The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-13
TIRE DANvsLLE ROAD

I ss TIRE DANvsLLE Road.
Tt1s5 - ttst :,1s----L-.ll =. - ~ 'l'' "
ANNUAL MEETING OF: THE sToCKHoLD.
/ ERs-REPoRTs OF, oFFIcERs-ELECTIoN
OF OFFICERS &C.. &o.iif ~ .f.e5it Il :
| \ efs,.t ,.---H5NE I'll q
. The annual meeting or the stockholders
OF the Richmond and Dahville Railroad
Company was held at the Office OF the COM
puny, corner of Bank and Tenth streets,
yesterday morning at - O'Clock! =
Upon motion of Gofonrl~A. S. Buford,
Judge F.. n. Watkins; of Prince Edward
county, was called to the chair, and it having
been ascertained that quorum of the stock
holders were present, Colonel Buford, presi-
dent OF the company, submitted the annual
report Of the president and directors. 1t
was, together with the report Of the Ex-
amining Committee, submitted by Mr.
Thomas D. Neal, referred to committee
OF seven, consisting OF General T. M. Lo-
gan and Messrs. W. r. Clarke, j. 2. Branch,
+. T. Wooten, }. w. Cunningham, II. e.
G. BaskervilL and r. v. Watkins. j
| THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The following is. brief abstract OF the
presidents report:
The total freight earnings, as compared
with last year, were increased on all lines
Sit, 5,937.22; the total passenger earnings
were decreased S55,399.93; and total earn
ings from mails, express, and miscellaneous
were decreased S17,56661. ,...
A material increase Of through tonnage,
though at average rates less than those of
the previous year, has yielded an increase
Of gross revenues from freight traffic on all
| the lines for the year, rs stated, OF S15,-
937.22; and this, notwithstanding the large
diminution Of tonnage from several classes
| OF local traffic. - ....-,
u The on-production in 1876 OF the usual
1 crop Of tobacco, the chief agricultural sta
pie produced along large portion OF the
Flinc, has reduced materially the revenues
\ from local traffic; the reduction in tobacco
freights alone being eleven millions Of
pounds, and in gross earnings S36.013.94.
Other local traffic has been thus incidentally
affected, and local travel reduced to an
amount lower than known at any time since
the construction ofothe read. The earnings
from through travel have increased for the
! year S12,S16.74s while those from coal
travel on all the lines have decreased
$6s.21G.67. Nothing could exhibit more
| strongly the severe economy which the
people Of our section have been com
PEELED to adopt for the time being in every
department Of expenditure. The very full
production Of all crops in the same section
during the present year, and especially to-
bacco, promise material improvement and
relief from this state :of things. both to the
people and the railways concerned.
ROADWAY AND GENERAL PROPERTY.
These interests have received during the
year large share OF the snecial attention OF
the company's officers. Much Of the road
way has been substantially and permanently
improved to such extent SIS will doubtless
effect material economy in some Of the
'heavy items OF current annual expense.
During the year 2,2l0 tons OF new steel
rails and 2,043 tons Of new iron rails have
been put on the Richmond and Danville
and Piedmont railroad, with an improved
fastening, and considerable amount OF
stone and other ballast put in the roadbed
at such points as most required it..
The president and directors are OF opinion
that with the present large and increasing
tonnage and train service required to be
done great economy in the aggregate ope.
rations of even few years will be effected
by the use OF steel instead Of iron rails. at
their present comparative values; and they
propose to provide such supplies of rails as
are required for the Richmond and Danville
road for the next year Of steel only. All
bridge-crossings are now well laid with
steel rails, and several Of the principal bridge
structures have been materially strength
ened and improved by the addition during
the year Of new iron rods. .,..,I. ...e., -,.,.,.
The equipment has been We'll maintained,
and Is generally in good order. The sup
ply is adequate, though not more than ade-
quate, to the demands Of the present busi-
ness. ....'.'..s -. - ..'.'-' ''''..''
On the North Carolina road 1000 tons of
new iron rails, with improved fastenings,
have been put in the track, and 200 tons adj
ditional purchased to be put in duringo the
present month. The principal bridges on
this road are in good condition. Two or
three OF small proportions on the western
end Of this road need repairs. Arrange
ments are being made to replace them with
stronger structures during the ensuing
year, The .roadbed of this, and also that
and the structures of the Northwestern
North Carolina road, are in good condition
and well kept up. .s...-. II =
! ,..,E- IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED. -;..s..s
On the Richmond and Danville road the
passenger and freight stations need repairs
and enlargement at several points. The
management hoped to be able to effect some
OF these needed improvements duriAg the
pdSt sttluulcl Uut tuS mCdsol ValStCuNSS VI
a poor summers business and the para
mount necessity to make heavy 'expendi-
lures in repairs Of track have rendered it
necessary to defer their execution until
now. At Danville the necessary land to
build:!a new passenger station has been
bought at the price Of 1000, and. paid for,
and preliminary arrangements made for
commencing the improvement: ~ i...,t,5 = >
AT other points also these improvements
viii be carried on as fast as means will pru~
IDENTIFY allow. What Is absolutely necessary
must be done first. What: is convenient and
useful should be done when nothing Import
antis sacrificed or hazarded thereby. n
The accident and loss at Difficult creek on
the 31st of March were appropriately re-
ferred to. " ~ S,,:f I'M.
This report would, under ordinary cir
cumstances, be limited to the transactions
Of the company for the period ending with
the fiscal year the -S9,h September, 1877.
But the occurrence on the oath and 25th
November last Of a most uneXampled and
destructive freshet in all the principal
streams Of the State requires at least brief
statement Of the results to the company, SO
far as they can now be ascertained. The
injuries to the company's property, though
very considerable, are not as great rs was
seriously Yapprehended during the maximum
prevalence Of the flood. .s'.f :. ~
IA statement of the loss Of the Belle-Isle
trestle, the destruction OF Staunton-River
bridge, and some MINOR. damages by the
freshet, heretofore fully reported in this
paper, is given
4 am egratified all trains arernow in regu.'