| From the Wilmington Journal |
| |
| November 26, 1863 |
| |
| General Superintendent's Report |
| Office Gen'l Superintendent, W. & M. R.
R. {Wilmington & Manchester RR} |
| Wilmington, N. C., Oct. 1, 1863 |
| |
| Thos. D. Walker |
| President |
| |
| I herewith respectfully submit
to you my first Annual Report of the operations of this Company, for
the fiscal year closing September 30th, 1863: |
| Accompanying the same will be
found the usual tabular statements, showing in detail the most
important facts connected with its operations. |
| The total receipts of the Road
are made up as follows: |
| Receipts from Through Travel |
$449,680.55 |
|
"
"
Way
" |
144,493.79 |
|
"
" Freight and Minor Sources |
503,792.51 |
|
"
" Mail |
60,598.45 |
| Total |
$1,128,565.30 |
| The Expenditures have been |
521,963.53 |
| Leaving as nett earnings |
606,601.77 |
| Against nett earnings of previous year |
425,351.67 |
| Showing an increase on nett receipts of |
$180,250.10 |
|
| The number of Through
Passengers carried during the year was 110,411, being an increase of
53,052 over the number carried the previous year. The number of Way
Passengers carried for the same period has been 71,942, being an
increase of 6,837 over the number carried the previous year. |
| An examination of the receipts
and expenditures indicates that the Road has been operated at a cost
of about 42 1/2 per cent. of the gross receipts. This is exclusive of
the cost of two new engines. If these are included the result would
show about 46 1/2 per cent. of the gross receipts. For further details
and particulars, reference s respectfully made to the tabular
statements accompanying this report. |
| In the Roadway Department I am
pleased to report that, notwithstanding the great difficulty of
obtaining cross-ties, bridge and trestle timber, and other necessary
material, as well also of labor, the Roadway is in very good
condition. The track is in good order. There has been considerable
renewal of timber in the track, bridges and trestles, and it is
designed during this present fiscal year to do much more. Large
contracts have been made for these supplies, and with an increase in
the force on Roadway, which is proposed to be made in January, the
condition of the track can and will be very much more improved in
those respects. The iron on the Road, as on all the leading Roads in
the Confederacy, is beginning to show considerable signs of
lamination. The attention of the Company has been several times called
to this in former reports of my predecessor. While in this particular
we are in no more critical situation than most roads on the main line
of business, our condition is by no means such as I would desire. |
| It will be necessary, if
possible, to obtain at least ten miles of new iron. To secure new
rails the Government will have to come to our aid. This it is possible
it will do, as the Government of late is becoming alive to the
importance of Railroads, and instead of as heretofore absorbing all
the material, men and workshops necessary to our existence, there is a
disposition manifested to aid these and other roads in these
particulars. Should this policy be fully adopted, the effect will be
beneficial, not only to this road, but to others. It affords me much
gratification to add in this connection that the Railroad Companies
are largely indebted to the energy and perseverance of Major F. W.
Sims, Chief of the Railroad Bureau, at Richmond, for this very wise
and highly necessary policy. |
| It is designed, also, to
remedy this trouble to a certain extent during the present fiscal year
by renewing the ends of rails requiring it. This can be done in our
own shops, and at a comparatively small cost, and I am in hopes the
iron can be kept in fair condition by the adoption of the above two
courses. |
| Owing to the increased
business offering the road, the wells and pumps at the Stations have
been found insufficient. New wooden pumps are now being put in on the
entire line, and it is proposed to further improve our Water and Wood
Stations. Contracts have also been made for enlarging our freighting
facilities at Wilmington and Kingsville, the present buildings being
entirely inadequate to accommodate the business. It is also designed
to erect a new passenger house at Sumter, and a new warehouse at Mar's
Bluff. The warehouse at Pee Dee has been enlarged to double its size;
the passenger accommodations at Marion greatly improved, and a good
shed erected over the water tank at Mullen's. New water tanks have
also been put up at Myrtle Branch and near Pee Dee. |
| Finding our engines and men
suffering for want of proper protection from the weather while in the
Round House, contracts were made to erect a wooden roof over it. There
has been some unavoidable delay in the work, owing to the conscript
act taking away certain men engaged on the contracts. The work,
however is progressing, and it is hoped this very needful improvement
will be soon completed. It is proposed, during the present fiscal year
to give much attention to permanent improvements on the line. |
| The Rolling Stock has failed
us very much during the past year. This has been owing in part to the
almost insuperable difficulty of obtaining materials and men to do the
necessary repairs. These difficulties have been to a considerable
extent removed, and I am in hopes it can be kept in better condition
in the future. It has been found impossible to add as largely by
purchase to our stock of engines and cars as was desired. Two very
fine freight engines, however, were bought in March, which greatly
aided the business, one for the sum of twenty thousand dollars, and
the other for twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars. To answer the
very great demand for transportation, both on Government and private
account, being unable to purchase, I resorted to the plan of renting
engines and cars. There has been added to our stock by this means nine
locomotives and seventy-five cars. This outfit will enable us not only
to increase the general business of the Road but give us an
opportunity to repair thoroughly some of those belonging to the
Company. The contracts made for these new engines and cars are not
only favorable to the Company as to price and time, but will enable us
to extend much greater facilities to those needing transportation. |
| Owing to the deterioration of
our engines and cars, I have found it necessary to add certain new
tools both in the Machine Shop and Carpenter Shop. These tools are not
only useful now, but will be after the war. The freight cars have been
most of them thoroughly overhauled and re-painted. There has been
added to our stock of passenger cars three new second class cars, and
several of the coaches have been thoroughly repaired and repainted. |
| The business done on the Road
during the last year has been very heavy, and notwithstanding the
large number of trains run, both regular and irregular, we have been
singularly exempted from loss to life and limb. I have tp record but
one accident of a serious nature. I mention this in commendation of
the skill and judgment of those running the trains. |
| In December last a Convention
of Rail Road officers in Augusta made arrangements for reducing speed
of the mail trains on the line from Richmond to Montgomery. The
schedule, from want of concert of action, fell through. In January,
believing it to be a matter of the very first importance to run at
slow rates of speed, steps were taken to effect this very desirable
object. Much difficulty was experienced, but on February 22d our
schedule was lengthened, and the effects in saving the Rolling Stock
and Road have been most marked and important. |
| Construction account has been
charged with the sum of $24,772.94, the chief item in which is the sum
of $20,500.00 paid for wharf property. This purchase has greatly added
to our freighting facilities. |
| I take great pleasure in
commending to the favorable attention of the Company, with few
exceptions, all the officers and employees of the Company. The calls
on them have been numerous and onerous, and for the aid they have
given me, as well as their general zeal and fidelity, no small need of
thanks is due them. |
| Respectfully submitted. |
| Henry M. Drane |
| Gen'l Superintendent |
|