| Annual Report of the Mobile & Great
Northern RR |
| as of April 1, 1865, |
| Chief Engineer's Report |
| |
| Chief Engineer's Report for 1864-'65 |
| |
| Office Chief Engineer and General
Superintendent |
| Mobile & Great Northern Railroad |
| Mobile, April 1, 1865 |
|
|
| Colonel W. D. Dunn |
|
President Mobile & Great Northern Railroad Company
|
|
|
|
Sir,
|
|
The following report of the last year's operations of the
road is respectfully submitted. The receipts were cut short on the 23d
of March, and to that date have been as follows:
|
| For transportation of passengers |
$342,338.38 |
| For transportation of freight |
294,012.70 |
| For transportation of express |
15,989.59 |
| For transportation of mail |
10,400.00 |
| For car rent |
3,878.73 |
| For sale of supplies, &c |
45,937.19 |
| Total receipts from all
sources |
712,556.50 |
| The operating expenses have been as follows: |
|
| Steamboat expenses |
48,915.96 |
| Conducting transportation |
45,455.01 |
| Motive power |
141,650.40 |
| Maintenance of way |
113,508.84 |
| Maintenance of cars |
10,125.13 |
| Car rent |
17,872.35 |
| Total operating
expenses |
377,527.69 |
| Or about 53 per cent.
of the total receipts |
|
| To the operating expenses must be added on
account of taxes |
57,370.80 |
| Premium on bonds |
28,662.96 |
| Total expenditures |
463,561.45 |
| There is yet due the company on account of the
above receipts, from the Confederate States quartermasters'
department |
226,170.33 |
| Post Office department |
10,400.00 |
| John T. Milner & Co. |
5,500.00 |
| Total |
232,070.33 |
|
|
The last regular train passed over the road March 23,
when we were forced by the movements of the federal forces to withdraw
the rolling stock and hands. A train of one engine and ten cars was
sent up the Alabama & Florida road for safety, under the care of
Mr. W. B. Riley, one of our most efficient and faithful officers.
|
|
Mr. Riley was delayed at Pollard by assurances from the
military authorities that there was no immediate danger. The train was
captured and destroyed at Gravella station, and the officers carried
to Ship island as prisoners.
|
|
The remaining machinery has been removed to this side of
the bay, and is now at work on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, hauling
wood for the government.
|
|
Your road has shared largely, during the past year, in
the misfortunes and trials incident to the war. The geographical
position of the road has been a source of peculiar difficulty, running
as it does almost parallel with the federal lines, and but a short
distance removed.
|
|
It has been, at all times, subject to raiding parties,
and this made it difficult to secure the necessary labor to keep up
the ordinary repairs. These difficulties have been met in a great
measure by General Maury, to whom the company should feel under many
obligations, for the enlarged spirit with which he has at all times
met their demands.
|
|
Added to the misfortunes growing out of the revolution,
the country has been visited by extraordinary floods, sweeping away
bridges and earthworks that had stood the test of many years' service.
|
|
On the 7th of November, your road was swept over by one
of these unusual freshets, and the bridges at Little and Big Escambia,
Brushy creek, Perdido and Bushy creek, were partially destroyed, and
large sections of embankments carried away at each one of the
above-named points. Thus the company sustained a large loss of
business, and heavy expenses for repairs.
|
|
The repairs were completed on the 14th day of December,
but the fruits of our labor were enjoyed only about twelve hours, as a
raiding party of federal troops appeared upon the road the next
morning and destroyed the Escambia bridge, only completed the night
before. At the same time the passenger house and depot at Pollard were
burned, and we were again thrown upon the work of repairs, and a large
amount of business lost. It is not hard to appreciate the difficulties
attending railroad management under such circumstances.
|
|
Very respectfully,
|
|
G. Jordan
|
|
Chief Engineer and Superintendent
|
|