| Annual Report of the South Carolina RR |
| as of January 1, 1864, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Report General Superintendent
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| South Carolina R. R. Co. |
| Charleston, December 31, 1863 |
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To the President and Directors of the South Carolina Railroad Company
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Gentlemen,
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I have now the honor of submitting to you my Ninth Annual
Report as your General Superintendent.
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The Earnings, as reported from the Auditor's department,
are very nearly $1,150,000 in excess of those of the previous year,
and their several divisions in about the following proportions:
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| Viz: |
Passage |
51 |
per cent. |
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Freight |
45 1/2 |
" |
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Mails |
1 |
" |
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Minor sources |
2 1/2 |
" |
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100 |
per cent. |
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As may be supposed, a considerable part of the Earnings
has been derived from the Transportation on account of the Government,
the sources of business being, say on account above mentioned,
including carriage of the
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| Mails |
per cent. |
34.08 |
| From General Traffic |
" |
59.50 |
| From Express Privileges |
" |
6.42 |
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100 |
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The compensation in the case of that portion on
Government account has been at rates not very much advanced above
those of 1862, while the tariff in the other two has been unavoidably
modified from time to time to meet the constantly changing condition
of things affecting our interests.
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The "Operating Expenses" are 1.07-100 per cent.
less than they were in the year previous, notwithstanding the greatly
increased cost of every imaginable thing required for use; and the
necessity of commanding mechanical skill, and, indeed, every
description of labor by the inducement of larger compensation, which
with us has been in no case less than fifty per cent., and in some
instances has exceeded two hundred per cent. in advance of the rates
with which we commenced the year.
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So patent are the disabilities under which the Railroads
of the country have been compelled to carry on their operations for
some time past, arising from a combination of unfavorable
circumstances which it was beyond their power alone to remedy, it
would indeed be a matter of as much surprise as congratulation if we
could present better results in this respect than those now submitted.
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The Transportation Department
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Has consequently been conducted under many disadvantages and
difficulties, to meet which we have at times been compelled to curtail
accommodations and facilities in some quarters with the greatest
reluctance; but the necessity of the cases were of a character so
imperative, and our resources comparatively so restricted, as to leave
no other alternative. Unable of ourselves to increase either the
Motive or Car Power of the Company to an extent commensurate with the
increasing demands of the government and the public at the same time,
and barely able to keep but a portion of both up to a point of
efficient service, it is rather astonishing than otherwise that so
much has been performed unaccompanied by any very material injury to
persons, or loss of property. The service in this department has been
incessant and arduous, rendering it impossible at times to preserve
anything of our usual system and regularity in its operations.
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Our Passenger and Mail Trains, for the greater security
of their movements, are now running to a reduced schedule of fifteen
miles per hour, and unless some fortunate circumstance enables us at
an early moment to place the Rolling Stock and Track-way in a better
condition than they are now, a further reduction must be made in the
running time.
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We have been unable to make any additions of improvements
in respect to Depot accommodations for our Passenger business. The
subject of an adequate supply and distribution of Fuel has been during
the past year one of unusually constant and earnest solicitude with
us, and such have been the difficulties we have had to contend with in
this matter, that at many points hitherto kept by contract with full
racks we have now to supply the Fuel with our own Labor and Teams; and
upon almost every division of Road we have had to abandon old stations
previously well supplied, and establish new ones -- the Engines in the
Road department doing at the same time an unusual extent of
distribution.
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A few new Tanks have been erected, say at Ridgeville,
George's, Reeves', 66 Mile, and Jamison's; but beyond this no other
work of consequence has been done in this department.
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The Machinery Department
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The condition of our Rolling Stock is not as good as we
would have it; attributable, however, in a great degree to the removal
of most of our important Tools from this city at an earlier moment
than was expected it would be necessary to do so. As a measure of
prudence, it was determined on to put them up in Columbia to the
extent afforded by the accommodations of the shops erecting in that
city; but they not being equal at the time nor since to more than half
of them, we have consequently been deprived for over six months of the
use of the remainder.
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These shops are now undergoing enlargement: one of the
contemplated extension having been commenced in October. The work,
partly in consequence of severe and inclement weather, has been
unavoidably retarded, and unless a change soon occurs favorable to the
rapid execution of the brick work, our expectations of an early
completion may be disappointed. Under ordinarily agreeable
circumstances, it is hoped that it will be ready for occupancy in
three months.
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For a more detailed account of these Shops, and the
extensions proposed, a special division of this Report is hereafter
devoted, to which your attention is respectfully and particularly
invited, on account, not only of the subject being one of the greatest
importance to our interests under existing circumstances, but also
because of its equally important bearing upon the future policy of the
Company, in the intelligent development of those Home Mechanical
resources upon which our reliance must necessarily be entirely placed
for some time to come.
