The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-27
sUPERINTENpENT's REPORT.
le very excellent and indefatig

i
perintendent, in his report, refers to the
gratifying increase in the receipts and the
decrease in expenses; and says: f5}4
This result shows an increase OF S2,952.76
in gross receipts, and decrease in operating
expenses Of $l2, l2,32S.97-showing net in-
crease of SIS, 2S1.73 over last fiscal year, and
should be gratifying, as for several days in
November our passenger travel was inter-
rupted, and for four weeks in November
and December our freight traffic was en-
tirely suspended south of Weldon, owing
to unprecedented freshets. which carried
away the bridges over the Roanoke river at
Weldon. ..-,,,' ...- ..se> - .,.'.'I
A number OF items were charged in ope-
rating expenses that might have properly
been claSsed as extraordinary expenses, as
they are permanent betterments to the road
way and property. @&1'..
OTHER FEATURES OF THE sUPERINTENDENT's
REPORT. .,. ,,.t.. ..r.
Built at company's shops during the year,
at the request OF the United States Govern
mcnt, one United States postal-car, at cost
OF $2,052.53; repaired and repalnted two
passeng ger.coaches and one baggage-car; ;
condemned and withdrawn as unfit for SER
vice, one passenger-car, one baggage-car,
two box (Hreight) cars, and forty-four coali
cars. During the year Westinghouse auto-
matte fixtures were placed under all through
passenger-train cars. j.. Purchased during
the year two hundred tons 57-pound fish
joint steei rail. One hundred and forty
two tons were laid down between the three
and tiye.mileposts, forty-eight tons between
the switches at Drewry's Bluff! and: Half-
way, and ten tons in the yard at, Petersburg
and on the Appomattox trestle. i; = !
IN Nov 1879 tha. ,anIyert at PrOol roclr
run, together with the embankment, was
carried away by an unprecedented rainfall.
The culvert was rebuilt in August and Sep
tember. ...t.. .I,-.5tgt w..
Put into the track during the year, 6,524
new ties.
The wooden bridge at Kingsland creek
was removed, and replaced by conlposl-
ton iron bridge, at cost OF $295.S4.
Length OF span, 36 feet. .,1
The cost Of repairs to James-RiTer bridge
this fiscal year amounted to S2,14 Or this
amount S2,011.45 was for the repairs and
completion of tin roof commenced in last tis-
cal year.
The brid ges over Falling and Swift creeks,
and the trestle over AppomattoX, river, have
received the usual repairs during the year,
and are considered safe and in good condi-
ton. ;E+
For the accommodation OF the through
passengers it was found necessary to tit up
q dining-room adjoining the company's
offices at Richmond. 1t was done at cost
OF S3s7.20. - ..s:s ..:,@t :,
On the 18th October, 1877, thefreight and
accommodation train leaving Richmond at
5 O'Clock P. NJ, consisting Of one coach,
one baggage, twenty-one box and fiat-cars,
and nine coal.cars, 1 parted" at the summit
OF the grade half mile east Of Falling Creek
bridge. Neither the conductor nor engi-
neer discovered that the train ilad'separated
(it being night. and the rear detached por-
ton came in contact with the front part Of
the train attached to the engine on Falling
Creek bridge. Theroncussion was 80 great
that 1t threw the nine coal-cars over the side
of the bridge. dismoanted three fat-cars at
the south end OF the bridge, tore up the roof,
broke several floor beams, bent the rail, and
untracked four ho1-cars, heavily laden with,
bulk grain, Immediately, on the bridge.
1t Is considered that this accident was
severe test OF the strength and safety of the
bridge. The wreck was removed during
the night, and but one train was delayed.
No other accident worthy OF note has oc-
cnrred. and am gratified to state that our
trains have. run with great regularity, and
that no passenger has been injured in the
slightest degree. 81 sa.t.sEs} El5 iii1.
in conclusion, / take great pleasure In
stating that ! am much Indebted to Mr.