| Annual Report of the Virginia Central RR |
| as of October 1, 1862, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| Superintendent's Report |
| Office of the Virginia Central Railroad
Company |
| Richmond, October 1st, 1862 |
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|
E. Fontaine, Esq., President
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| Sir, |
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The following report of the operations of this Department for the fiscal year ending September 30th,
1862, is
respectfully submitted.
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The earnings from all sources are as follows:
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| From passengers |
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$700,194.25 |
| From freight |
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252,982.29 |
| From express freight |
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44,555.81 |
| From mail
service |
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13,476.32 |
| From use of road by the Orange &
Alexandria Railroad Company |
4,064.66 |
| From miscellaneous sources |
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165.00 |
| From dividends on telegraph stock |
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241.50 |
| From rent
of real estate |
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477.94 |
| Total Receipts |
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$1,016,157.77 |
| Expenses |
| For conducting transportation,
including miscellaneous, legal expenses, &c. |
$126,877.85 |
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| For repairs of locomotives and cars |
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67,258.15 |
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| For repairs of workshops and tools |
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2,892.59 |
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| For maintenance of way, including repairs of depots and water
stations |
109,607.21 |
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| For salaries of President, Treasurer
and Clerks, General Superintendent, Master of Transportation, and per diem of Directors
and Committees |
13,506.00 |
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| For taxes, including mill tax on
passengers and freight transported |
43,573.24 |
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| For insurance on buildings, &c. |
1,577.84 |
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| For repairs on real estate in Richmond |
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35.26 |
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$365,328.14 |
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| Sundries Charged to Transportation Expenses: |
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| For removing shops and office to Charlottesville
and back |
$1,874.94 |
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| For repairs of engines and cars for other roads
and for Confederate States |
585.48 |
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| For construction of new shops |
4,021.40 |
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6,481.82 |
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371,809.96 |
| Nett receipts |
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$644,347.81 |
| There has been an
increase in the receipts as follows: |
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| From transportation of passengers |
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344,110.17 |
| From transportation of freight |
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7,400.01 |
| From transportation of express freight |
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27,088.30 |
| From miscellaneous and other sources
except mail service |
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1,451.16 |
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370,049.64 |
| And a decrease in the receipts from
mail service |
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10,298.80 |
| Nett increase in receipts over previous year |
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359,750.84 |
| The expenses show an
increase over the previous year as follows: |
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| For conducting transportation |
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12,472.91 |
| For repairs of locomotives and cars |
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21,881.17 |
| For repairs of workshops and tools |
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1,775.59 |
| For maintenance of right way, &c. |
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21,751.80 |
| For salaries, &c. |
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643.63 |
| For taxes |
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35,978.12 |
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94,503.22 |
| And a decrease in other expenses of |
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1,231.35 |
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93,272.87 |
| Increase in nett revenue over last year |
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266,477.97 |
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If it could be said that the road and its machinery were
in as good condition as at the date of my last report, the above
exhibit would be very flattering; but candor compels me to say that
such is not the fact. The incessant and severe strains to which both
road and machinery have been put, and the difficulty of obtaining
labor and materials for repairs, have prevented us from keeping the
property of the Company in such condition as it should be. This will
be more fully explained under the appropriate heads.
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I may be permitted to say here that the management in
this, and probably in most business, should be judged by the condition
of the property and the promptitude with which the business is
conducted rather than by the mere report of money received and
expended. The managers of the road would be unwilling to be judged by
these tests in the present instance, unless the extraordinary
circumstances attending are considered, and, therefore, they are in a
position to make these suggestions without the fear of having
interested motives imputed to them.
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I do not intend to undervalue economy, but to say that
true economy in any one year is not to be measured by the report of
money expended in that year. It is in the power of managers to reduce
the amount of money expended in almost any year, and to a casual
observer the property of the Company is in as good condition as ever.
But let this system continue and it will be found most expensive, not
to say disastrous.
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The true policy should be to keep the road and its
appurtenances in the best practicable condition, and to gradually
improve it from year to year, as the means of the Company will permit,
by building permanent structures, by perfecting the road bed and the
track, and in increasing the efficiency of the road and its machinery
in various other ways.
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By pursuing this course the per centage of expenses to
receipts will be gradually decreased until a minimum is reached. I
have made these suggestions with the more freedom as the Directory
have adopted this policy, and your orders with regard to it have been
obeyed in all cases where it has been practicable to do so.
