The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-18

After the last meeting OF the stockholders Of
this company, held tbs 18th of April, 1868, they
unanimously approved the acts of the Legisla
lures Of Louisiana and Mississippi, denying the
governors Of those States and the mayor of New
Orleans the right of voting for directors on the
State and city stocks, and authorizing them in
lieu thereof to appoint three directors each. to
represent In the board the interests of those
States and Of the city. This act has, therefore,
become now part OF the charter of the company,
and can only be changed in the manner indicated
therein.
We have now settled favoraby, or compounded
with the several bondholders, (Mr. d. d. withers
excepted) who had refused TO enter into the ar.
rangement made with the English bondholders in
1885, Mr.. Wthers is still pressing his suit in the
United States Fifth Circuit Court for the amount
(s69OOO and intsrest) which he claims to be due
him.
The case s still pending, but the company Is
prepared to satisfy the judgment of the court
should its decision be adverse to them.
In july last the honorable judge of said court
appointed two masters in chsncery, Messrs.
Cohen and Weller, to examine and report upon
the management and condition of the affairs Of
this company.
their examination, and train was placed at their
disposal to make close inspection Of the whole
road, from New Orleans to Canton, which was
done by these gentlemen 10 thorough and con.
scientious manner. take pleasure In calling your
attention to their very favorable report, which is
herewith annexed, marked ''B," and to make the
following extracts therefrom, to show what these
experts Of the United States Circuit Court think
AZ $50 -
by the present board OF directors:
NEARLY all their pecuniary embarrassments
have grown out of the disastrous civil war which
was recently waged on this section of the Union
The road was the victim Of both armies.
During the years 1853 and 1854 the locomotives
and rolling stock, with very few exceptions were
destroyed or damaged to such an extent by the
contendiDg forces as TO render them wholly unfit
for service.
ION the Path of June, 1865, under the order OF
Major General Candy, commanding this depart
ment. the company wss placed in full possession
I'd the road, and they proceeded at once TO repair
the damages and put IL in running order. At this
time il was yin pretty good condition ss far as
PcDtchatoula AZ miles north of this city, and from
that point to Brookhaven, distant 81 miles, most
Of the bridges bad been destroyed aud the road
had not been used since the spring OF 1863 In
the meanwhile the luxuriant vegetation of that
section OF the country, with its shades aud mois.
ture, rotted the pine timber used in its cousruc.
ton and three.fourths OF the ties had to be re-
placed in order to render il safe for the transit OF
locomotives and cars"
From Brookhaven to Jackson, IS miles the
road, although much dispidsted, was still being
used, with the exception of two and half miles
Immediately south Of jackson; from this point TO
Canton. % miles, although much out of repair
having been repeatedly torn up and seriously in
jured. was still used.
The amount of rolling stock turned over at the
termination OF the war was a. follows: locomo.
tives, two OF them damaged and partly burned,
gaHOrf QaC I Ara Il.
ger car. baggage car provision car box cars
stock cars, IL fat cars.
The amount Of rolling stock turned over BY
the military authorities Of New Orleans, consisted
OF locomotive. passenger car box cars. 10
hat cars, baggage car, 2 cattle cars.
"Of all the depot buildings and platforms at.
tached, wood sheds, water. stations and division
houses, which were in complete repair in 1862,
there remained only the buildings at Osyka Mag.
nolia and Summit, the remainder having all. from
time 10 time, been destroyed by the armed forces
in their vicinity. Compare this with the stock on
hand IN 1861 and IT will be seen how much the
company has suffered by the war 45iocomotiyes.
Of which had never been attached to a train az
passenger csrs, IL having never been used. 10
cars.
Under these disastrous circumstances. with
not dollar IN the treasury, the directors pro-
eeeded, with commendsble energy, to put the
road into complete repair, and on the 3Oth OF Oc-
tober, being four months after they had received
u, tnelr ualns commenced making regular daily
trips over the whole road
q To rebuild and repair seventy-eight Bridges |
From June. 1865, to 2sth February. 1869. we
put 10 the road bed over 800 900 crossties costing
between sl55 900 and sleO. 600.
To March lst. 1866, rs bridges and l6 drains were
built and repaired. See llth annual report, D. IL
and Is.
During The year ending LIST OF March, 1867, 100 |
bridges and bridge crossings were rebuilt and Is
bridges repaired. See 18th annual report. o. %.
During the year ending lst of March, 1855. 26 |
bridges were rebuilt and 20 repaired. See 18Th an.
nusl report. p. &c.