| Annual Report of the Mississippi &
Tennessee RR |
| as of October 1, 1864, |
| Superintendent's Report |
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| Superintendent's Report for the Two Years
Ending September 30, 1864 |
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| Miss. & Tenn. R. R. |
| Office General Superintendent |
| Grenada, Mississippi, October 1, 1864 |
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Colonel F. M. White
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President Miss & Tenn. R. R. Co.
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| Sir, |
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I hand you herewith the following statement of the
operations of your road from the date of my last report, October 1,
1862, to September 30, 1864, embracing a period of two fiscal years:
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| Gross earnings |
$240,946.27 |
| Expenses |
100,414.51 |
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Net receipts |
140,531.76 |
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The accompanying tables will give a more detailed
statement. Table No. 1 shows the amount of receipts from the various
sources, with the expenses for each month. Table No. 2 is a detailed
statement of the expenses.
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The approach of the federals to this place about the
first of December, 1862, and the retreat of the confederates, rendered
it probable that this place and the whole line of our road would fall
into the hands of the federals. In consequence of this belief, our
machinery and rolling stock was all moved to York station, about
twenty-five miles east of Meridian, on the Alabama & Mississippi
Rivers railroad. The stock and machinery remained at York until early
in February, 1863, when a contract was made with the confederate
government for the rebuilding of the bridges which had been destroyed
by the federal and confederate forces. Two bridges (Hardy and Garner's)
and about fourteen freight cars were burned by the federals. Four
bridges (Moore's, Yocona, Long creek, and Tallahatchie) were burned by
order of General Pemberton. The contract which was made with the
confederate government was as follows: the railroad company to rebuild
the above-mentioned bridges and reopen the road as far north as
Sardis. The confederate government to lend the railroad company fifty
thousand dollars, ($50,000,) payable two years after the ratification
of a treaty of peace. Under this contract temporary trestles were put
up at Hardy, Garner's, and Moore's, and permanent trestle founded on
piles erected across Yocona and Long creek. A contract was also made
for the rebuilding of Tallahatchie bridge, and a portion of the timber
was sawed and framed, and is now at Crystal springs, on the New
Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern railroad.
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This work, owing to the advance of the federals, and the
unprotected condition of the country, was subsequently abandoned. The
cost of the work done is as follows:
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| Rebuilding trestles at Hardy, Garner's, Moore's,
Yocona, and Long creek |
$11,255.78 |
| Paid James L. Grant, contractor, for work on
Tallahatchie bridge |
3,200.00 |
| Total |
14,455.78 |
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In the months of November and December, 1863, piles were
cut and driven in Moore's bridge, as the work put up was only
temporary. The cost of this work was $1,469.19, which was also charged
to "reconstruction of bridges." This, added to the preceding
figures, makes the total amount expended for reconstruction of bridges
$15,924.97. The work of finishing the piling at Moore', and replacing
the temporary work at Hardy and Garner's with permanent piling, is yet
to be done.
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In June, 1863, the federals made a raid from Memphis, at
which time they came as far south as Yocona bridge, and partially
destroyed the same. This was repaired in one week, at a cost of $910.
The depot at Panola, and the depot and water tank at Pope's station
were burned by this raid.
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In August, 1863, a simultaneous movement was made by the
federals from Vicksburg and Memphis, forming a junction at this place
on the 17th, at which time they destroyed or injured all the engines
and cars at this place, and the depot and machine shop. The bridge
across the Yalobusha river was burned by the confederate forces before
evacuation. The federals returned to Memphis over the line of our
road, but nothing north of this place was damaged except the inside
work and cushions of passenger cars. Only one engine, the Henry
Dockery, was on the north side of the river. She was left away from
any road crossing, in a cut, and was not injured.
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The engines Vance, Caldwell, White, McGehee, and Grenada,
were burned, and also the engine No. 4, belonging to the Nashville
& Northwestern Railroad Company. The McGehee was in the shop
undergoing repairs, and is almost a total wreck. The damage by the
fire to the other engines is slight. They are, however, useless until
their tire can be replaced.
