| Annual Report of the Virginia &
Tennessee RR |
| as of July 1, 1864, |
| Superintendent's Report |
| |
| General Superintendent's Report |
| General Superintendent's Office, Virginia
& Tennessee Railroad |
| Lynchburg, July 1st, 1864 |
| |
| Robert L. Owens, Esq. |
| Pres. Va. & Tenn. Railroad Co. |
|
|
|
Dear Sir,
|
| I respectfully submit the
following report of the operations of this road for the past fiscal year,
ending June 30th, 1864: |
|
Earnings From Transportation
|
| From transportation of passengers |
$1,425,562.05 |
|
| Less amount refunded |
226.71 |
$1,425,335.34 |
| From transportation of freight |
1,236,522.67 |
|
| Less amount refunded |
211.30 |
1,236,311.37 |
| From transportation of Express freight |
|
96,042.67 |
| From transportation of C. S. Mail |
30,600.00 |
|
| Less deduction by
Department |
141.45 |
30,458.55 |
| From transportation of extra baggage |
|
715.75 |
| From rents of houses, fruit stands, &c. |
|
1,426.50 |
| Total gross earnings from
transportation |
|
$2,790,290.18 |
| Operating Expenses |
|
|
| Conducting transportation |
$862,148.98 |
|
| Maintenance of way |
458,628.42 |
|
| Maintenance of machinery |
390,221.35 |
|
| General expenses |
66,552.57 |
1,777,551.32 |
| Net earnings from transportation |
|
$1,012,738.86 |
|
|
Being 36 3/10 per cent. of the gross earnings from
transportation. The
operating expenses amount to 63 7/10 per cent. of the gross earnings.
|
|
It will be observed that the Auditor's statement of earnings and
the above differ to the amount of $42,210.40, being the amount received for
premiums and interest on Confederate bonds, which amount, although a part of
the receipts of the Company for the year, is not a part of the earnings from
transportation.
|
|
The average earnings per mile by passenger, troop and
freight trains combined, are $9.52, and the earnings per mile of
road are $13,266.98, being an increase over the preceding year of
$4,920.85
per of road, and $4.06 cents per mile run by trains.
|
| The increase of earnings from passengers is |
|
$481,144.25 |
| The increase of earnings from freight is |
|
518,497.94 |
| The increase of earnings from express is |
|
9,759.70 |
| The increase of earnings from the mail is |
|
210.34 |
| Total increase of earnings |
|
$1,009,612.23 |
| Deduct decrease from other sources |
|
1,355.98 |
| Leaves actual net increase |
|
$1,008,250.25 |
|
|
Being an increase of 56 58/100 per cent. on the earnings of last year.
|
|
Tonnage
|
| The number of tons transported West was |
78,388 |
| The number of tons transported East was |
57,472 |
| Total tonnage |
135,860 |
|
|
Being an increase over the preceding year of 939 tons. The total movement of freight, or number of tons
transported one mile was 7,801,370, which is decrease from last year
of 1,577,5187 tons.
|
|
The earnings per mile run by freight trains was $8.64.
|
|
The average amount received per ton of freight
transported was $9.10.
|
|
The number of tons of freight moved per
mile of road was 636.
|
|
By reference to the tabular statements in the
Appendix it will be observed, that in the transportation of classified
products, the tonnage Eastward increased 3,129 tons, and that Westward
decreased 2,190 tons, showing an increase of gross tonnage of 939
tons.
|
|
The tonnage statements do not include materials, lumber,
wood, supplies etc., hauled for the use of the Company and for the
road and bridge repairs, which for the year
|
| Are estimated at |
40,000 tons |
| Add weight of passengers and troops |
25,000 tons |
| Add regular tonnage |
135,860 tons |
| Total movement exclusive of weight of trains |
200,860 tons |
|
|
Passengers
|
| The total number of passengers, including
troops, transported East was |
138,928 |
| The total number of passengers, including
troops, transported West was |
141,436 |
| Total number of passengers, including troops,
transported |
300,364 |
| For the preceding year |
311,974 |
| Decrease for the year |
11,610 |
|
The number of troops transported for the Confederacy was
|
162,091 |
| For the preceding year |
130,786 |
| Increase |
31,305 |
| The number of other passengers transported was |
138,273 |
| For the preceding year |
181,188 |
| Decrease |
42,915 |
| The earnings from troops transported for the
Confederacy was |
$879,939.91 |
| For the preceding year |
433,802.67 |
| Increase |
$446,137.24 |
| The earnings from other passengers was |
$545,395.43 |
| For the preceding year |
511,006.67 |
| Increase |
$34,388.76 |
|
|
The average earnings, per mile run by passenger and troop
trains for the year was, $9.24.
