| Annual Report of the Petersburg RR |
| as of January 1, 1862, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Superintendent's Report |
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| Office Petersburg Railroad Co. |
| Petersburg, January 1, 1862 |
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To the President and Directors of the Petersburg Railroad Co.:
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Gentlemen,
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I respectfully submit the following Report of the
operations of the Petersburg Railroad, for the year 1861, arranged
under proper heads.
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1st. The Cost of Transportation and Repairs,
Properly Chargeable to 1861
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| By the accompanying Statement A, it appears that
the whole amount actually paid is |
122,507.76 |
| Add to this, the amount of Liabilities incurred
during 1861, for Negro hire, Materials, &c. |
29,395.04 |
| Making the sum that would have been paid if all
Liabilities had been settled, before the close of 1861, to be |
151,902.80 |
| To which add the depreciation of the Company's
property, as shown by the accompanying Inventory marked I |
9,535.38 |
| And the amount properly chargeable to operating
the Road for 1861, is |
161,438.18 |
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Roadway Including Earthwork, Bridges, Culverts,
Fences, &c.
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The grading of the roadway has been gradually improved by
better drains and by additional gravelling.
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A new bridge has been built at "Three Creeks,"
and preparations made for superstructures of bridges at Stony Creek
and Fountains Creek.
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Brick culverts to substitute the small wooden bridges
have been constructed at all points, except two.
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Four additional miles of fencing have been built during
the year.
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The Track
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Three-fourths of a mile of the main track has received
new T iron.
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About 120 tons of new iron is now on hand to be placed in
the track, as soon as the weather becomes settled, next spring.
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Additions to turnouts have been made at Oak Grove and
Stony Creek Stations, making about 2200 feet of new track.
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Buildings
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But few additions were made to the buildings during 1861,
the principal works were a provision house, a paint shop and finishing
wood sheds, at depots along the line.
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Rolling Stock
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The old engine "Cerro Gordo," requires such
extensive repairs that nothing will be done to her at present, and if
she can be replaced by a new Locomotive, or the demands for
transportation prove to be less than at present, she will be cut up
for the materials.
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All other engines are in good order, except two, which
are undergoing ordinary repairs.
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One 2nd class car, one small baggage car, and one box
car, have become unfit for service.
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One express car, one ambulance car, one box car and six
crank cars, have been constructed during the year.
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New wheels, axles, and other parts of the running gear,
of many of the cars, have been substituted for those long in use.
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The weather-boarding of several box cars has been cut
open for the purpose of giving air to troops and horses conveyed; but
on the whole the rolling stock is in better condition than at any
former period.
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An addition of twenty to thirty box cars are much needed
for the increased transportation, and measures have been taken for
their construction.
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Accident to Persons
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Two serious accidents have occurred during 1861.
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Mr. Wren, of the Georgia troops, fell from the train at
night and was killed.
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A soldier while attempting to pass from one car to
another, struck and fractured his leg against the side of a bridge,
but has since entirely recovered.
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No other casualties worthy of note have taken place.
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Movement of Trains
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No accident to engines or cars has occurred worth
mentioning.
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The mail trains have been irregular, owing in a great
measure, to the request of proper authorities, that preference should
be given to troop trains.
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Explanation of Tabular Statements
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Table A shows the details and aggregate amount expended
for the operations of the road and permanent improvements for the year
1861, according to my drafts upon the Treasurer.
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B and G -- Lists of rolling stock.
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C, D and H -- Lists of machinery, tools and materials,
for requiring and constructing engines and cars.
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E -- Inventory of articles in the Company's store rooms.
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F -- Statement of the quantity of wood, lumber, tools,
&c., in charge of the Road Master.
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I -- General inventory of all works, rolling stock and
materials belonging to the Company.
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J -- List of officers and others employed on the 1st of
January, 1862.
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It is believed that sufficient supplies can be obtained
for all purposes, by measures which have been proposed and will
probably be adopted by a convention of the officers of the Railroad
Companies.
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Respectfully submitted,
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C. O. Sanford
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Engineer and Superintendent, P. R. R.
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