The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-02-19
Engineers Office Wilmington and
Manchester Rail Road.
GEN'L. w. w. HARLEE.
D.,e:J,,y yJy:y e A., d. ~

'ANcA"f ~, 1901.
GENT. w. w. HARLEE,
President VII. s}' Man. Rail Road:
SrR.-I have the honor to submit, for
the information of the Board, the third am
nual Report Of this department. exsiibit;np
The progress ci the work during tiiii year
lSouaInis = tlI- Sa.s4s : -Fs
The accompanying abstracts, marked
A, B. and G., exhibit, in detail, the pro-
gross q! Tho contracts for Graduation in
each month OF the year; he amount execu-
ted during the year, and the total amount
from tho commencement of the work.
The amount Of work done during the past
exceeds that of the previous year l33,3S5
cubic yards, equivalent to the average re-
quired on ten miles of Road; and the
amount executed at the expiration of tho
year is equal TO one. .haLf Of the total amount
required in the Graduation of the whole
Road.
The high price ofco,ton during the year.
and the consequent increase in the demand
and price Of labor, induc ID some of the
contractors to withdraw larger number
OF their hands, during the summer months.
than was anticipated when the contracts
were made and when cotton was selling
much below It's present value; while others
have abandoned their contracts, preierriny
20 forfeit the reservation OF twenty five per
cent, Of the value Of the work executed,
and pay up the remainder of their Stock IN
cash.
Under instructions from the Board
have entered into a contract with a Com
pany Of Stockholders for the Graduation
uncontrolled for in North Carolina at the
date of my last Report From the known
energy and experience Of these gentlemen
on other portions of tho line, have every
assurance Of the speedy completion of the
contract, and IN manner satisfactory 10
the Company.
Between Sumtcrvillc and the Camden
Branch, the contracts for Gradua,on are
or will be completed in time Tor the reccp.
ton Of the Iron, with two cXccptions,-,he
first ad jaccnt To the Junction, and the lat.
ter on the western side ui Cane Savanna
Swamp, and containing respectively II, 800
and $4,000 cubic yards. Efforts have
been made to rolct the latter, and TO obtain
additional force To hasten the completion
of the former, but without success. On
this portion Of the line the contracts have
been difficult TO let, from the heavy work
required Oh the Graduation, the inferior
quality and scarcity OF timber, and the
dIihcul:y OF transporting it 10 the line of
the Road. As the Iron for this portion of
the Road Will soon arrive in Charleston,
some provision should be made for the cy
pcnditurcs required to put it in operation,
which arc more particularly explained in
statement marked ID hercunto annexed
Included in this estimate is The cos, of one
Locomotive, one Passenger coach, one
Baggage. and ten Freight cars, which will
be sufficient to work The line until It's com
pleton 10 Darlington.
The Iron contracted for 10000 Tons)
will extend from The Junction to the Road
east of l.ynches'Creck, provided no norton
Of it he used in the construction Of Turn
outs, for which lighter Rail will answer.
For laying down the remainder of this Iron
between Sumtcrvllc and the Road east Of
Lynches Creek, and for the purchase OF
turnout Iron, 200 tons Tor III, main track.
and the completion of forty miles. upon
which tho last instamcnt Of The States
subscription depends, the further sums
set forth in statement r. Will be required,
and TO which your attention is drcctcd-
These estimates are founded upon the
assumption that the contracts in existence
will be completed; but if contrary to my
expectations any OF them are abandoned, a
still greater sum will he required.
| would respectfully urge upon the
Board and Stockholders tho Importance OF
providing the means for The immediate
completion OF forty miles adjoining the
Comdcn Branch, withou, which the Com.
pany cannot realise tho last insiament of
$4,000 Ot the States subscription. In