Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-19
Report.

To the Stockholders of the Central Southern r. r.
Company:
GENTLEMEN The time has arrived when il
is made our duty TO lay before you a full ac-
| count of the affairs of your road together with
| a history of its progress and management
since our last annual meeting.
BY reference to our last Annual Report, ii
| will be seen that at that time contracts had
been made for the grading and masonry from
| the junction with the Tennessee and Alabama
Railroad, to the town of Pulaski. a distance
of 35i miles: the work to be finished by the
first day of March. 1859.
Upon this part of the road all the bridge
masonry is completed, and the grading in such
a state of progress, that it will nearly all be
done before the expiration of the time allow
ed the contractors for its completion.
The heavy rock cut at Elk Ridge constitutes
the only exception to satisfactory progress
OF this portion of the work. 1t is the policy
Of the company to put an efficient force of
negroes at this point as soon as practicable.
The superslructure of the bridges has been
contracted for. to he built principally Of white
pine timber. The great plumber of railroad
accidents caused by the failure of bridges in
the last twelve months. together with the i'm.
mense sacrifice OF life aud treasure caused
thereby, has demonstrated the eXprrme folly.
not TO say hjgh crime of constructing railroad
bridges of the common timber of the country
through which they pass. Experience having
shown the superiority of pine timber for such
pun poses, we have adopted it for all our
bridges Of long span.
Until recently, the northern terminus of
our road was a point upon the line of the
Tennessee and Alabama Railroad. two miles
north of Columbia but by a late arrange
ment with that company. we have effected
the very desirable object of fixing the con-
necton of the two roads at our d Playground
in the town of Columbia, and adding about
eighteen thousand dollars to the available
means of our company.
BY this arrangement. the depot-ground at
Columbia will he jointly owned, aud the ex-
pense Of buildings borne alike by the two
companies, thus effccting a considerable saw
ing to both. ~,
No provision having been made in our ORR
ginal estimates for ballasting the road. and
believing that no other appropriation OF this
accession to our means could be so useful to
the road and profitable TO the company, the
Board have ordered its application to that
purpose. and contracts have already been
made for the ballasting of about seventeen
miles, fifteen miles of which is in the county
of Maury. leaving about sixteen miles yet TO
let this last is nearly all in Gilrs county,
and we hope will yet he taken in time TO be
completed in advance of track-laying.
So tar as the work on our part of the line
is to be considered. we shall be ready TO com
mence layihg track early the ensuing whit r
but the time at which we shall commence, de-
ponds entirely npon the time that the Tennes-
see and Alabama Company shall reach our
point of connection i'll Columbia. which, ac-
cordlng to their calculations, will be by the
first of March next.
We have purchased $500 tons of American
rails, all OF which is to be delivered at Pitts
burg by the first of January next.
This amount of rails will he sufficient TO
lay the track and sidings from Columbia to
the depot in Pulaski, and also from the Ala
bama line to Prospect depot on Ford's creek.
We have also contracted for two engines
one freight and one passenger-wh are in
course Of construction, and will be ready for
the road rs soon as track-laylng shall com
mence
The cross-ties needed between Columbia
and Pulaski. have been contracted for. and
are now being delivered. much the largest
portion of which are of red cedar from Duck
river.
BY an act of the last Legislature, we OBJ
tanned change OF the State Loan TO our
road. so a TO give us $4,000 per mile upon
that part extending from Columbia to Pulas-
XII upon the completion of two-thrds of the
work. instead of $4,000 per mile upon the
completion Of the whole Of the work; 10y
which arrangement We have been able To pur-
chase the iron and equipments for that part
OF the road. and reduce the State debt OF the
company thirty-,hree thousand dollars.
IL has been the policy of the present Board,
so To man1ge the construction If the road, as
to furnish the community on all parts Of the
line with the use of its advantages at the
earliest time possible; aud we are happy 10
say, that by agreement with the Tennessee
aud Alabama Central Company. they will
complete their road TO the State line (oar
souIhern tertninus) By the first Of July next.
at which time we will be ready to lay track
from that point To our depot ON Ford's creek,
ihas furnishing the eitizens and stockholders
Of that portion of Giles with the advantage :
of the road. as soon as they can be enjoyed
by any other portion Of the county.
On the southern division OF the line ex-
sending from Pulaski TO the Alabama line, n
distance OF lfl miles. the grading and rubble
masonry Is ali 1T To citizens living along the
road except the section known as Hicks
Bluff. which. II not let soon. the company
should nrspare 10 construct themselves next
year; this Will require a negro force OF about
twenty hasds-
Tue tunnel at Madry's Ridge. aud the msl-
snnry for Elk river tridgr. arr both In coarse
of construction. leaving anly the masonry al
Buffers Ford bridge. the saiperstruetme OF
that and Elk river bridge. aud The Hicks
Bluff section yet 10 let. all OF which We ex-
pect to accomplish soon.
The grading and rabble masonry let on
this part of the read. has all been taken Tex
cept the tunnell al cash pric :. oae-foaFth in
stock, the balance payable in the bonds OF