|
|
Salt Works Branch
|
|
The general statements of tonnage moved, include the business of the Salt Works Branch,
which is as follows:
|
| Months |
Tonnage |
|
| Wood Cords |
Miscellaneous Tons |
Salt Tons |
Total tons |
| 1863 July |
4,945 |
390 |
3,601 |
13,881 |
|
August |
4,327 |
537 |
4,576 |
13,767 |
|
September |
2,752 |
272 |
3,712 |
9,488 |
|
October |
3,427 |
222 |
3,309 |
10,385 |
|
November |
4,076 |
166 |
3,242 |
11,560 |
|
December |
4,312 |
182 |
1,773 |
10,579 |
| 1864 January |
2,387 |
181 |
1,821 |
6,776 |
|
February |
3,952 |
299 |
1,970 |
10,173 |
|
March |
2,007 |
356 |
1,715 |
6,085 |
|
April |
1,881 |
441 |
856 |
5,059 |
|
May |
404 |
591 |
387 |
1,786 |
|
June |
462 |
108 |
1,049 |
14,194 |
| Totals |
34,932 |
3,745 |
26,979 |
100,588 |
| The freight on the above
due to the Salt Works Branch was |
$233,703.45 |
| For the Main Stem |
448,513.58 |
| Total freight on Main Stem and
Branch |
$682,217.03 |
|
|
Being an increase over the amount due for transportation over the
Branch for the preceding year of $128,746.71, and an increase of
the portion due the Main Stem of $257,385.35; making the total
increase over
the previous year of freight, incident to the Brach, $386,132.06. The increase in tonnage
over the Branch for the year was 17,721 tons. The amount of salt
transported as shown by the table was 26,979 tons, equal to 1,076,160
bushels; of this quantity 22,301 tons were carried to the East, and
4,678 tons West.
|
|
Comparative Statement of the Business of the Virginia & Tennessee
Railroad for the fiscal years ending 1861, 1862, 1863 and 1864.
|
|
1861 |
1862 |
1863 |
1864 |
| Number of troops transported |
34,000 |
103,737 |
130,786 |
162,091 |
| Total number of passengers transported |
124,789 |
197,106 |
311,974 |
300,364 |
| Freight transported -- in tons |
69,590 |
67,333 |
134,921 |
135,860 |
| Earnings per mile run by freight, passenger and
troop trains combined $ |
2.04 |
2.78 |
5.46 |
9.52 |
| Earnings per mile run by passenger and troop
trains $ |
1.82 |
3.08 |
6.54 |
9.24 |
| Earnings per mile run by freight trains $ |
1.96 |
1.82 |
4.37 |
8.64 |
| Earnings per mile of road $ |
3,690.16 |
4,923.73 |
8,346.13 |
13,266.98 |
| Miles run by passenger and troop trains |
215,268 |
156,081 |
162,106 |
154,380 |
| Miles run by freight trains |
145,080 |
220,987 |
164,124 |
143,182 |
| Miles run by other trains, engines, switching
cars &c. |
44,694 |
32,075 |
50,257 |
49,131 |
| Miles run by all engines |
435,042 |
409,743 |
376,487 |
346,693 |
| Earnings from passengers $ |
446,979.95 |
577,206.67 |
943,191.09 |
1,425,335.84 |
| Earnings from express $ |
16,032.03 |
33,797.29 |
86,282.97 |
96,042.67 |
| Earnings from transportation of mail $ |
49,786.49 |
35,934.55 |
30,248.21 |
30,458.55 |
| Earnings from freight $ |
284,592.48 |
193,385.14 |
717,813.43 |
1,236,311.37 |
| Other sources $ |
19,537.65 |
892.97 |
3,498.23 |
2,142.25 |
| Total earnings $ |
798,928.60 |
1,051,216.62 |
1,782,033.93 |
2,832,500.58 |
| Operating expenses $ |
399,414.66 |
462,429.81 |
722,486.26 |
1,737,551.32 |
| Net earnings $ |
399,513.94 |
588,786.81 |
1,059,547.67 |
1,012,738.86 |
|
|
The road-bed and track is in as good condition as can be
expected, when the scarcity of labor and material for repairs and the
demand for transportation of men, provisions and munitions of war by
the Government are taken into consideration. The iron in the track,
particularly on the Western Division is laminated to a great extent,
and in many places has been still further damaged by the enemy in
their raids along the line of our road.
|
|
Sidings
|
|
Additional side tracks have been laid on both sides of
New River, to facilitate the transshipment of freight across the
river, made necessary by the destruction of the bridge.
|
|
Turn Tables
|
|
One new table has been put in at Salem.
