| Annual Report of the Atlantic & Gulf RR |
| as of February 1, 1862, |
| Engineer's Report |
| |
| Atlantic & Gulf Rail Road. |
| January 25th, 1862 |
| |
| Hiram Roberts, Esq. |
| Acting President |
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| Sir, |
| At the date of the last
Annual Report from this Department, the track was within eight and a
half miles of Thomasville, and the expectation was confidently
entertained that it would be completed to that place by the middle of
February of last year -- but, in consequence of unforeseen
difficulties, the most prominent of which was disappointment in
obtaining material, the Road was not opened to Thomasville for
business until the 16th of April, when the first passenger train
arrived there. |
|
At the commencement of the past year's operations, the
force on the Road had been reduced, in consequence of the political embarrassments
of the times, from twelve hundred to one hundred and seventy-five
hands; the heaviest grading between Thomasville and Bainbridge had,
for the same reason, been abandoned, and the prospects for continuing
the work were anything but encouraging to the friends of the
enterprise.
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But the Directors, with characteristic energy, soon after
re-let the whole of the grading between Thomasville and Bainbridge,
and the bridging and cross-ties to the first Station, fourteen miles
west of Thomasville.
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The result of the year's operations, though not to be
compared with that of the two preceding years, will, under all the
circumstances, doubtless prove satisfactory to the friends of the
Roads.
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At the commencement of the year, only about eight and a
half miles of the Road west of Thomasville were graded. Twenty-one and
a half miles may be considered complete, if we include Section 47,
which will be finished by the 1st of March, leaving fifteen miles yet
to be graded.
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The completed Sections are Nos. 44, 45, 46,47, 48 east,
51, 52 east (embracing all of the Section except 1900 feet at west
end), 54 and 55 east. The sections yet to be graded are Nos. 48 West,
49 East and 49 West, 50 East and 50 West, 52 West, (1900 feet), 53,
and 55 West.
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All of the grading remaining incomplete, is included in
Mr. Orr's contract, except 49 West and 50 West. Messrs. King &
Austin have contracted to grade the former, and Mr. J. R. Maddox the
latter.
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The grading from Thomasville West to the first Station,
fourteen miles, is completed continuously, with the exception already
alluded to, on Section 47, which will be finished by the 1st of March.
The bridging is completed to the same point, and the cross-ties
delivered the greater part of the distance, so that the superstructure
may be extended to the next Station, whenever it is deemed by the
Directors advisable. In this connection, I would call your attention
to the recommendation of Mr. Holcomb, in reference to this extension,
in his last report.
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In consequence of the blockade, there is no present
necessity for it, but when our ports are opened, it will be a matter
of considerable importance, both to the company and the planters west
of the Ocklocknee river.
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The grading remaining to be done to reach Bainbridge,
amounts to 556,500 cubic yards, to complete which during the present
year, would require a force of 350 hands. The present force is not
more than 200 hands.
|
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The grading done during the past year amounts to 457,500
cubic yards, and the force employed on graduation, bridging and in
getting cross-ties, averaged about 400 hands.
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The following exhibits the amount estimated to
contractors during the past year:
|
| January |
$7,391.00 |
| February |
12,241.68 |
| March |
19,452.16 |
| April |
7,847.18 |
| May |
11,180.10 |
| June |
9,246.32 |
| July |
14,180.37 |
| August |
13,110.17 |
| September |
28,862.48 |
| October |
19,806.12 |
| November |
11,466.69 |
| December |
10,063.16 |
|
Total |
$164,847.43 |
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In the above is included some per centage retained on
work done in 1860.
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I submit hereby a statement showing the cost of
graduation, bridging, cross-ties, ware-houses, water-stations,
road-crossings, frogs, switches, and track laying, on each section of
the road from the initial point to Thomasville.
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The Florida Branch, being an enterprise in which
your Company must feel a considerable interest, although being built
by the Savannah, Albany & Gulf Company, it may not be out of place
to mention here, that about fifteen miles of it is graded, eleven
miles of it being continuous from the junction. The force employed is
about 100 hands. This force will probably be sufficient to complete
the grading to the Florida line in July or August of the present year.
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Respectfully submitted
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J. T. Stone
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Chief Engineer
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