Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-27


will be completed this tall. oI q
Timber has been ordered for the renewai oi
the bridge at AccOtink--t0 replace the tiI't
ling at Goose Greek, near Rectortown, with
truss bridge, and for an arch on the James
River Bridge. The bridges have constant at
tention, and at the proper times viii DC
STRENGTHENED or renewed.
The length of road kept up and repaired LOT
the past wear has averaged 225 miles. Since
the 18th Of August 1t has been 243 miles
thus: Alexandria to Gordonsvllle, ~ mlles'
Charlottesville to Lynchburg, 60; Manassas
Junction to Mt. jackson, 80; "arreh'on
Branch, 9.
MACHINERY DEPARTMENT.
The Company owns twenty. seven locomotive
engines. The increase over last year report
is explained by the purchase of four, ana by
the addition of seven by the transfer 0l lne
Manassas Gap r, r. They are generally III
good and running order-one is undergoing re
pairs, three required general and two extensive
repairs.
The number of miles run by the engines
sums UP, Passenger engines l98,0OI niles
Freight engines l94, $50, Road engines 3S,2o'-
Total 43l, $40
The length of road over which the engines ol
this company are now running IS: washington
to Lvnchburg, I79 miles; AeXandri! to Mt.
Jackson, 112 miles Warrenton Branch
miles making total OF 300 miles.
1t is proper to state it in this form, although
the junction of the Manassas branch IS ~ miles
south of Alexandria, as the freight trans 9I
that road are running over the entlre lGns'u
between the terminl and on the compieliou
to Harrisonburg [ presume the passehger
trains will also be run independently OF the
trains on the main line.
All the engines arc repaired at one general
machine shop located in Alexandra, ~hieh
fact speaks favorably for the economy with
which this department Is administered.
MAINTENANCE OF CARS.
The reasonable cost and attractive appearance
Of the passenger cars rebuilt at the company
shop last year have induced the rebuilding OF
two others this year-leaviug still three OF the
lot purchased in 1860 to be repaired and I'm
proved by modern roofs.
The company owns lG passenger cars, Dclng
the same number as reported last year. Inc
increased length of road, and the necessity oi
relief cars require the purchase OF three addl'
tional
The equipment Of freight cars has been ln-
creased during the year by the purchase OF
twenty, the building of cghty-onc at the shop,
and by the transfer Of thirty three from the
Manassas Railroad. A contract has been MADE
for the delivery of twenty five box cars IN Jan
uary.
STATEMENT OF THE NUMBER OF CARS sEPTEM-
BER 80, 1868.
Passenger cars, lG; passenger, mail ana bag
gage cars combined, 3 mail cars, 3; baggage
cars, 4.
Reported in the year ending Sept 30, 1861,
9G box cars built at shop, G3 do; purchased
20 do; received from Manassas Gap Railroad
I9 do.-making l9S. Changed to platform
cars, broken 4 used as conductors and
boarding cars, leaving lS6 box cars.
Reported in the year ending Sept. 81, ISb',
90 platform cars; built at shop, l3; receiver
from Manassas Gap Railroad II; changed
from box and stock cars 3-making 80 platform
cars.
Reported in the year ending Sept 80, 1867,
81 stock cars; built at shop, 5 do. received
from Manassas Gap Railroad, 2-maklng "S
Changed to platform cars 2-lcavng So stock
cars.
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
This service has been conducted 10y the use
of the entire eduipment Of the road, which
has proved sufficient for the purpose, with the
execution of an instance In the last month,
when large amount Of freight Offering Tor
transportation was in excess OF cur ability 10
move; this, however, was temporary, ana last
ed only week. 1t is the experience OF all
roads that there will be cases when the slmu-
taneous purchases Of goods by merchants and
farmers ordering fertilizers or an advancing rate
IN grain, will necessitate some delay III the
movement Of freight.
There have been II, ESQ tons OF freight car
ricd SouthwardIy and 53,995 tons carried
northwardly, making the tota number OF tons
moved during the year 6,G45. by reducing
tbo al ont n
number OF miles that one ton has been carried,
we have this rcsult-one ton carried 0.OO3 342
miles
There have been 1889 passengers trans
ported Southwark and 49, 1913 passengers trans
ported northward, which equated, makes one
passenger carried G, 9,445, l2I miles.
THE MANASSAS BRANCH ROAD.
At the date Of the last Annual Report, the
track had reached point l3! miles east OF
Strasburg, and the two bridges over the
South and North Shenandoah Rivers had been
partially rebuilt The severe winter weather
beginning in December caused suspension ol
| the work until the following April, ~nen the
| contractors resumed the work OF construction,
and progressed with varying success until the
completion of the road to Mt. jackson IN Au-
pust The work from Mt. Jackson to Har
risonburg was then put under contract to
Messrs. Adams, Hammer Il Co., who with
commendabe energy have prosecuted the
work to a near completion The track at this
writing, November 26! is four miles from
Harrisonburg, which will secure the opening
of the entire line from Alexandria to HARRISON
burg for the regular transportation OF passen-
gers gers and freight by the 2Oth Ct December.
a large and commodous freight depot OF
brick is being erected at EIarrisonburg, and
will be rooled ia and ready for use by the time
it will be wanted Materials for the dePots at
Strasburg, New Market, Timberyie, Broad,
wav and Rhnehart's have been ordered, and
the structures will be put up in the course OF a
month or two
When the road shall be thoroughly completed
with balasted track, which | estimate can
be done in the course Of four months oy one
material train with its complement Of iaborerS,
the track can be kept in order for small com;
parativc sum-apd when the fact is considered
that the terminus will be in the rich and pro-
ductive county Of Rocking CHAM, thereby securing @