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We continued to run the train after the retreat of the
federals, and during the month of September, 1863, I succeeded in
making a contract with the confederate government, through Major John
S. Mellon, chief commissary of this district. This contract requires
us top make fifteen round trips per month between the Tallahatchie and
Yalobusha rivers, and the confederate government to pay six thousand
dollars per month for the service rendered. This contract has been in
force since that time, and we are still working under the same. Having
only one engine north of the Yalobusha river, we were compelled to
make some further arrangements in order to keep the road in operation.
The engine No. 4, belonging to the Nashville & Northwestern
Railroad Company, was the only engine in our possession with good
tire, and we accordingly mover her across the river in October, 1863,
and had her repaired. By this means we have been enabled to keep up
the road.
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The following is a list of cars now on the road, and
comprises all that are left from the various burnings: Three large
green passenger, (inside work cut up and damaged,) two small green
passenger cars, (inside work cut up and damaged,) two white passenger
cars, one baggage car, one mail car, seven box cars, nine flat cars,
one flat car with pile driver. There are also two box cars and three
flat cars on our road belonging to other roads.
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We are now negotiating with the New Orleans, Jackson
& Great Northern Railroad Company for a set of tire, and, if we
are successful, it is intended to put the engine Vance in order and
move her across the river. The tires of the engine Dockery are getting
thin, and she will soon become useless, unless her drivers can be
turned off, and thereby save the flanges. Much extra trouble and
expense is incurred in the machinery department, in consequence of
having no machine shop, thus making it necessary to send all important
work to other shops at a distance. The scarcity and expense of tools
and material, and the impossibility of procuring supplies, has
compelled us in many instances to run engines which were not in
condition to do good work. Delays have thus been caused, and the
operations of the road attended with much trouble, but I think you can
readily appreciate the various difficulties under which we labor.
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In accordance with a resolution of the board of
directors, at their last meeting, the following list of old iron,
machinery, &c., has been sold to various parties, and credited to
their proper headings upon the books of the treasurer. A large
proportion of the sales have been credited to motive power, and this
will explain the apparent discrepancy in my report and that of your
treasurer.
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| List of Sales |
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1863 |
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| Oct. 9 |
Old brass and copper, hauled to Memphis &
Ohio railroad |
$5,447.00 |
| Oct. 12 |
Old sheet iron, from roof of Grenada depot |
200.00 |
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Platform timber, from Grenada depot |
20.00 |
| Nov. 3 |
Shop machinery, sold to Alabama &
Mississippi rivers railroad |
15,800.00 |
| Dec. 14 |
922 pounds iron at 60 cents |
553.00 |
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1,016 pounds iron at 60 cents |
610.00 |
| Dec. 31 |
14,436 pounds iron at 60 cents |
8,661.60 |
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1864 |
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| Jan. 21 |
400 brick, from Grenada depot |
4.00 |
| Jan. 29 |
3,000 brick from Grenada depot |
30.00 |
| Feb. 5 |
645 pounds iron at 60 cents |
387.00 |
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841 pounds iron at 50 cents |
420.50 |
| Feb. 26 |
1,850 brick, from Grenada depot |
18.50 |
| Feb. 29 |
Old shaft and pulley |
30.00 |
| Mar. 3 |
2,197 pounds iron at 5{0}
cents |
1,097.50 |
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Locomotive De Soto |
7,500.00 |
| Aug. -- |
Car wheels, shafting, &c. |
1,083.50 |
| Aug. 27 |
2,500 brick, from Grenada depot |
25.00 |
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Total sales |
41,887.60 |
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Of the above amount there has been credited to |
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| Motive power |
$18,290.10 |
| Machinery |
15,800.00 |
| Locomotives |
7,500.00 |
| Buildings |
277.50 |
| Profit and loss |
20.00 |
| Total |
41,887.60 |
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A serious accident, resulting in the death of one of our
engineers, Mr. Charles Spurlock, occurred on the 18th day of June
last. One bent of the first trestle south of Tallahatchie river gave
way, and the engine No. 4 fell through the trestle into the ravine, a
distance of about thirty feet. The water in the ravine was from eight
to ten feet deep, and the trestle appeared safe. Subsequent
examination, when the water fell, proved that the action of the water
had undermined one bent, and it gave down with the weight of the
engine. The accident was unavoidable under the circumstances. The
damage to the engine was not serious, the work of raising and getting
her on the track being the most difficult. This has been accomplished,
the engine repaired, and she is now running on the ditching train.