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Our facilities for repairs being thus reduced; the
limited power of the works in Columbia, aided by temporary wooden
shelters for the Locomotives, not being equal to the repairing of more
than two at any one time, we were under the necessity of borrowing
from others, and succeeded in procuring in the past two months from
the Memphis & Charleston Railroad Company four of their
Locomotives at $20 per day, and hope to get from the same quarter
three more, in very good order in all respects except their Tires,
which we fortunately can easily supply, having secured in September
last an importation of the Bars, which are now in process of
conversion.
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Reference is respectfully asked to Tables Nos. 5 and 6,
by which is respectfully exhibited the number and value at this time
of the Motive and Car Power; also to the Table No. 8, showing with
other information, the present condition of the former. Our Cars of
all classes have had to endure a great deal, particularly when used
for the transportation of troops and labor for the coast, and being so
continually in service, have not received all that care and attention
which would have been bestowed upon them had the pressure for
transportation not been so heavy.
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The Charleston works have turned out during the year but
two new Box Cars, completely finished; five Platform, four Coal and
ten Box remaining incomplete for the want of wheels for all of them,
and tin for covering the latter. We hope soon to procure the material
requisite, and put them in service. There also remain at these works
two first class and two second class Passenger Cars, for which the
materials necessary to completion are at hand, and it is expected they
will be finished in the course of the next sixty days.
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Our Stock of Materials and Machinery, though not of the
desired variety in all respects, is large and important for its
purposes of application, summing up in valuation $447,206.79. This
accumulation has been effected principally during the past eight
months, by importations through the blockade and by purchases in
different parts of the Confederacy, and more would have been secured
if it could have been found. No relaxation of effort will be allowed
in any of the Departments to strengthen themselves in this all
important regard of anticipating their future wants, whenever or
wherever the supplies can be procured.
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It is confidently hoped that as the works in Columbia
expand we will be afforded the opportunity of bringing up our much
reduced Motive Power to a condition of at least comparative
efficiency, and that any favorable change in the condition of military
affairs at this point will enable us to resume immediately the
operations of the works here.
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It is proposed to replace, whenever we are able to do so,
most of the Tools removed to Columbia, with others of a more improved
build and greater capacity.
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The Road Department
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The Charleston Division of Road, sixty-two miles in
length, terminating at Branchville, is in much better condition than
either of the other Divisions, and the chief cause of its being so is
to be found in the fact of the change of the current of business from
this Division to those between Augusta and Columbia. Relieved as it
has been for many months from the usual concentration and movements of
heavy trains, the work of keeping it up has been comparatively light.
The Rail, however, is rapidly deteriorating in several places, and we
cannot have too soon at least six miles of Iron for the replacement of
defective bars.
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The Hamburg Division of Road, seventy-five miles in
length from Branchville to Augusta, is better in the condition of its
Track-way than in that of its Road-bed. The importance of completing
as early as possible the filling up of the Trestling at Hampton's
Hallow, for a large part of the year unavoidably diverted from the
constant watching of every particular in this respect, that attention
which, but for this and the impossibility of increasing our laboring
force, would have been bestowed. The most insecure points, however,
were carefully attended to, and it is expected, now that the work
referred to is near its completion, if we are not prevented by wet
spells, both Road-bed and Track-way will soon be brought up to what
they should be. The Rail on this Division is fast wearing, and there
are from ten to twelve miles in the aggregate at different points
which need immediate removal. The structures on this Division across
the Edisto beyond Aiken, and across the Savannah, are in a very good
state of repair. Unless Rail can be had for early replacement on this
as well as the other Divisions, it will be requisite as an expedient
to incur an increased expense in Cross-ties to strengthen the Iron
which, for want of better, we cannot remove; but we hope, with the
assistance of the Government, to procure at least a sufficient
quantity for our immediate necessities.
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The Columbia Division of the Road, sixty-eight miles from
Branchville to Columbia, has, with the Hamburg Division, borne a large
part of the burden of the year's work, and it is certainly a subject
of congratulation that in spite of all the drawbacks, difficulties,
and disadvantages with which we have had to contend they have borne it
so well. This Division, in addition to difficulties common to all,
experienced greater inconvenience than either of the others, from the
want of a full supply of timber, which, as it is required to supply
the Camden Division with what it needs, produced a like inconvenience
in that quarter also. The requisitions for labor on the coast defences
principally contributed to this reduction of supply; and though
successful in most applications for the relief of the labor of those
who had contracted to furnish, a total suspension of repairs, entirely
from want of material on both Divisions, has not been infrequent
during the year. The Rail on this Division has shared the common fate
of the other Divisions, and if anything, requires perhaps more
extensive and immediate replacement. Twelve miles of Rails at least
should be put down at different points within the next four months,
and if not done before the fall of this year, the Trains cannot pass
over some portions of the Track with safety.