|
|
Bridges
|
|
During the past year the enemy in their different raids
upon the road, have destroyed 45 bridge structures -- aggregate length
4,846 lineal feet. These have been rebuilt, some as they were before
they were burnt, others in a temporary manner, to be thoroughly
rebuilt when the labor and material can be obtained. Those bridges
upon the road that escaped the attention of the enemy in their several
raids, are all in good order.
|
|
Wood and Water Stations
|
|
No additions have been made during the past year to our
wood and water stations. Nine were burnt by the enemy in their raids,
and have been replaced by others sufficient to enable the trains to
run with regularity.
|
|
Buildings
|
|
The depots that escaped the attention of the enemy have
been as well taken care of as possible. The new passenger house and
platform at Glade Spring, mentioned in last annual report, have been
completed. Eight depots were destroyed by the enemy. The scarcity of
labor and material render it impossible to rebuild them at present,
and cars have been placed at those stations to answer the purpose of
depots until suitable structures can be erected.
|
|
By reference to table No. 3, it will be seen that the
cost of maintenance of way was $458,628.42, being $1.32 28/100 per
mile run by all engines.
|
|
The repairs of road, bridges and water stations are under
the supervision of Mr. T. V. Strange, chief road master, assisted on
the Eastern division by Mr. Wm. F. Yingling, bridge inspector, and Mr.
W. J. Sowers, road master, and on the Western division by Mr. G. W.
Witt, bridge inspector, and Mr. B. F. Stanley, road master.
|
|
Locomotive Engines
|
|
By reference to table No. 4, in the appendix, it will be
observed that the Company have on their list of locomotives 39 engines
of all sizes and description. Five of them are laid aside as useless.
Three are laid aside as requiring extensive repairs, the materials for
which, cannot be procured at present, and five are under repairs,
leaving twenty-six in actual service. Of this number, five are used
for hauling materials and ditching trains, switching, &c., leaving
twenty-one for the passenger and freight business of the road.
|
|
The total number of miles run by all engines was 346,693,
and the total cost of repairs of engines was $176,160.27; equal to 50
80/100 cents per mile run.
|
|
The repairs of machinery have been conducted under the
supervision of Mr. R. H. Anderson, master machinist, of the Company,
for details of which, I refer you to table No. 4, in the appendix.
|
|
Cars
|
|
The number of cars owned by the Company is as follows:
first class passenger, 19; second class, 10; mail and baggage, 14; box
freight, 190; stock, 19; platform, 43; caboose, 16; and a sufficient
supply of crank, pole and dirt cars.
|
| By reference to table No. 8, it will be observed
that the mileage of passenger cars was |
674,897 miles |
| Mileage of mail and baggage cars was |
247,842 miles |
| Total mileage of pass'r , mail and baggage cars |
922,709 miles |
| Cost of repairs of passenger, mail and baggage
cars |
$81,041.26 |
| Equal to 8 78/100 cents per mile run by them. |
|
| The mileage of box freight cars, with troops was |
150,779 miles |
| The mileage of box freight cars, with freight
was |
1,202,746 miles |
| Total mileage of box freight cars, with troops
& freight |
1,353,525 miles |
| Cost of repairs |
$106,188.31 |
| Equal to 7 84/100 cents per mile run by them. |
|
|
|
The cost of repairs of crank, pole and dirt cars, used on
repairs of road-way and bridges, was $7,602.24.
|
|
The repairs of cars has been conducted under the
supervision of Mr. Joseph W. Berry, master of car repairs.
|
|
Raid of the Enemy
|
|
During the past year, the operations of the road have
been seriously interrupted six times by the enemy, as follows:
|
|
September 19, 1863 -- They entered Bristol, the
western terminus, tore up and destroyed some trucks and burnt one
bridge -- two miles east of Bristol -- 55 lineal feet long and
retired.
|
|
September 23, 1863 -- They entered in time to
destroy the work of repairs on the bridge burnt in their previous
raid, chopped holes in the tank and destroyed the water wheel which
worked the pumps -- after burning several cattle guards, they again
retired. This damage was quickly repaired, and the next day our trains
resumed their regular trips to Bristol.
|
|
October 13, 1863 -- They entered Bristol and
destroyed one box freight car, and one baggage car, both of which were
out of order, and passing along the railroad burnt eight bridges,
aggregate length 520 feet, tearing up one and a half miles of track,
burning the cross-ties and piling the iron upon them, bending and
twisting the same, so as to render it unfit for the track. The road
was repaired and trains resumed their regular trips Nov. 2, 1863.
|
|
December 12, 1863 -- The enemy entered Salem and
destroyed the following property of the Railroad Company: Roanoke
River and Mason's Creek bridges, 3 stringer bridges, depot, turn
table, wood shed and tank, and negro house at Salem. They also burnt 3
box cars, and tore up one mile of track. Repairs were speedily
commenced and within a few days the trains resumed their regular
trips.
