| Annual Report of the Virginia Central RR |
| as of October 1, 1863, |
| Road Committee's Report |
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| Report of Road Committee |
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| To the Stockholders of the Virginia Central
Railroad Company |
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Appointed at the last meeting of the Stockholders
members of the committee to examine their road, we make the
following report:
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The bridge across Cowpasture river, burnt by the enemy,
will be rebuilt and ready for the trains early next year, so there will
be a through line of travel to Jackson's river, as that across Wilson's
creek, which was washed away by a flood in that stream, has been already
replaced.
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| That part of the road lying
west of the Blue Ridge is in fine condition for the running of the
trains, although very little labor has been spent on it during the
past year -- the obvious for which is, that it was ballasted
soon after the track was laid, which kept the road-bed dry and
prevented the cross-ties from being depressed by the weight of the
trains. |
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On the east side of the Blue Ridge in nearly all the cuts
which are wet, the track is rough and uneven, and the iron is very
much worn from the sinking of the cross-ties into the soft road bed,
because most of them are without ballast, and the small force
which the Road Master could obtain is entirely inadequate to keep the
ditches open, put in cross-ties, and level up the track.
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One hundred thousand cross-ties will be needed for the
road during the winter and the next summer, and unless a very large
additional force can be put on it, if the winter should prove wet,
it will be impossible to keep it in a condition to met the demands of
public travel, and also to transport supplies for the army and freight
for private citizens.
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The timbers placed under the Rivanna bridge as guards
against the breaking down of the iron, of which the bridge is built,
are decayed, and must be replaced at an early day, or, what would be
better, build a bridge of timber, and use the iron of the old bridge
for other purposes, as it is much needed in the shops.
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As there is great want of cross-ties and timber for
trestles, one steam-mill has already been put in operation and another
will soon be erected, which will greatly aid in preparing timber for
the road.
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The depots at Tolersville and Hanover Court House,
destroyed by the enemy, have not been rebuilt, and it would be prudent
not to do so till there is no probability of their being again burnt
by raiders.
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The shops built in Richmond last year are excellent
structures, and afford increased facilities for the repairs of cars
and engines.
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We would again urge on the Stockholders the importance of
appropriating a specific sum annually to ballast that portion of the
road east of the Blue Ridge, beginning with the wet cuts and
continuing the work till it shall be completed.
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Mr. Whitcomb, General Superintendent, and Mr. Richardson,
Road Master, accompanied us, and furnished every convenience for
making the examination.
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R. H. Nelson
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Benjamin Wood
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November 15, 1863
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