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The gross expenses of the year are only thirty-six and
six-tenths per cent. of the gross income, and in the expenses are
included the large amount of taxes, the cost of removing the offices
and shops to and from Charlottesville, a portion of the construction
of the new shops in Richmond, and the cost of the trestles over the
South Anna and other streams between Richmond and Hanover Junction to
replace the structures burned by the enemy. Deducting these items, the
expenses would amount to less than thirty-two per cent. of the gross
income.
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But, in addition to the expenses mentioned, I present a
brief and imperfect estimate of the amount necessary to be expended to
put the road in the condition it was two years since. It is as
follows:
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| For repairs and renewal of locomotives and cars |
$73,000 |
| For depreciation in iron for two years |
50,000 |
| For deficiency in wood, crossties, and lumber |
20,500 |
| For rebuilding depots, &c., at Beaver Dam,
and for bridges over South Anna and Cowpasture rivers |
25,000 |
| For deficiency in materials at shops and for
sundries |
31,500 |
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$200,000 |
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The estimated cost for repairs of locomotives and cars
includes the depreciation of years, and is not due entirely to the
wear of the past two years. The estimated cost for rebuilding the
depot and bridges should also be credited by the depreciation of
years, and the new structures will be superior to the old. Taking this
into consideration, the above is an over estimate; but this would
probably be balanced by other items not considered.
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Adding three-fourths of the above as due to the wear and
tear of the past year, the expenses would be $521,809.96, or fifty-one
and five-tenths per cent. of the gross receipts. I regard this
statement as very near the truth, and when the high prices for which
most of the transportation is done, I do not consider the per centage
large. I do not anticipate that the results of the coming year will be
more favorable than this under any probable contingency.
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Roadway
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The road has suffered more from long-continued rains and
from raids of the enemy than from the amount of tonnage transported.
Portions of the track between the Junction and Gordonsville were in
wretched condition during the winter and spring and must be ballasted.
This work would have been done during the summer and fall if the
necessary trains and labor could have been obtained.
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Most of the breaches caused by floods have been repaired
permanently. Several stone culverts and small bridges have been built
in place of wooden structures, and a new abutment has been put up at
Wilson's Creek. There has also been a large amount of retaining and
protection wall built during the year. It is to be regretted that more
of this kind of work has not been done; but the Road Master has not
had the transportation he is entitled to, and his department has
suffered more than any other in loss of labor which could not be
replaced.
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The sidings at Beaver Dam, Louisa Court House, and
Gordonsville, have been extended. Most of the labor and all of the
materials used are included in the repairs of
road.
feet of new iron have been laid down between Richmond and
Gordonsville. It is fortunate that the Company were unable to extend
the road to Covington, as, without the iron purchased or that purpose,
we could not have replaced the defective iron on more important
sections of the road.
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Crossties have been put in the road during the year.
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The bridges over Rivana river and Moore's creek need to
be strengthened or replaced by others of a heavier character. The
guard bridges placed around them in 1854 and '55 are somewhat decayed.
It is proper to say that these guard bridges were not built to add to
the strength of the iron bridges, but to carry the trains in case of
their failure. The iron bridges have thus far done the work unaided.
The effects of heavy trains is, however, very apparent in several
places, and they should be strengthened or replaced by other
structures before the guard bridges are too much weakened by decay.
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I recommend also that another span be added to the
Rivanna bridge in place of the trestle work, and for this purpose an
abutment will be needed.
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On the 19th of May last the enemy took possession of
Jackson's River Depot, and a detachment of cavalry piloted by W. P.
Rucker, formerly a citizen of Alleghany county, proceeded as far as
the Cowpasture bridge and burned it. No further damage was sustained
by the Company, but the depot was plundered of its contents. The enemy
retreated the following day.
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On the day of May the enemy
occupied the road at or near Atlee's station. A few days afterward
they occupied Hanover Court House; and the road from the Chickahominy
to South Anna river remained in their possession until their defeat
before Richmond, the 29th of June. During this time they burned the
South Anna bridge and the trestles near Hanover Court House and on
Mrs. Crenshaw's farm. They also destroyed seven cars and their
contents. A locomotive captured by them was not materially damaged.
The track was torn up in several places, and most of the negroes
employed by the company were carried away.
