| Annual Report of the Western North Carolina
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| as of July 1, 1865, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Superintendent's Report |
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| Office Chief Engineer and
Superintendent |
| Statesville, N. C., August 31st, 1865 |
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| To the President and Directors of the
W. N. C. R. R. Co. |
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| Gentlemen, |
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Since the last report which I had the honor to submit to
your body, many alterations have been made in our condition, affecting
alike corporations and individuals.
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During the first nine months of the fiscal year our
earnings were as satisfactory as we could expect, as will appear from
the report of the Treasurer. None of this fund was ever kept on hand;
the dividend was first paid, then the negro hire for the present year
was settled in advance, instead of giving promissory notes as had been
customary. By this means when hostilities ceased,, we had but few
accounts to settle, due in Confederate money, and a very small amount
on hand, though we had a large amount due from the Confederate States
which we were unable to collect in time to dispose of.
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By your advise a lot of Cotton was
shipped to Nassau to buy supplies for the Company; this proved a
complete success -- in return we received a large supply of
gum-belting, paints, oils, screws, tacks, tin, &c., -- materials
greatly needed and which could not be obtained in the Confederacy.
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Our Road suffered, as you know, immense damage by the
raid of Gen'l Stoneman's command, and consisted as follows, estimated
in round numbers: Joint Passenger Depot and Shed, Salisbury, $12,000;
Depot, $6,000; Shops, $20,000; Round House damaged, $5,000; Water
Tank, $1,500; Fence and Scales, $1,500; Material, $5,000; Tools,
$8,000; Water Tank, six mile post, $1,500; Second Creek Bridge,
$3,000; Third Creek Station, $3,500; Third Creek Bridge, $3,000; Depot
and Tank, Statesville, $4,500; Depot, Icard's, $2,500; Depot, Head of
Road, $500; Saw Mill, $600; 10 Box Cars, $3,800; 3 Flats, $900; 2
Passenger Coaches, $4,000; 1 Second Class Car, $1,200; 1 Baggage and
Mail Car, $1,500; 2 Locomotives seriously damaged, $7,000; 1 ditto
slightly, $500; Dump Cars, $2,000; Damage to Track and Iron, $2,000;
Total Damage, $111,000.
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During the last winter our trains were impressed by the
Confederate authorities to do service on other roads, rendering it
impossible to keep a ditching train on our own; by Spring, this caused
our deep and narrow cuts to be nearly impassable. A large fore had
been hired to put the track in thorough order during the Summer, but
was broken up by the raid by Gen'l Stoneman, followed in quick
succession by the fall of the Confederacy, thereby setting the slaves
at liberty. Since then difficulty of getting steady labor and the
great scarcity of money has retarded work greatly. We are, however,
able to report a considerable amount of work done.
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At Salisbury a new Shop has been
commenced, in which ordinary repairs can now be made. At the Six Mile
post a new Tank and house for the Section hands has been rebuilt; the
place of the bridges over Second and Third Creeks has been supplied by
most excellent trestles, which are, in fact, better than the former structures,
these having been insecure for several years. A temporary depot has
been built at Statesville, the slight injury at Catawba Bridge
repaired, the Saw Mill and Tank at Icard's rebuilt and the road itself
extended to within two and a half miles of Morganton. At this terminus
a small depot has been put up.
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*****
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It affords me pleasure to bear testimony
to the very general faithfulness of the employees under my direction,
during a year unparalleled in its drain upon their energies.
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Respectfully Submitted,
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James W. Wilson
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Chief Engineer and Superintendent
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