| From the New Orleans Times Picayune |
| |
| April 16, 1862 |
| |
| Jackson Railroad Report |
| The annual report of the
officers of the New Orleans, Jackson & Great Northern Railroad
Company was made to the general meeting of the stockholders on Monday.
It is an extremely favorable exhibit, and maintains, under the adverse
circumstances of the past year, the improvement which was reported to
the last meeting. |
| The gross receipts of the
road, notwithstanding the suspension of commerce, and the interruption
of general travel, have amounted; for the year, to $1,114,214.19; the
expenses of working the road for the same period have been
$515,733.29; and the net income of the road has, therefore, been
$598,480.90 The net earnings are greater than those of last year by
$43,046.96. The aggregate receipts were less by $118,409.45. |
| Showing an actual decrease of
the expenses of working the road to the amount of $161,456.41, for the
year. This too, in the face of greatly increased cost of all
descriptions of railroad supplies. |
| The general condition of the
company is also highly encouraging. |
| By this surplus of the
earnings of the company, over its expenses, the company has been able
to reduce its floating debt in the amount of $258,675.69. The
remaining portion of the $598,480.90 is accounted for as
follows: Payments of interest, $155,061.15; of bills payable,
$59,343.22. The amount of $65,000 is still due by the Confederate
Government and other Confederate States, and the remainder is on hand,
in cash, or with the company's agent. |
| The floating debt of the
company, after the reduction mentioned, is as follows: |
| Bills payable |
$88,464.07 |
| Small notes, issued |
145,330.00 |
| Paymasters and payrolls |
37,666.91 |
|
$271,460.93 |
| There is also due to alien enemies |
174,835.00 |
| Total floating debt |
$416,295.93 |
|
| This reduction of debt, and
the large curtailment of expenses, has not prevented the application
of means, liberally, to the improvement of the road, in various
important particulars, upwards of $200,000 having been expended in the
removal and repair of bridges, filling in of trestle work, &c. |
| The road has now the capacity
for a traffic of $1,700,000 per annum in revenue, and such could have
been anticipated but for the political troubles which have intervened.
The return of peach might not, in the exhausted condition of the
country, restore all these prospects immediately, but whenever the
agriculture of the country is resumed, with the consequent return
traffic, the receipts of this road must rapidly increase. In the
meantime, it is one of the most important instruments for public
defence, and continues to be of the most essential use to the
Confederacy. Their services have been freely acknowledged by all
departments of the Government, and the promptitude and energy
displayed by the management, whenever transportation was needed for
the Confederate service, have been conspicuous and honorable. The
transportation for the State of Louisiana has been done free of
charge, and that for the Confederate States, in munitions of war and
soldiers, at half the regular rates. |
| Little progress has been made
in the Aberdeen extension, except in preparing the section between
Aberdeen and the junction with the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, for the
laying of the iron, and the negotiation of an arrangement that it
shall be run as a branch of that railroad until ours reaches the
junction from the west. |
| The terrible accident of the
29th of February, by which so many lives were lost, near Ponchatoula,
occurred after the closing of the official year. It is mentioned in
the report as a source of expenditure during the current year. The
company is disposed to deal promptly and liberally with the suitors
for damages. |
| The number of passengers
transported during the past year, without accident, was upwards of
130,000. |
| The report makes reference to
annexed tables which have not yet reached us. We expect to find in
them other details of interest to our readers. |
|