Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-15

had, in October last, four Locomotives on
: the road. and was then expecting the ar.
) rival of another at Wyandotte. There
! were on the track three hrFt-class pas
senger, ~forty-four freight, twenty-ohe
: box, one baggage, twelve hand-carsi
and two iron truck-cars. u company
| has also contracted for four addi-
tional first-class passenger two express
and mail, aud ten box freight cars al to
be delivered within a short period. The
company reported on the eleventh ulU-
mo that an additional section OF twenty
miles had been completed, which Is now
in process of examination by commits
sioners, In the mode required by law.
Surveys have been extended to the one
hundredth meridian, q distance Of about
three hundred and eighty-one miles.
There IS also a party in the field making
surveys of the Smoky Hin route, who
are to extend their surveys TO Denver
city, about five hundred and eighty-one
miles from the eastern terminus OF the
road.
The president Of the Atehison branch
of the Union Pacific Railroad submitted
a report bearing date the 18th ultimo. 1t
represents that the bridges and masonry
on the first section Of tewnty miles OF
the road are all completed, oross-ties pre-
pared, the track being laid, and that this
portion of the road is under contract, and
will be finished by the first day OF Janu-
AIRY next. II further represents that the
bridges arc constructed Of the best ma
terials, and that the buildings now in
process OF erection are Of stone, rooted
with corrugated iron that the second
section Of twenty miles is also under con-
tract, n will be completed on the first
day Of May next.
The commissioners, appointed by your
predecessors, under date September Sth,
1864, reported upon t~hirty-One miles of
| the railway and telegraph line constructed
by the Central Pacific Railroad Company
| Of California. This part of the road, eX-
tending eastward from Sacramento City
TO a point near Newcastle, in Placer
county, Cal, is completed and in daily
use. Under date Of the seventeenth July
last, twelve additional miles of the road
were reported TO be in running order.
On the sixteenth day Of September last,
the President of the Company fledin the
office Of the Surveyor General of Califor-
MIA his affidavit, setting forth that the
company had completed the grading and
all the work required to prepare the rail-
road for the sUperstructure on the section
oftwentym miles lyingnext eastward Ofthe
AbM II VI LNtM NdollNf dA al NADEAA1E u OAAt
million and ninety-eight thousand dol
lars. Five thousand laborers, it isalleged,
are employed, and the company manifest
the greatest vigor andactivity in carrying
On their operations.
On the oath day Of December last, the
Sioux City and Pacific Railroad Com
pany, n corporation organized under the
laws of iowa, was designated by the
President of the United States for the
purpose Of constructing and operating a
line of railroad and telegraph from Sioux
City to such point on, and 50 as to CON
meet with the Iowa branch Of the Union
Pacific Railroad from Omaha, or the
Union Pacific Railroad, as the company
might select. The president of the com
pany, on the 18th of June last, submitted
a map designating the general route of
said road, bat the department is not ad-
vised that its construction has been com
menced.
l cordially concur i'm the views eX-
pressed by my predecessor in his last an
nual report, as to the propriety of Sc
curing, if practicable, the appointment of
Government directors in each Of the com
panies engaged in the construction of a
branch orany part of the main line Of this
road. Such directors are now appointed
for the company organized under the act
Of Congress, and with evident advantage
to the public interests. The concurrent
action Of the States from which the COM
pany derive their corporate power, and
the consent Of the latter, may be neces-
sary to accomplish the object; but Con-
gress might with propriety initiate the
requisite legislation on the part of the
General Government.
The patents for lands and the bonds
provided for in the fourth and fifth sec
lions Of the original act are not TO be is
sued on tine completion of section of the
road, until the fact Of its construction and
equipment as a first-class railroad shall
have been -ascertained and declared in
the mode prescribed. The words .ifrSt-
class rGlrOddn are, perhaps, as precise
and definite as any other; but some diff
fculty may arise in the practical enforce
ment of the provision j which they
occur With a view TO Obviate the diff
Guilty, and secure uniformity, L have in
vited the directors on the part Of the gov
eminent, and the several boards of COM
missiOners to meet inthiscity on the 10th
proXimo, for the purpose Of establishing
g standard Of excellence, to which the
companies in the construction and equip
ment Of their respective roads shall be
required 10 conform.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Gonna
ny, or the eleventh of December, 1854, |
filed their acceptance of the provisions of
the act of Congress entitled An act
granting lands to aid in the construction
Of a railroad and telegraph line from
Superior TO Puget Sound, on the
coast, by the northern route ="
and under date Of the sixth March last
their map designating the
general direction Of their road from a
point on Lake Superior, in the State Of
Wisconsin, TO a point on Puget Sound, in
Washington Territory. The records of
the Department do not however, show
any further elton by the companyin the
premises.
WAGON ROADS.
BY an act approved March Sd, 1865, |
Congress made appropriations for the
construction of certain wagon roads in
Montana, Dakota, Idaho, and Nebraska.
| refer you to the report Of Col. Simpson
for information as to the manner in which
the appropriations have been expended,
and the progressmade in the construction
Of these highways.
WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT.
Congress at its last session made no
provision for the Washington Aqueduct.
the appropriation for The last fiscal
year was nearly exhausted, l dispensed
with the services of such of the employees
rs were not Indispensable, and reserved
the small balance for such repairs as
might be required for the preservation of
the work until the meeting Of Congress.
The engineer in charge is of opinion that
dam of solid stone masonry already
commenced across the Maryland chan
mel Of the Patomac river, at the
head OF the conduit, Is absolutely neces-
sary 10 secure " an abundant and need
full supply of good and Wholesome waterD
during certain seasons Of the year, and
it should be completed with the least
delay. The temporary dams
erected from time TO time have repeat
been carried away. Nothing, in his
will effectually serve the pur-
pose but a dam OF the character indica-
ted, and he urges its construction upon
the grounds of economy rs well as OF
necessity. He reports in favor of the
completion of the -Cunnccting conduit at
.he receiving reservoir, the further eNca-
and deepening of the distributing
'%eservoir, and also the construction OF
rubble wall, to prevent the wash
ny Of its interior slopes or water races.
His suggestions are respectfully sub
for the consideration Of Congress.
Lieut.-Col. Simpson has been perma-
lenCly assigned TO duty in this depart
ncnt. His services have been advanta-
employed on the work connected
Fith the construction of the Union
Pacific Railroads and branches, the North
IN Pacific Railroad, land grant railroads.
roads, the aqueduct and Capitol
extension ali of which require the super
Of a competent and practical engi-
leer. His report embraces a connected
Of the inception and progress of
he Union Pacific Railroad, compiled
rom public records and other authentic
and other valuable matter, with
practical suggestions proper for the con-
of Congress.
Provision should be made for the cleri-
al force rendered necessary by the in
.reasing correspondence and duties re-
ating to these important works, and
,ther incidental expenses that must I'M
lvoidably be incurred, for which an esti-
nate has been submitted:
'APIroL AND LIBRARY EXTENSION, AND
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
The report of the architect Of the Cap
tol extension furnishes full information
.o%ncerning the condition and progress
If the work. Since the report Of his
Predecessor, the eastern pOrtico Of the I,
outh wing, including the steps and car
iage ways 10 the same, has been COM |
with the exception Of the caps of ,
he check blocks, delayed for the want of ,
81 a. 49, q