| From the Richmond Daily Dispatch |
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| November 10, 1862 |
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| Virginia Central Railroad |
| We gather the following facts
in relation to this road from the reports of the President, Treasurer,
Chief Engineer, and General Superintendent, for the fiscal year ending
September 30th: The gross receipts of the company for the period
indicated were larger than they ever were before, viz: $1.016,157.77;
the expense of administration amounting to $371,809.96, left a balance
of nett revenues of $644,347.81. A large proportion of this sum has
been expended in paying dividends and other indebtedness of the
company. Cost of road, including last ten miles from Jackson's river
depot to Covington, and equipment to Oct. 1st, is $5.918,882.84. Total
cost of completing road to Covington, $10,000 additional. Distance
from Richmond to Eastern terminus of the Covington and Ohio Railroad,
205 miles; the Blue Ridge Railroad, owned by the State, 17 miles long,
being included therein. Length of road owned by the company 188 miles;
cost of same per mile, $30,535.61. Total liabilities of company,
$1,357,198.30. |
| In reference to the capacity of
railroads to continue operations during the present war, it is stated
that if the speed of the trains is judiciously reduced, with reference
to the depreciation of the rails, our
roads will last many years longer. |
| Last summer the road between
Hanover C H. and Richmond was in possession of the Abolition army,
which did it but little injury, save in burning South Anna bridge. A
few rails were torn up in several
places, and two pieces of tressel work and a few freight cars burned.
The damage has all been repaired. The buildings at Beaver dam and the
bridge across Cow pasture river were destroyed by the enemy with fire.
The first are being rebuilt, the latter will be as soon as suitable
timber can be procured, the rapidity of the stream necessitating a
permanent bridge. |
| The earnings of the road during
the fiscal year from all sources were as follows: Passengers,
$700,194.25; freight, $252,982.29; express freight, $44,555.81; mail
service, $13,746.32; use of road by Orange and Alexandria road,
$4,064.06; miscellaneous sources, $165; dividends on telegraph stock,
$241.50; rent of real estate, $477.94. Total receipts, $1,016,157.77. |
| The expenses were as follows:
Conducting transportation, including miscellaneous, legal expenses,
&c, $126,877.85; repairs of locomotives and cars, $67,353.15;
repairs of workshops and tools, $2,892.59; maintenance of way,
including repairs of depots and water stations, $109,607.21; for
salaries of employees, $13,506; taxes, including taxes on passengers
and freight transported, $43,573.24; insurance on buildings, &c.,
$1,577.84; repairs on real estate in Richmond, $35.26; sundries
charged for transportation expenses, $6,481.82. Total, $371,809.96. |
| The road earned in October,
1861,$104,277.63; in August, 1862, $146,160.79; in September, 1862,
$118,418.93. These are the largest earnings for any months embraced in
the fiscal year. |
| As to the road way itself, it
has suffered more from long-continued rains and from raids of the
enemy than from the amount of tonnage transported. The track between
the Junction and Gordonsville requires ballasting. The sidings at
Beaver Dam, Louisa C. H., and Gordonsville, have been extended. |
| The amount of capital stock authorized by the charter
of the road is three millions four hundred thousand dollars. The
bridges over Rivana river and Moore's creek need replacing by others
of a heavier character. In the raid of the enemy on Jackson's River
depot, 19th of May, they were piloted by W. P. Rucker, formerly a
citizen of Allegheny county. |
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