Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-22
ENGINEERS REPORT.
ENGINEERS OFFICE,
MANASSAS GAP RAILROAD, ;
a " |

Alexandria, Oct, 1858.
To tic President ami Directors Of tie MQnaS-
SOS Gap Raiiyoad Company.
GENTLEMEN The annual statement from
this otice is respectfully submitted for your
confederation.
In reviewing the duties performed by the
Engineer Department in the year, yor will
find the amount returned very much ie-s
than those heretofore recdercd iu the annual
statements laid before you.
The construction of new road has been
limited tn the division from Woodstock tn
Mount jackson, and the wooden Bridges at
the crossings of the Narrow Passage and
Stony Creek, make up the largest amount of
expenditure required. to prepare this line Tor
the railway superstructuro.
In July last. by ord r Of the Board,
contracts were made to build these bridges,
srd since that time the work has heen IN
steady progress, and both structures will be
finished complete to receive the rails In the
NORTH of November.
Three miles Of permanent track next be-
yond Woodstock, have been laid, and are ut
for use; ard the trains are now running over
i, vixen necessary, in transporting material;
10 addit o. to these three miles OF h0'shed
road--fve miles oe crOss-ties have been lad
and tedded permanently aving but four
miles to io-with the work IN d ally progress;
ard BY the first Of November the urfni-bcd
portion Of the division will be prepared to
Law down the rails upon, as ias. as the iron
can be delivered On the road from A!exar-
dria.
TIE cross.ties being all bedded and in po-
sition, there will be no delay in the progress
of tbs work, as the iron can be laid at any
time--sven if it should not arrive before the
end of November--I see nothing in tho way
to prevent the trains from running to Mount
Jackson by the latter par: OF November, but
a d-lay in the arrival Of the iron.
Value of work done aud returned since
,July. between Woodstock and Mount Jack
son. Sl5,5ll Is.
The line from Mount Jackson to II .rrison~
burs-the Z ,stern Extension TO Ai"xsndrln,
and the Loudoun Branch to Purcellciiie, re-
main az reported upon 10 the previous au-
nual statement; no work has been done upon
them.
The estimated cost for their completion was
then submitted, aud ] will not refer TO them
further at this time.
WORKING DEPARTMENT.
The trains have beeD run with regularity
and SAFETY; no trips have been lost, and but
few departures from the regular tlme sebe-
dule allowed them, has taxed place.
The road is 10 good condition. and main.
tanned 80 at a moderate cost for the year, as
the expenses will shou--the repairs stand
charged with all the outlay that has been
made. The Limestone clay 10 embat knents
is not yet perfectly constituted. AID must
settle and slip until this takes place; no ex-
pense in the first construction could prevent
this; time and labor jadiciously applied, are
the essential eleneots, to make stable and
firm. material of this character; the labor is
being applied as the necessity demands. time
too is doing its part in perfecting the work.
| have no apprehension or anxiety as to the
stability aud safety of every portion Of 1t.
The damages sustained from the foods OF
the past Spring will not exceed the sum OF
$500 to repair them.
The railway superstructure is in coed Or
der, both its alignment, its surface, and Its
material: the iron continues 10 wear well;