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The structures of stone, brick, and wood on this Division
are in excellent condition, and the Road-bed well kept up and
thoroughly ditched.
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The Camden Division of Road, thirty-seven miles from
Kingville to Camden, considering the limited supply of timber which it
received from the Columbia Division, is in a better condition than
might have been expected. It requires, however, very general repairs,
and that portion lying between Kingville and the junction with the
Wilmington & Manchester Road having been subjected to the constant
movements of heavy trains, has suffered as much, if not more than some
portions of the other Divisions in both Rail and Superstructure; and
the latter upon this particular section will want early and almost
thorough rebuilding. The Bridge and Trestling across the Wateree and
through the swamp have been well kept up -- the latter alone needing
new timber at a few points.
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The Columbia New Machine Works
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At the date of my last Annual Report, 31st December,
1862, the Repairing and Finishing shops, 140 feet in length by 60 feet
in width, were approaching completion. A portion of the Tools then in
the Charleston works was shortly after removed and put up. Operations
were commenced about 1st March, 1863, and under the superintendence of
Mr. W. B. Smith have been conducted with economy, skill, and despatch.
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The removal of the larger part of the remainder of our
Tools from Charleston in July imposed upon us the necessity of an
immediate enlargement of the works at Columbia, and accordingly
arrangements were at once made for Extension No. 1 -- a building of
brick of the same dimensions as the one above referred to; and also
for a Store-house 104 feet by 46 feet, two stories in height, with a
partly sunken basement of 10 feet ceiling. The steady prosecution of
the work, since its commencement in October, has been found impossible
(though much has been done), but it is hoped that in the course of the
next three months the buildings may be at least partly available for
our purposes. The almost insuperable difficulty of procuring skilled
labor, and of enforcing the punctual delivery of material even when
regularly contracted for, together with the severity of the winter,
are the causes by which the progress of the work has been retarded.
Every effort, however, is being made to overcome these obstacles, and
nothing will be left undone to effect its early completion, for the
need of additional facilities for repairing our Motive Power is
severely felt and daily increasing.
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In addition to Extension No. 1, now building, it is
proposed to erect, 138 feet distant from it, and Engine-house,
circular in form, and of 202 feet in diameter -- the vacant space
between it and the Extension No. 1 to be ultimately occupied by a
further extension, to connect the two, whenever an enlargement of the
work in this respect becomes necessary. The Engine-house will have the
capacity of receiving twenty Locomotives, and like the other
structures, will be mostly of brick and iron. Additional room in the
course of a year of so will be required for the Blacksmith and Boiler
Shops; but if while progressing with the buildings now in hand
anything should occur which would enable us to commence and proceed
with this enlargement at the same time, there would be great propriety
in doing so.
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The area of land upon portions of which these works will
be erected has been so subdivided and apportioned as to provide for an
eligible site for a suit of shops for building and repairing Cars, and
for foundry purposes, and we hope at no distant day to have the
opportunity of making a commencement in this direction.
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At foot will be found appended a statement of what has
already been expended, and the probable cost of what is yet to be done
-- taking present prices for the cost of erecting and for a large
quantity of material already purchased and contracted for by the
Company.
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In concluding this Report, which I have endeavored to
make as circumstantial and as much in detail as possible, an estimate
of the necessary appropriations for the coming year would be submitted
if anything like a feeling of reliance could be associated with the
preparation of it. But, surrounded as we are by a condition of things
which continues seriously to disturb the mutual dependencies of all
business relations, and with regard to the future charges, of which no
reasonable calculation can be made, the adoption for such an estimate
of even the excessive rates and prices current for both Labor and
Material at this time would likely prove to be as much beyond as it
might probably fall short of the actual result.
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To the heads of the several departments in particular,
and to the officers and employees generally, I feel that I cannot
express myself in any other manner than that which it afforded me the
greatest satisfaction to adopt in my last Annual Report; and now
reiterating the acknowledgment of my sense of obligation to them all
for the faithful discharge of the trusts reposed in them, I beg to
close with the announcement of the association of Mr. E. R. Raworth,
formerly General Superintendent of the Greenville & Columbia
Railroad Company, in the management of our practical operations as
Superintendent of Transportation and General Assistant. Of this
gentleman, it is unnecessary for me to say anything: his experience in
Railroad relations, and his reputation for energy and intelligence,
having long since been established.
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All of which is submitted,
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H. T. Peake
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General Superintendent
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