| Annual Report of the Piedmont RR |
| as of January 1, 1864, |
| Chief Engineer's Report |
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| Chief Engineer's Report |
| Office Piedmont Railroad Company |
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| To the President and Directors of the
Piedmont Railroad Company |
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Gentlemen,
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| I respectfully submit to you
the Second Annual Report of the Engineer Department of your
Railroad. |
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The work has now been opened to the public from Danville
to Reidsville (the half way station), a point which was reached in
December last.
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Although very high and perhaps extravagant offers were
made for labor during the year, it proved to be impossible to collect
a number of hands sufficient to accomplish more than has been done.
The aid of the Government, in this respect, was confined to the small
portion of the route which lies within the State of Virginia.
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For the first time since the inception of the undertaking
the company has, during the past few weeks, been successful in
supplying itself with a proportionate force. There are now upon the
work, under my immediate control, about three hundred negroes and
thirty-five whites, and hands are still arriving.
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The contractors report their force to be two hundred and
fourteen negroes and fifty whites. With a moderate season and
reasonable healthiness among the negroes, we may calculate upon the
completion of the graduation between Reidsville and Greensboro' during
the ensuing Spring; and (upon the hypothesis of a timely supply of
rail) the track simultaneously with the graduation.
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The officer charged with the duty by the Government, has
been informed that the iron can be laid, in all probability, as
rapidly as he can supply it; and he has promised to exert every energy
to meet our wants.
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We have at present no iron unlaid on the northern portion the unfinished road; and, although there is some
accumulation at Greensboro', it does not amount to more than will
supply the track-laying party now at work a few days of fine weather.
The contractors have been somewhat delayed for the want of an engine,
as well as by the holidays; but they now pledge themselves to push
forward with all energy, and the company will lay track from
Reidsville, southward, upon the arrival of iron for the purpose.
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As the more concise method of laying before you the state
of the work and its progress, I submit the following table showing the
amount of graduation remaining to be performed on the 1st of January,
1864:
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| Section |
Length |
Aggregate length beyond Reidsville |
Excavation in road bed |
Aggregate of Excavation |
Remarks |
| Miles |
Miles |
Cubic Yards |
Cubic Yards |
| 17 |
1.71 |
|
3,724 |
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Begins at Reidsville |
| 18 |
1.38 |
3.09 |
23,108 |
26,922 |
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| 19 |
1.57 |
4.66 |
27,232 |
43,154 |
Crossing of Little Troublesome |
| 20 |
1.38 |
6.94 |
8,284 |
62,438 |
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| 21 |
1.40 |
7.44 |
6,301 |
68,739 |
"
Big Troublesome & Haw river |
| 22 |
2.00 |
9.44 |
21,706 |
90,445 |
Passing Benaja Depot |
| 23 |
1.76 |
11.20 |
32,478 |
122,923 |
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| 24 |
1.52 |
12.72 |
13,580 |
136,503 |
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| 25 |
1.36 |
14,08 |
7,736 |
144,239 |
Crosses Reedy Fork |
| 26 |
1.19 |
15.27 |
5,778 |
150,017 |
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| 27 |
2.08 |
17.35 |
2,749 |
152,766 |
Passing Sepinaw Depot |
| 28 |
1.45 |
18.80 |
none |
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| 29 |
1.14 |
19.94 |
4,652 |
157,418 |
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| 30 |
1.42 |
21.36 |
4,001 |
161,419 |
Crosses Little Buffalo Cr. |
| 31 |
1.34 |
22.70 |
none |
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Crosses Big Buffalo Cr. |
| 32 |
1.35 |
24,05 |
none |
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Terminates at Greensboro |
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The above table gives the amount of excavation to be
performed, provided we are enabled to preserve the distribution of
material, as at present calculated.
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Want of sufficient team and bad weather may somewhat
modify this, as we may find it better to "waste" and
"borrow" than to haul earth from cuttings to embankments.
Under the most unfavorable circumstances, however, the amount thus
added cannot exceed 20,000 cubic yards. There will also be some side
ditching, amounting to perhaps 15,000 cubic yards.
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The iron has been laid down upon the 31st and 32nd
sections, but the track is not completely finished. The temporary
tracks near Danville, after serving a useful purpose in conveying
material, have been done away with by the completion of the permanent
track through the rock cuts there encountered. The grade upon the
temporary track at the State line has been worked successfully by the
same engines and with the same load as on other parts of the line. But
it must not be supposed that it will be advisable to retain this track
longer than the exigency demands, as it will undoubtedly, to a more or
less extent, prove inconvenient under the heavy traffic which will
come upon the road when opened. A surplus of labor will remain upon
the company's hands when the graduation shall have been finished, and
this labor I shall advise to be placed partly on the permanent track
near the State line, and partly to improving the road bed, widening
banks and ditches, and substituting generally all temporary structures
by permanent ones.
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Substantial warehouses have been built at Pelham and
Ruffin, and that at Reidsville is now building and is near completion.
I have been very much embarrassed and delayed by the difficulty of
obtaining lumber; but it is not to the purpose to enlarge upon the
many extraordinary obstacles with which the condition of the country
has surrounded this enterprise.
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The large freight house and passenger shed, proposed to
be built at Danville, cannot be undertaken until the hospitals
occupying their site have been given up by the Government.
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Temporary arrangements have been made to facilitate the
transfer of freight, and for the reception of the passengers.
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At Greensboro' we are still endeavoring to form a
suitable connection with the North Carolina Railroad, and some plan,
not objectionable to that interest will, I think it probable, be
fallen upon in a short time.
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For expenditures, &c., I respectfully refer you to
the Treasurer's report, and I submit herewith an inventory of property
on hand in my department.
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Yours, respectfully,
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Edmund T. D. Myers
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Captain Engineers and Chief Engineer P. R. R.
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