Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-28
w. e.. v. VI. a. G.. =. e.. K.
TUE PRESIDENTS REPORT, &C., &c.


IL the Gazette.
The following is he report Of Mr. Barbour,
the Presidents
TO tie Stockholders Of the Washington City,
Virginia IMdluna aRd Great Southern R",t.
roud Company
The following report Of the condition of the
Company, state of its finances aud progress OF
its works and other pertinent matter III expia-
nation Of its affairs, is respectfully submitted
for the year cuding 3Oth September, 1873.
The receipts Of the Company from the var.,
Gus sources of transportation for the past fiscal
year amount to the aggregate sum OF S9o3.
43o - gross revenue, OF which S4G9. Us
has been derived from freight, $4O6. 933 "a
from passengers, $23 :22221 ", from express
matter, S42, POO 81 FROM mails, and 81 ,o53-
IA FROM telegraph aud other sources. The
working expenses of the road TOR same period
amount to S5g722l 20. giving as a balance oil
net revenue the SUN OF S336,22l 70. The re-
suit shows somc falling off IN the revenue AS
compared with the year preceding, but Is III
excess Of any other previous year. Inc decilne
in the amount Of receipts against these OF
the previous Year is Attributable TO the break OF
railroad connection with the Baltimore ana
Ohio railroad line at Washington, which oc-
cured early in November last, aud TO the IN
terluptou to travelling facilities arising iroul
the disturbed relations Of the railroad line
south OF Chattanooga aud Dalton, and conSc
uucnt loss OF through passenger tlathc. Ar
Engagements have been perfected to provide III
a short time suitable communication with
Washington aud Baltimore, aud that embar-
rassmeut viii soon be removed, ana We have
good reason to TX. ,ect an early improvement OF
our Southern and Southwestern connections.
| The Company has incurred loss on Its through
tonnage from the longer line anu divergence OF
| transportation, via Strashucg to Baltimore, 10
| its receipts of nearly Sl2,OOu,OU, and an estl-
mated deduction Of about $4,000 OF gross rev.
| cnue by the lease of TIE line Of the Manassas
| branch between Strasuurg and Hlrri$ouburg.
1t appears also that the receipts from trauspor-
tation of cattle, always large item of freight,
show difference against the traffic III the
mouth Of September last as compared with
same mouth Of the Year preceding OF upwards
of $1,000, partly attributable to the pcudlng
financial pressure, aud to the further fact that
the season was more favorable than the last, TO
the producer to held his stock to later period
without loss. The opeuing oil the Chesapeake
! and Ohio railroad through TO the ONO river
ia Apri! last had the effect TO divert a
considerable amount OF tonnage passing be-
tween Richmond and the West, which hereto
|
burg via the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Some loss OF passenger traffic to the Virginia
Springs from the y est the past summer Is due
to the same cause, as heretofore the only ap.
proach to these by rail was via your line until
| the construction Of the Western ED OF the Z.
& O. r. Il. was compiettd. SO far the CON-
pletion of this pew Western line has not at
| fordcd equivalent compensation III the way OF
through passenger traffic and is not likely to
do so until it connections by rail- South of the
Ohio river with the Kentucky roads now III
progress of construction shall be completed.
As soon as this result has been accomplished
and the extension from Iynchhurg to D4uvlllc
opened for transportation, large business
must be secured to the Company both from
Gordousviilc to Washington, and the North
ern cities, aud from Charlottesville to DlDvllie,
the latter being the most direct route OF trans
portation from the Vest to The CaroDas. 1t
| is gratifying to ascertain from the returns OF
the proper department that the local business
of the road has increased during the past year,
and promises to deveope IN much larger pro-
portion especially if the prospective arrange
ments for working the iron ores along Its hue
are perfected and put in operation. From the
certified official statements OF the General Lick
ct aud Freight Agents, herewith presented, it
oSN''
transported by the trains over the road during
| the year, of whom 20, S35, were through pas
seugcrs, and III. SOY, We're local do: l3l. $50
tons of freight have been transported for same
perod Of which 40 $40 tons were through
freight, and llG, 4l6 local do.
The operations of the road and details Of
transportation are exhibited n FULL by the
clear and comprehensive special report Of his
department, made by the Superintendent of
Transportation herewith submitted. The road
aud equipment have been maintained 10 good
order The track has been renewed BY the ad-
dition of S5S tons new iron rails laid down dur
ing the year, ana 1874 cross-tlcs put in. Be
sides the regular repairs tor maintenance or
equipment, twenty-five new freight cars two
first class passenger cars, and Que donblc-Geck-
ed baggage car have been built IN the shops OF
the Company during the year As evidence OF
the economical mans cement of this branch of
the service it will be seen from the exhibit that
with an increase Of fifty thousand (50,000)
miles run during the year, there has been a
saving of fuel used by the engines of $4,000,
as compared with the similar expenditure OF
the year before This increase in the number
of miles run will be obviated by the conStruc-
of the line now nearly completed from point
opposite Alexandria to a Junction with the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Bladonsburg,
and prevent the present detour of freight trans-
portatiou via Slrasburg, to aud from Baltl-
more.
The report Of the Chief Engineer will show
the progress and condition OF the extension OF
the road from Lynchburg to Dauville, now un-
der construction. The completion Of this
work has been delayed longer than had been
expected on account OF financial aud other DIFF
fculties which have occurred during the past
year. These retarding Influences have been
practically removed, and as the graduation,
masonry, &c, have been executed aud track
laying resumed and in progress, the early COM
pletion Of the work can be confidently ansici-
passed. Tie Chief Engineer estimates that the
iine can be finished allowing for the season, and
adopting the most economical plan in laying
the track, through to Daave, Ia time tor the
spring trade.
! FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT.
The returns of the state of the Company and