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A line of horse cars was established in March, 1864, from
Tallahatchie river to Senatobia. This part of the road had been
previously operated by the confederate government, and for which the
company received no income, Mr. N. G. Williams agreed to furnish
mules, &c., and put everything in order, provided he should
receive one-half of the net proceeds. This enterprise has paid very
well, the receipts from the same up to September 30 being $7,715.36.
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An explanation of some of the items in the accompanying
tables will the better enable you to understand them. In table No. 1
you will notice that the expenses for the month of October, 1862,
exceeds the receipts. A number of accounts, which belonged to the
business of the preceding fiscal year, were presented and paid after
the business for that year was closed, and they were consequently
charged in October, 1862, the first month of the new fiscal year. In
the same table it will be seen that there are no receipts in the
months of December, 1862 and January, 1863. This was while our rolling
stock was at York station in Alabama, and the road idle. In table No.
2 the item of incidentals in conducting transportation and motive
power is very heavy. The expenses of evacuation, cost of wagons and
teams, and rent of engine No. 4, were charged under these headings,
which, in addition to the ordinary incidental expenses, make up the
amount shown.
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The foregoing, I believe, comprises all the information
upon important points. The operation of the road has been attended
with much difficulty. Raids, evacuations, burnings, and losses of
various kinds, has been its history for the past two years. We have
endeavored to save as much as possible in every instance, and while
there are many cases in which we might have managed better, I still
believe, that, with the knowledge and facilities in our possession,
all that could be done was accomplished,
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The roadway is not in as good condition as could be
desired. Many new cross-ties are needed, and it has heretofore been
almost impossible to procure them. Major A. N. McKay has recently
succeeded in getting an order from General Forrest for the impressment
of negroes, wagons, &c,, and sixty hands have been impressed and
put in the woods getting ties. This will assist us materially in this
department, and we will proceed to put in the ties as fast as needed.
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New timbers are needed in some of the bridges and
trestles, and some of the trestles will require to be entirely
renewed. Nothing has been done to the road except such work as was
absolutely necessary, and we have run on this principle as long as is
possible. Repairs must be commenced, and this, together with the
increase in price of labor and materials, will make an increase in the
future expenses of this department. You can rest assured, however,
that no expense will be incurred which is not essentially necessary
for the benefit of the road.
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Claims are continually being presented for stock killed
by the trains. Cattle and stock of all kinds are getting very bad on
the road, and in consequence of the absence and decay of fences, are
worse than usual, and it is impossible to prevent killing them quite
frequently. The estimates for the same are made out at very
extravagant figures, and I would respectfully ask for some positive
instructions as to their settlement.
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Our entire collections for freight and passage are made
by the conductor. No agents have been employed since the raid in
August, 1863. This is a very unsatisfactory way of doing business, and
presents but few accommodations to the public. Should your business
justify the expense, I would recommend that agencies be established at
Grenada, Oakland, Panola, and Tallahatchie.
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In conclusion, it gives me pleasure to testify to the
efficiency and zeal of the present employees. they have done their
duty, and display an interest in the welfare of the company which is
commendable, and I would respectfully recommend them to your favorable
consideration in the future management of the road.
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Respectfully submitted:
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A. S. Livermore
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General Superintendent
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