The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-06

ment. The trains generally have preserved
| their movements with safety and regularity,
certainly not entirely exempt from the cas1al
mishaps incident to their service-but on the
whole experiencing as great freedom from Sc.
rious interruption and accident as Will be !ouno
anywhere to characterize traffic or similar
| importance and magnitude. The night express
freight trains, though unaveidably restricted
to o much slower schedule than the day pas,
sengers, have advanced 80 rapidly in favor and
| preference with certain class OF travel, that
| every exertion which it was IN our power TO
make has been made to improve their accommo-
datlons; aud it has been recently determined to
| supply them, in addition, as early as practlca-
BILE. with those conveniences that are now gen.
orally regarded as indispensable to the ease
and comfort Of night journeys by rail.
The number of miles run by our motive pow:
er during the year, exceeds the performance OF
1867 By LAG, $50 miles; this fact, taken in con-
nection with the other (already referred toy
viz: of so large an increase OF tonnage moved,
will readily show that very considerable
amount OF work has been done in this depart
ment, and I think l am fully justified by re.
suits 10 adding, done most satisfactorily, oil
circumstances fairly considered.
In the more appropriate division OF this re-
port will be found particular refer ence to the
condition uf our rolling stock; but beg to be
allowed to remark, just here, that with the
trif1ing addition Of eighteen cars during the
year, the entire transportation OF the past
twelve months has been performed by the mo-
tive and car power reported as fit for service,
and under repairs on the 31st December, 1867,
aided occasionally by through trains from con-
Meeting roads, upon which, however, in the re-
ciprocity of business, our own cars were fre-
quently to be found.
Our present connection at Augusta with the
Georgia Railroad is, on tho whole, quito salts
factory: the transfer OF passengers being now
effected at their through station, and freight
trains exchanged without any breaking OF
bulk. The through passengers, via Kingvile
and Branchvlllo, are carried between Whining
ton, N. c., and West Point, Ala, without any
change whatever OF baggage, relieving them
thereby OF considerable delay and annoyance
TN the route.
Our through freight arrangements, without
bulk being broken, it is gratifying to announce,
now extend in the ono direction to Louisville
on the Ohio. by what is known as the "ttreen
Lne," and westwardly by the palmetto Line,
via Selma TO Mobile, New Orleans and Vicks-
burg We also permit an exchange OF cars IN
the direction of Spartanburg and Waihala, in
our own State So extended is this division OF
Our business becoming that l feel 1t to be
almost imperative to recommend the early re-
sumption Of the construction OF box ears espc-
cialy on such scale as would enable US to
add at least fifty of this description, at inter-
vals, during the coming year, besides preserv-
stock.
Il has not been in our power to supply Co.
lumbia vet with passenger depot or King
vile with the accommodations for both passen-
gers and f1eight, 80 indispensable at that
psint Our business there IS transacted under
very embarrassing circumstances, and the
necessities of both cases, especially the latter,
are deserving OF early conslderatlen anu re-
lief.
The enlargement Of the local depot of Au-
pusta, referred to in my last report as being
then in progress, was stopped shortly alter,
and has not since been recommended; tnou8h
really much needed. it must, OF couIse, share
the fate OF suspension unaVoldaoly imposed
upon much more important contemplated I'M
proyements. There s reason to hope, however,
that our inability to resume and prosecute at
least some Of them will not be OF much longer
duration.
The expenses incurred in this department
have been almost entirely of the usual current
character; with the exception OF o new depot OF
Granitevlle, and tho renewal of platforms and
sheds. and repairs to statlon-houses, wood
racks, tanks and pumps, little has been ex'
pepded along the line.
The business affairs Of our agencies have
been very satisfactorily conducted, and the IN
terest Of the company, as usual careluiiy
watched by those in charge. The promptltude,
OF consienees at this terminus in the removal
of produce has greatly facilitated the opera
tions of our inward freight agency here, rem
derlng the deliveries now matter OF much
less delay and trouble than heretofore.
MACHINERY DEPARTMENT.
The operations Of the "Motive-powor Works"
in this department tor the EAST year have been
exclusively confined to the renovation and cur
rent repairs Of our locomotives; yet the amount
of work accomplished was considerable, Tor
with the exception of eight OF the number COM
prised in the report OF the, 3lst ultlmo, VIZ:
forty-three, the stock may be regarded as IN
yerv efficient condition and quite equal to any
reasonable demand beyond the business OF last
wear that might suddenly be made upon 1t.
or the exceptions above referred to IN tho
stock, two are now undergoing thorough reno
yation, and so nearly finished that it ls ex-
pcctod they will be ready for se:ylee ID the
cou1se Of few weeks. Tho remaining num-
Der, comprehcnding chiefly such as arc en-
ployed on the Camden branch aud in tho SER
| vice of the road department, are getting quite
aged, and the question Will very soon present
| itself as to what disposition ls to be made or
them. The cost of complete renovation Will
liaely be fully as much as to procure thelr re-
placement by the purchase OF new nlaohines;
but even if 1T does 80 to that extent, ratoer
| incllno to rebuilding at our own works, because
we would be giving employment at home to
deserving men OF whose skill aud ability as
artisans thers can be no doubt, and from whose
| hands VIC have already received rebuilt and
renovated machines in every respect rs COM
uIetc. servlceabls and reliable ms ii just from
the construction suops Of tho Northorn manu-
iacturers. cannot refrain from slgnlfylns
ms preference for this policy, and venture to
express the h. pc that it may be adhered to fof
| the future.
The number Of the stock does not vary from
the rcuort of December. 1867. One locomo--
tive, tho .'S. Miles, having been condemned
as worthless and one was bought for the pur-
pose of shifting at Augusta. Tue ontlre stocB
is. therefore, still composed OF 43 locomotives,
cay or
| ELECTIVE. '.'.'.''.'''oO
| UI;dGr repairs. ..................'. 2
| Rebuilding. ...'......'
| Awaiting repairs ..........:.: .......9
In Tables Nos. and 8 will be found the
usual ID, formation OF all details connected WILL
our motive power, to which attention ls re-
spectfully invited.
AT the works Tor the maintenance and con
struction of cars, the results OF The operations
for the year have been to increase the aggre'
gate of tho stock on hand December 81, 1861
] from 3S2 to 400 of all classes. The Glasses ant
number OF date above mentioned, were as toi
| lows: n.
First class passenger. .........' 2. =:
Second class passenger mail and baggage. u, j,
| Platform. .................... ~
| Stock. ck................... .....'''' '''''''''''
ear