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As soon as possible, after the road was cleared, we
commenced the necessary repairs, and completed them by the 18th of
July. A substantial trestle was built over the South Anna in place of
the bridge. Those in charge of these repairs deserve great credit for
the energy displayed, as the difficulties arising from want of
materials, labor, and a rise in the river, were serious. The work is
well done and is at least as strong as the structures destroyed.
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On the 20th day of July the enemy visited Beaver Dam
station and destroyed the buildings and contents. On the 6th day of
August they visited Frederick's Hall station and fired some of the
buildings and one car, but spared the depot on account of its
proximity to a private dwelling. The government stores in the depot
were destroyed. In both the above cases the enemy left in a short
time. No other material damage was done.
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The Cowpasture bridge has not been rebuilt. The scarcity
of labor and materials added to other considerations have prevented
it. I have thought of building a trestle over the river for present
use, but fear that it would be swept away by the first flood. The
stream is very rapid at such times, and it is doubtful whether the
Company would be warranted in building such a structure.
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The masonry at both Cowpasture and South Anna rivers will
need repairs before permanent bridges can be put up.
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Station Buildings and fixtures
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The buildings at Beaver Dam station, to replace those
destroyed by the enemy, will be of brick, and roofed with slate. Some
work has already been done to the depot.
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I respectfully urge upon you the propriety of
substituting brick buildings for the present unsafe and inconvenient
structures at Frederick's Hall, Louisa Court House, and Trevilian's
depots. This should be done as soon as the Company can command the
labor and materials at reasonable rates.
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Machinery
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The locomotives have suffered from excessive use and want
of suitable material for repairs. Two have exploded, viz: The Monroe,
in Richmond on the 19th of November last, killing Mr. Davis, the
Assistant Yard Master, the negro fireman, and a small negro boy who
was near the engine; and the South, at Millboro' depot, on the 25th of
September, slightly injuring the engineer. Both locomotives are worth
repairing, but will be disabled for a long time.
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The rest of the machinery is in as good condition as
could be reasonably expected under the circumstances.
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Cars
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The stock of freight cars is much less than was reported
last year. I have had them renumbered, and report the result. It is
probable that all have not been renumbered, and that some are still on
other roads. The cars were not counted last year, as it was
impracticable to do so; the account was made up by adding to the
number reported the previous year those which had been built, and
deducting those known to have been destroyed. I do not know whether a
count was made two years since or not.
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Nineteen of the older cars have been broken up or
otherwise disposed of as being unfit for use. A large number were
destroyed in the retreat from Manassas and Winchester, and by the
enemy at Hanover Court House and Frederick's Hall. I have been unable
to ascertain precisely the number thus destroyed, but think it to be
more than twenty. All of those now reported are in running order,
although not all in good repair.
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Two of the passenger cars have been fitted up as
ambulances to convey sick and wounded men from the army. One having
become unsafe as such has been fitted up as a car for the road
carpenters. This reduces the number of cars for the general passenger
business. Freight and passenger cars are much needed. The former we
can probably supply with the facilities we shall have after the
completion of the carpenter's shop; but, so long as the war lasts, it
will be impracticable to furnish materials to replace the passenger
cars.
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The stock of cars is as follows
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16 |
passenger cars |
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4 |
mail and servants' cars |
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4 |
baggage cars (Three have been made
into conductors' cars, and one burned by the enemy.) |
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91 |
box freight cars |
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10 |
stock cars |
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4 |
hay cars |
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27 |
platform cars |
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8 |
Conductor's cars |
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22 |
four-wheel gravel and sand cars |
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Workshops
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A convenient blacksmiths' shop has been completed during
the year, and adds much to our facilities for repairs. A new
carpenters' shop is in progress, and will probably be finished by the
first of January.
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Both of these buildings are brick and roofed with slate,
and are built in a substantial manner.
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The carpenters' shop will afford facilities for building
and repairing cars so long needed, and will at the same time be
reasonably free from the danger of fire.
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These buildings have cost more than it would to have
built them in ordinary times, but the necessities of the Company would
not admit of delay.
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Full details of expenses -- passengers, tonnage, mileage,
&c. -- will be found in tables attached.
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In conclusion I commend to your favorable notice the
conduct of the officers and
employees under my supervision. Their duties have been performed with
cheerfulness and unflagging energy. I do not remember any exceptions,
and to one and all I tender my sincere thanks.
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All of which is respectfully submitted.
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Your obedient servant,
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H. D. Whitcomb
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General Superintendent of Transportation
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