Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-05-29
EsoIsrrn's orrlcr, NJ. C. slB. R.,R.)

10 W. B. Aaaford, President A. c. dtL.
Railroad r,,.s a3gr ts.
Sir: Atthe termination of the last fiscal
year, the progress of your road, and the
short period of my connection with it, with
the fact that you were supposed to be moro
familiar with all the important details hay-
ing relation to my department than was,
rendered a formal report from me an act
Of mere supererosation eAAs1
At this time, however, it is deemed
proper that, in accordance with general
usage, | shall lay before You report Of
my Official acts, with a brief notice of the
progress and prospects of matters coming
, under my immediate supervision
! Upon coming into Office l found the line
of your road located from the Kentucky
State line to the Tennessee River at the
mouth of Cane Creek. After protracted
and frequent examinations of the country
lying along the line, have found no
apology for any important change,
| The highest praise is due your former
Engineer, G. B. Pickett, for the skill and
fidelity he has displayed in finding
through a country, the general aspects of
which would to casual observer, forbid
the idea of railroad within practicable
limits line for your road that will com
pare well with frst class roads in Tonnes
see, in grades, alignment and cost, at the
same time having all the elements of per-
mancnco and stability
Soon after Ientered upon the duties oi
my Office, obodient to resolutions requir-
ing me to examine the country with an
eye TO the best line crossing the Cumber-
land river above the city Of Clarksyille,
l reported upon two lines---one crossing
the Cumberland four miles above the city,
the other crossing the Cumberland above
the steamboat landing and within the cor
porate limits,
No change of line having been required
except upon commercial considerations, the
question was referred to the stock kholders,
who, at the last annual election, fixed the
location upon the middle line crossing the
Cumberland above the wharf and within
the city limits. This line l reported 5000
feet longer, s75, 900 moro expensive than
the line first located BY G. b. Picket, ESQ.
Since then the work upon this line has
boen steadily in progress Of construction
through Clarksyile--anda all developments
yet made, Indicate that the difference
against this line was over estimated -
| Though the material has proven very obsti
nate the proportion Of rock originally esti
mated has not appeared; and should the
work progress as to date, 1t may be safely
asserted that this difference will be 70
duced below $4,000. ..' a.s2
! As now located, the grades Of your roaS
range up TO maximum Of GO feet pei
mile This maximum was found neeessar,
only at the approach Of Red and Cumber
land rivers and the Tenn ridge 19 mile
of the road will be level, 23 miles upoE
grades ranging from to so feet per mile
and 1871 miles from 80 to 68 feet per mile
The maximum curve adopted is 40
which there are but $500 feet Is mile
are curved Al tangent Withal consider
ingthe general features Of the country ira
versed BY your road, location sigularll
favorable has been made. No grade o
curve occurs upon the entire line ofIcrinl
, serious resistance TO the highest economics
! speed, nor the heaviest probable traffic.
|, AS you are aware the division. Of 81
} miles, extending from the Kentucky Stat
line to yellow Greek, first let TO Champlin
Smith & CO., has since fallen into the hand
I of number of hard working, plain an
1 practical Contractors, Twenty FIVE soc
: tons are now in progress Of construction