful that we
have. Our running time has been twice reduced, until now the running
time is fifteen and seventeen miles per hour. Two collisions have
occurred, one from a typographical error in the time table, on the
first day of the change, and he other thro’ the extreme recklessness
of the engineer, running into a regular passenger train on its
schedule time.
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Since 1st May accidents are becoming less, owing to
the additional stock we have received, giving us an opportunity to
repair those that have been running. But two run-offs have occurred by
bad track, and both of these were slight.
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Telegraph
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No adjunct can contribute more to the successful working of a
Rail Road than does the Telegraph. It not only affords greater safety
to passengers and the dispatch of freights, but the economy which it
effects in the prompt working of trains commends it to every one. It
is to be regretted that we have not had the use of it in moving the
number of extra trains during the last year; it would have saved many
vexations and expensive delays.
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A contract was made with the Southern Express Co., by which
this Company were required to put up a line of naked poles. The poles
have all been purchased at reasonable rates, and the holes dug, and it
is to be hoped that the line will be in successful operation by your
general meeting. Since making the contract additional offices have
been added, so that we will be in connection on an average every
twenty miles. This will allow the road to be worked, if necessary, by
the Telegraph exclusively. But used in connection with carefully
compiled regulations its value will be inestimable. The amount paid on
this account is $1,233, and when completed the line will have cost
about $
. The Express Co. have labored under many difficulties in
obtaining the requisite materials for its construction, and I doubt
whether any other Company would have constructed it with the
promptness and efficiency it has.
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Loss
and Damage
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The amount expended has been $1,102.8. This amount is large,
and is caused by the condition not only of our own cars but those of
connecting roads – sides and doors being broken and without locks.
We have additional watchmen at Charlotte, Raleigh and Goldsboro’,
and the cars have been re-sided over and over again. To obviate the
breaking of cars, 45 of our box cars have been remodeled so that they
have four large windows, and are fitted with seats. These are intended
for the transportation of troops or freight No freight has been lost
by accidents to cars. The chief loss is in sugar and whiskey, which
have evidently been stolen; in several cases have petty thefts been
discovered among the negroes; these have been summarily dealt with. By
altering our freight equipment and requiring Station Agents (as has
already been done) to load nothing in broken cars liable to be
pillaged, this expense will be greatly diminished.
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During the last year we have labored under many difficulties.
Pressed with business without having our road track in a condition to
receive it – machinery out of order and in very6 limited supply, and
required to run extra trains constantly, without the facility of
telegraphic communication, it was to be expected that there would be
failures, delays and losses. These have occurred, but with them all,
the road has been worked cheaply, and the property is in as good
condition as could be expected, and will compare well with any
connecting road. In the future, with a well worked Telegraph, and the
increased equipment now on the road, there should be no complaint for
want of promptness.
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I would be doing great injustice to the officers and employees
under me did I not mention the efficient manner, they have performed
their several duties. I take great pleasure in stating that not only
in the discharge of their ordinary duty, but in the performance of
extra duties in the transportation of troop and munitions of war –
many times being on duty an unusual time without rest and meals –
they have always worked with cheerfulness and efficiency.
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Respectfully
submitted,
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Edmund Wilkes
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Sup’t.
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