The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-29

manner in which he had presided.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG RAILROAD
/ RICHM0ND, Va, Noycmbcr27, 1852.
! To tie Stockholders Of the Richmond and
/ PctcrsjWg Rdirodd Company:
/ On behalf Of the Board OF Directors,
submit the following statement OF the busl
ness Of the company for the fiscal year end
ing 30th september, 1882
Expense. ll7ss1 81
Interest on debt....................... 1884 81
7 Nft ItNfNb''ss -DJspt =
Thc y ual scml-annual div idcut Of 3 pcr
cent. was paid on the 1T OF January last
5000 Of the old per cent. bonds ma
| turingon he t OF April hast we're paid OF.
/ NO dividend was paid on the 1t Of Jul lasi
because the Boar dl not think it good
policy TO continue df.idend-, for reasons
which will c1pair. When elected to the
| Office LOW hold ny attic ton was called
/ to the condition OF the James River bridge.
| To guard against accident by fire the Board
wisely determined in April, 1877, to
/ fOregO the payment 0f dividend
on the 1st or July succeeding, and
appropriated the profits earned, in great
/ part. to the roofing of this bridge, which
was accordingly covered with the best tin
and sheet-irOn, leaving only the ties eX-
posed. The bridge was Of the usual deck
/ truss construction. 1G feet wide, with
sides Is feet deep, sheetcd with Onc-lnch
plank, the bottom being left OpenfOr venti-
lation and ready inspection and repair.
/ The cost OF these repairs was SI,9lf.SJ. ana
! il was supposed that. covered and shceted
a. the bridge was, provided also with water
and hose, and constantly watched, iii
DANGER nom trc had been Cbyiated - iar
~ possible.
Notwithstanding all the precautions
taken L. guard against such a calamity II
was discovered 10 be on fire near IL south
crn end or the 10Th Of March last. The
orlein Of tlr fire i unknown. but l. pre-
,lmed 10 have been incendiaW. H. pro-
rre,> wa, a rapid a. it, origin l. my-tc-
riou,. and within twenty minutes from the
time the ire was first seen bursting through
the sides the whole structure was Ge-
,tr0ved.
Immediately after the ire. | applied to
ali the bs>t-knoWn iron hridec-bullders III
the country for estimates Tor neG IRON
bridge. but there was so much dclnsnd lot
that Kind Of work that Acould not get any
bid, for a bridge 10 hc erected Wlchin -lN
months. and only at Is cost greatly III eN-
cess IL prices current year bIoTe. IL
was, therefore determined 10 put ap tcli-
norary wooden trostlp. and the work was
put in charge vi Mr.. j.. Il. hcnlF, VINO nad
INST becn elected Superintendent trice Mr.
= r. y. Kline. rcsigned). Mr. AenlF came
70 the company vita the reputation OF an
- + -.tu
/ ana hi. election beng unexpected. he Wa>
. II . GREAT disadvantage: he had to eathel
! , force OF Lridgc-bulders from othei
roads. many from di>tasGc. The cnor'
, mon, quantity az heavy timber needed was
not immediately available. and, unlortu'
: uotelv. James river was very hlSh durlh-
. ,he nr1crc,s oi the work. 50 that many ol
. the men worked TO their necks in the Watcf
? Rut. notwith Standing all the difficulties "
| tbe way. trains passed over the new trcst'
. within two months OF the burning OF ;n'
: bridge
h TLe work j. nearly three fourth> oi
: mile in length. and sixty feet high, com
% no.cd OF 100 bento OF two-story tIeatic
! work. placed about fourteen feet apart II
=, tbc ,lrar. The post, OF the bentN con,is
nf two vertical and two inclined pine poles
3, oycr,o;ng twelve inches in diameter; IN
=, ann. .tll.. runners, lateral and longitudlhA
braces are Of sawed pine lumber; the bfac
inc ot each point OF contact with posts
ra1. Silk. &c, is firmly bolted with = ant
:, Inch bolts. Ucart-pine Strin2clS com
>, noscd Of two pieces 73Xlj inches, bolte'
" torcfher. are under each rail: the Whlt
i oak croS,.hc> have heavy guard timber
securely holtcd TO them.
. The cost Of this tre-tle, together VII
- the OUTLAY for depot and tracks al Man
49, cLcstcl t5 accommodate the trainc Whli
Tho oaD was open, and The cost OF iayihS
roil ON the Tredcgar bridge, have not pee
=, Included i'm operating expenses, Dut nav
-. hcen kent A. a special account, the amour
;, ~ which. after crediting ali the OLD mat
~ ~ vial sold. Is S5G,155. The bridge was II
= sured for $4,000, which was pald Dy u
- vorious insurance companies, ana creuite
-, % mis- account, leaving balance against
:" - ~ 81. t55. Estimating the value OF u
u " Eridge that was burned at $4,000 MOI
- tban the value OF the tresiIe no" IN us
-, and also estimating the increased eNl'eiIs'
l.. c1used by the break and loss OF reIen,
from decreased traffic. the direct io>s Hoo - u
,r Company from the fire Is about eoV'c'o'
a Its estimated strength l. equ'' =" :,
-, times the maximum load tha' eau oc y
on IT, Each bent TcSls vi '"o ~ -;
an Of the river. so that there can De no SIN III
"i ing. This trcste bridge Is, therefor; pc
70 iectly strong and safe Tor present nto Dus,ate
81 but il is only temporary In Us ehs,ac", 'a,
,cr the pine poles will rot, ana Tue Des' nia'
" rial in ii would not last long, eAlos'u a. az
il 10 the weather. 1t has thereloie JS'
determined 10 erect ~ soon Us cohs ~. y,
;u w. orr'anent iron bridge OF the yery, Dc
M cornstriIction. capable Of carrying the iars
~ ~ ,y'inrreased IVin, weight Of equipment m nc
~. Il ~ : mse @ some Of the spans will be illiea
ies nd ~ In ,h;s mart Of the work has been begu
~ F.timates E have been received from seNel
80 hniidcrs Of IRON bridges for the iron woi
IN IN and it is proposed to build part oi
- ~ hridee next year and the remainder
ir. following year. Suits have been institu, t,,,
,nt against this company for con'equen,
Iossrs faused by fire Is adj dining proWl'