|
|
May 9, 1864 -- The enemy entered Dublin after a
hard fought battle, and marching eastwardly along the railroad, left
it on the 14th inst. at Christiansburg, after destroying the depot at
Dublin, tank at New River, bridge over New River, 800 cross-ties, and
3,000 cords of engine wood, 16 stringer bridges, 8 cattle guards and
depot, wood shed and tank at Christiansburg. Repairs were commenced at
once and trains run on each side of New River, transferring passengers
and freight over the River in boats, and June 11th trains passed
throughout the road.
|
|
June 13, 1864 -- The enemy entered Concord
Station, on the South Side Railroad, where we had a wood train
standing to supply trains with wood and water, and burnt 1 box car, 1
caboose car, and 4 flat cars, with their several loads.
|
|
June 15, 1864 -- The enemy entered Liberty and
marched eastwardly to within five miles of Lynchburg, when after a
battle they retired on the 19th inst., after destroying the following
property belonging to the Railroad Company:
|
| Forest |
Depot, two water tanks and wood shed |
| Lowry's |
One water tank |
| Liberty |
Depot and water tank |
| Buford's |
Depot, wood shed and tank |
| Bonsack's |
Depot, wood shed and tank |
| Big Lick |
Depot, wood shed and tank |
| 40 Mile Tank |
500 cords of wood |
|
|
Between Goode's and Liberty they tore up the iron, and
piling it upon the cross-ties, fired them, thereby destroying 8,000
cross-ties, and bending and twisting six miles of rails.
|
|
The following bridges were burnt: Elk Creek; Goode's
trestle; Big Otter; Little Otter; Fuqua's Creek; Moseby's bridge;
Goose Creek; Zimmerman's Creek; Lunsford's bridge; four crossings of
Glade Creek, and Tinker's Creek. Total length, 2,716 feet.
|
|
The work of repairs was commenced June 23rd.
|
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Accidents
|
|
The operations of the road during the past year have been
conducted with remarkable exemption from accident.
|
|
October, 1863 -- A soldier belonging to Gen'l
Corse's brigade, in attempting to get upon the train while in motion
at Glade Spring, fell under the wheels and was badly injured. He was
taken to the hospital at Emory College.
|
|
April 15, 1864 -- Four soldiers of the 51st Ga.
regt. were injured by troop train running off the track near
Shawsville while going east -- conductor, E. G. Scruggs; engineer, J.
B. Smith -- all recovered.
|
|
April 28, 1864 -- Colored brakeman named Jim, the
property of W. M. Hite, while coupling cars at Glade Spring, was
caught between them, and so injured that he died.
|
|
Estimated value of the Rolling
Stock, Machinery, Shop and Road Tools |
| Locomotive engines |
$274,000.00 |
| Passenger cars |
49,500.00 |
| Mail and baggage cars |
14,000.00 |
| Box, stock and platform cars |
198,000.00 |
| Hand, pole and dirt cars |
7,500.00 |
| Machinery and tools, Lynchburg shops |
14,000.00 |
| Machinery and tools, Central shops |
8,000.00 |
| Tools on the road |
2,000.00 |
|
$567,000.00 |
| Materials on hand |
|
| Lumber at Lynchburg |
$12,000.00 |
| Wrought iron and steel |
15,000.00 |
| Iron castings for engines and cars |
15,000.00 |
| Brass castings, copper, &c. |
5,000.00 |
| Engine and car wheels |
10,000.00 |
| Engine wheel tyres |
6,000.00 |
| Engine, car and tender axles |
4,000.00 |
| Extra work for engines |
2,430.00 |
| Stock in store-house |
71,888.00 |
| Oil, tallow and grease |
52,454.00 |
| 5,477 cords wood |
73,755.00 |
| New iron rails |
5,000.00 |
| Old iron rails |
20,000.00 |
| Spikes and chairs |
5,000.00 |
| Frogs, switches, bridge and other road castings |
3,000.00 |
| Cross-ties |
3,400.00 |
| Lumber on road |
6,000.00 |
| 5,000 lbs. of bacon |
15,000.00 |
|
$319,927.00 |
|
|
For list of officers and employees, I refer you to table
No. 45, in the appendix.
|
|
My grateful thanks are due to my predecessor, Col. Thos.
Dodamead, for his uniform kindness and attention, since my first
connection with the road; also to Capt. R. C. McCalla, commanding
engineer corps, by whose energy and perseverance, assisted by his
gallant corps, the repairs of the road have been so expeditiously
made, and to the subordinate officers and employees of the road
generally, for the cheerful and promptitude with which they discharged
their respective duties.
|
|
Respectfully submitted,
|
|
J. W. Goodwin, Gen'l Supt.
|
|