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REPORT Chief Engineer of Western and Atlantic Rail Road for 1848. CHIEF ENGINEER'S OFFICE, W. A. R.R. Atlanta, September 30th, 1848. To His Excellency, Grorce W. Towns— Sir: This day terminates the fiscal year of the Western and Atlantic Rail Jroad of the State of Georgia, and brings with it, the duty of submitting the Annual Report of the Chief Engineer. Among the first items of consideration, after entering upon my official duties, on the first day of January, were two acts of the General Assembly, the one entitled, “An act for the completion of the Western Atlantic Rail Road, and for pro viding funds for the same,” approved December 23d, 1847 ; and the other entitled, “* An act to authorise the Governor to appoint additional Engineers upon the Western Atlantic Rail Road, and for letting out the building and completion of said Road,” approved December 30th, 1847. By virtue of these Acts, and after very extensive notice, through the news papers and in hand-bills, and with all the necessary detailed information furnished for the use of bidders by the indefatiga ble exertions of Mr. Benj. C. Morse, Principal Assistant En gineer, and who has the immediate charge of the new exten sion of the Road, a contract was closed on the 22d day of March, 1848, with Allen Cochran, John D. Gray, Co., and Asa Bates, Co., for all the graduation, bridging, superstruc ture, tunneling, brick-work, trestle-work, depots, water-sta tions, turn-outs, turn-table, engine-house, and such other work as might be required on the whole or any part of the Road, between Dalton and Chattanooga, to be completed and ready for use by the first day of October, 1849. Under said con tract, preparations were at once made by John D. Gray, Co., for their part of the work, which they have been unremittingly engaged in doing, and have made commendable progress therein, as was to be expected from their great experience and efficiency in such enterprises. Asa Bates, Co., who were to construct the bridges, were unable from prior engage ments to enter upon their labors so early ; but they have been some time upon the work, and they speak with the utmost confidence of their ability to have all the bridges ready for use according to contract. The contract was made payable in the bonds of the State of Georgia, issued under the first of the two acts before referred to, and within the terms of limita tion, prescribed in the last of said acts. My account current for new extension, will exhibit the dis bursements on account thereof, and is hereto annexed as ex hibit A. I have put under contract upon satisfactory terms, the em bankment of the ravines at Noon-day, and Proctor’s creeks in lieu of rebuilding the bridges there; and I propose to press this policy in reference to all our present bridges as far as practicable, with all the urgency the funds of the Road will warrant, having due regard to economy as to the time of sub stituting banks for bridges. In this way the bridging which now measures 7,361 feet, may be gradually reduced to 2,500 feet, and perhaps to less. ‘The expenses of embanking Noon day and Proctor, are to be paid out of the profits of the Road. Early in the year, I sent an order to the Car Factory of the Georgia Rail Road and Banking Company in Augusta, which has been filled only in part, but it is expected to be completed before the close of the year, and we shall then have sufficient equipment, not only for the passengers and baggage, but also for much, if not all, of our way-business. These cars are to be paid for in bonds. I have purchased also with bonds, two new engines , and I hope to be able to procure two more du ring the first half of next year; and about the opening of the Road to Chattanooga two more, so as to begin our business twelve months hence with ten, if not with twelve engines. I am pleased to report, that our motive power is in better con dition than at any time heretofore , and that from the vigilance and strict attention of the supervisors, the track is likewise in better order than at the beginning of the year, and much better supplied with all the necessary materials for repairs. During the year, the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail Road Company has been fully organised, its stock freely taken up, and a portion of the Road located, and put under contract. It is to connect with the Western Atlantic Rail Road at Chat tanooga, and is destined to make our great State work a most valuable property. The Memphis Branch Rail Road from Kingston to Rome, is nearly completed, and it will be opened for business by the ensuing December, by which time, a new steam boat is to be put upon the river , so that we may expect henceforth to re alize an increasing business from the valley of the Coosa, and ten or eleven counties, and parts of counties in Alabama. The Etowah mills and others erected, or in process of erec tion, for the manufacture of flour, are stimulating the produc tion of wheat to an unprecedented extent; and our Georgia brands are already esteemed among the best in the market. Wheat and flour are to be important articles of transportation on this Road. The watering places along our line of Road, and convenient to the same, are becoming very popular, and they may be ex pected to attract large crowds every summer, and thus con tribute to swell the income of the Road. Indeed not only these mineral and medicinal waters, but also the saltpetre cave near Kingston, the tunnel beyond Dalton, the rich and varied scenery along our whole line, the mountainous ridges, the long fertile valleys, and beautiful streams, together with the bold features around Chattanooga, are all objects to interest and at tract summer visitants. I have been at considerable pains to ascertain the debt of the Road, on the first day of last January, and exhibit C. here to attached, shows the result of my investigations, and that the debt on that day, other than its bonded debt which appears in exhibit D., amounted to the sum of $42,167 43 with a cash balance in the treasury of $1,878 75, and the same exhibit C. shows the debt now chargeable to the Road, to amount to $30,455 25, with a cash balance in the treasury of $20,058 35. Table 2 attached to the Report of the acting superintendent of transportation, shows the current expenses of the year as near ly as the same can be ascertained ; and it may be well here to remark, that the expenditures or money actually paid out by the treasurer, do not fairly exhibit the whole of the current ex penses of the year, because to these expenditures, must be ad ded all the outstanding debts of the year. What amount of debt of this character was outstanding on the 30th day of Sep tember, 1847, does not appear, but certainly a considerable portion of the said sum of $42,167 43. Exhibit D. shows the amount of the bonied debt, by whom held and when payable. These bonds were issued under the act of December, 1845, and the information ,respecting them, was furnished principally by Col. Gadsden, President of the South Carolina Rail Road Company. A portion of these bonds say $75,00000, was en dorsed by the South Carolina Rail Road Company, and the Georgia Rail Road Banking Company, and the interest made payable semi-annually; and though the State was no party to this arrangement, yet as she received the benefit of it, she is morally bound to fulfil it, and so the interest has been s preciptly paid every six months, and the endorsers re lieved, and in a similar spirit, the interest on the $25,000 held by the Bank of the State of South Carolina, has been paid as she lead the way in advancing for our Road. Exhibit B. is a condensed statement of my quarterly reports, from January 1, 1848, to September 30, 1848. Exhibit E. shows the receipts and disbursements of the Road, from the first day of January 1846, and manifests a gradual and steady increase in its business.
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Milledgeville Federal Union
Milledgeville, Georgia, US
Tue, Dec 05, 1848
Page 2
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Brad W.
USA 03 Jul 2026
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