The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-05-09
For the Athens Post.
THE RAILROAD.

To the Ediior:-I concluded my remarks
in the last weeks Post with q slight nllu-
sion to the subject of the work shops of the
East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad Com
Pany. In the same paper, note from Mr.
Reyes appeared converting the Board upon
call of three Of the Directors 10 review the
action Of the Board at their last regular
meeting on that subject. l alluded in my
last to the very favorable contract for the
erection Of these buildings which the Com
mit'ee appointed by the Board for that pur'
pose, had made. This contract has been
made with energetic mechanics who will
doubtless push the work through with com"
mendable rapidity. The land which has
been donated 10 tho Company for this pur-
pose is eligibly located, and was given to
The Company upon the strongest represent
,ations on the part Of tia proper authority
hat the shops would be located upon it,
Taking these things. therefore. as having
Leen accomplished, the subject Of tho pro-
pre,y. expsdiency and economy of the
measure, naturally arises.
1t is anticipated that within twelve months
from, now at most, the road will DO in full
and complete operation to the Tennessee RI
yer. When the lnsxhaustible agricultural,
aud mineral resources Of East Tennessee are
considered, no one can doubt Of the immen'
sity Of the business Of the road. Leaving
out Of view entirely the ultimate wants OF
the Company in motive power and facilities
for transportation, it must Immediately re-
quiro many locomotives and a large num-
Der of freight cars. In the absence Of ma.
chine shops undor the immediate control OF
The Company, where are the cars OF the
Company to be obtained! The nearest cs
Enlistment of this character from which we
cnn expect supplies will be found at Chat
tanonga and Augusta. A large portion OF
the means of our Company in the purchase
of these things, must necessarily DO ex'
pended to enrich other companies and indI-
viduals and to build up other towns
Wholly dependent upon our neighbors TO
supply us with materials for the successful
operation of our road, we must send abroad
The very means which our Company have
laboriously accumulated and forever remain
tributary to other and more fortunate men.
But am answered that it is not intended
tina, this shall always be the policy OF the
Company-but that in our present financial
condition it would be injudicious to under.
take 50 important an enterprise. What Is
the substance Of this argument 1t is sim
ply that the meaEs of the Company will no,
warrant on investment in q substantial i'm.
movement for the manufacture Of our own
cars-or in other words, that we have no
ri oans to construct the Machine shops for
the road, but that we are amply provided for
the purchase of the Manufactured article
els where, The assurdily Of the thing Is
seen at glance. For, q very age NUMBER
Of cars mus, either be manufactured -
the means Of the Company or purchased a.
broad by The means Of the Company. They
Of course must be had from acme source or
other, and the poios 10 decide is whether 1t
is most economical, wisest and most exPe'
dent, to make them Or TO purchase them
But am again answered that we can buy
for the present with the Bonds Of The Com
puny. reply that according 10 the recent
contract made by the Committee, more
binds of the Company are USED. and that too
a, their par value without any depreciation
Than Gun possibly be employed in the Pur"
chase IF cars from any source whalever.-
Nearly all Of tho brick work is 10 be paid
for in Bonds, and in effect the whole OF the
carpenters work is to be paid for in the
same WY, ard both at cash prices.
But is easy of demonstration that the
saving to the Company in expenses, prices
and cost Of transportation. &C., &c, vii
pay for the erection aud complete outfit u
tho shops within the first two years Of thei'
existence. But one or two facts need to be
adduced to satisfy the most casual observer
of the truth Of this assertion. For instance
am informed that the Company have or
dercd from tho Augusta Machine shops fol
immediate use. ter box.cars-lO platform
cars and two baggage cars. The box-car.
will cost, say $3.50 each-the platform
$3.50. and The baggage $1,000. each. The
saving to the Company on this purchase il
manufactured at home. would unquestiona-
by amount to IN average Of $500 esch.-
The aggregate saving then on this small
purchase would amount 10 upwards Of S4.'
900. 1t is contemplated thu. SO soon as the
road is completed to the Tennessee there
will be immediate necessity for say ono hun
dred and fifty freight ctrs. These will have
to be purchased At Augusta, or Cha,tanoos
"a, or some where else it the. are 10. mans
,,f.c,n,ed nj home The cCst of cach NJ n