The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-28
VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
ANNUAL MEETING TO-DAY.
Reports of the President and Superintendent

Reports of the President and Superintendent
The annual meeting Of the stockholders
of the Virginia Central railroad will be
held in this city to-day. We make the
following abstracts from the reports of the
President and Superintendent, which have
been kindly furnished US in advance.
Receipts and Erpenditures.-T expen-
ditures for the year ending September 30,
1867, were s4lS,6G2.90-being reduction
of 20S,7S7.25 less than the amount ex-
pended in 1866 gross receipts for year
ending September 30, 1867, s554, ,5lO.G4 ;
gross receipts as per last years report,
s4S7 ,499.l0; increase of receipts, s67,-
0Gl.54.
There is a decrease of s37,373.64 in the
amount of ordinary expenses. The re-
ceipts from tonnage are more than last
year $S3,702 OF; the receipts from pas
sengers are less s9,33O.S6 the receipts
from express freights are less this year
s5,62l.46.
In regard to the decrease in passenger
receipts, it is remarked that it was thought
expedient to stop one Of the daily trains,
which, whilst it produced no net revenue,
would no doubt have added TO the gross
receipts Of the company. Doubtless, also,
the reduction may be ascribed to the di-
minished number Of northern tourists.
The dminution in express freights is,
perhaps, in some degree owing to the in
creased expedition which the superin-
tendent has given to the ordinary freight
trains.
Debt of the Company.-During the past
year the Indebtedness of the company has
increased by $3.50, 9,3O2.9 .99-the total debt
now amounting to S2,069, ,934.62. Expla-
natory Of this increase, it is stated that
the road has been extended from Jack
sons river to Covington at a cost OF Sll7,-
1888. Real estate has been purchased
in Richmond costing s9,497.
Bonds for interest funded have also been
issued, amounting to Sl0l ,9G3.75. There
remains Of unfunded interest due up to
lst January, 1866, about $4,000. The
amount Of interest paid since October,
1866, is 53,920.94.
improvement Of Roatlray.- During the
year II ,060 feet Of new iron aud fl ,4J5
new ties have been put on the track. Six
and three unarter miles have been bal
lasted; 1000 feet Of additional turn outs
have been put in; 2,46G feet of passenger
platforms have been built, besides num-
Der of culvcrt trestles and cattle guards.
The track was completed to Covington
July 3lst. The road bed is ballasted with
broken stone, and is in excellent condition
in every respect. For want of means and
time it was necessary to put trcstle over
Jackson's river instead Of permanent
bridge, and this is the only structure on
this section of the road which is not per-
manent. 1t is very important to have a
permanent bridge at this point, rs the
river is deep and rapid, and the trcstle will
be liable to injury a. any ordinary freshet.
The road will be liable to Interruptions
at several points west OF the Blue Ridge
until permanent bridges arc built. There
is not so mach danger from the streams
east OF the Blue Ridge, as they are not so
rapid but such an accident is by no
means improbable, and the loss Of revenue
which would result would be considerable.
The business east Of Staunton has been
interrupted once during the year. The
flood of August 10th washed out part of
the trestle over the Chickahominy, and
the earth from aravine between the South
Anna and Little rivers. This ravine has
been formerly crossed by a trestle, the old
timbers Of which were still in place, but
too much dccayed to bear the weight of
the train. The engineer Of the eastward
bound freight train discovered the breach
too late to stop his train, and, with great
Judgment, gave his engine full steam and
succeeded in getting over with the loco
>motive and one car, crushing in the old
trestlc as he passed. The next four cars,
all loaded, were thrown into the ravine
and totally destroyed; several others were
injured. No person was seriously hurt,
but more than one half the amount paid
for lost and damaged freight during the
year was due to this accident. 1t was the
duty;ot the track-repairer to pass over his
road after every heavy rain, and had he
done his duty the accident would not have
occurred.
Delj0ts destroyed by the Federal army
have lleen rebuiitat keswick and Swoope's.
A new building is needed at Trevillian's,
and considerable enlargement of the
1TC1pnC-uUUSc III OiltTIOltCSNllIe.
The road bed is generally in fine order,
and some six and three-quarter miles of
the worst portions have been ballasted
with from six to eighteen inches of broken
stone and gravel. The ditching west of
the Blue Ridge is not fully completed,
owing to the necessity which existed Of
taking the train appropriated for this SER
vice TO haul iron and croSs-ties to the eX-
tension of the road to Covington. The
greater part of this ditching will be com
pleted before winter.
Observation-Disclosures freight cars have
been added to the stock reported last
wear, and six were destroyed by accidents
or broken up as not worth repairs. Two
locomotives have been purchased, and
fourteen box cars have been built at the
compauy's shops at cost of $3.50 GS each.
Nine platform and eight box cars were
purchased from the Richmond and Dan
vile Railroad Company-part of the stock
of the Piedmont railroad. Ten stock cars
are now being built, partially to meet the
increase in transportation of cattle caused
by the extension OF the road to Covington
The Superintendent recommends an addl-
ton of seventy five box cars, twenty stock
cars, and fifty platform cars.
Nothing has been added to the passen,
ger equipment, except that set of re-
clining seats, suitable for night trains, in
vented by Mr. J. r. Chiles, has been put
into one Of the passenger cars.
in Accommodation Train Proposed.-
The superintendent expresses the belief
that the local travel would be increased
by running an accommodation passenger
train between Richmond and Louisa Court.
house or Gordonsville. Such train ha:
been run at intervals in years past, AND
was we'll patronized. If the company