Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-25
LETTER y ysg r.! S.s.s 4! 4. 4; LEWIS -

MEmrHn o. AnksvnLs AND LouisvrLGE r. r.,
CLARKsvrtLE, TENN. May 81, 1859. I
HI Erceliency, VIM. @. B,o,rsio,v, Governor
gftke STATE Of Tesnsssss:
SIR: An appropriation Of Ave hundred
thousand dollars In State bonds was msde by
the Legislature to rebuild the bridges and
repair the road-bed Of the Memphis, Clarks-
Vile and Louisville Railroad. One hundred
and eighty thousand dollars Of the said bonds
are applied to the construction::of the span Of
bridge over the Cumberland river ct
Clarksville, two Howe truss bridges over
Wells Creek, one Howe truss bridge Of six
spans, with draw, over the Tennessee river,
and one Howe truss bridge over Crooked
Creek. Two hundred and ninety thousand
dollars of the bonds have been hypothecated
for the loan of one hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars in currency, on three years time
from April, 1866, at six pr cent. per an
mum interest. etf- 90. b
The entire line of road Is being rep,ired.
Additional side tracks, absolutely necessary,
are being laid. One hundred and fifty tons
Of spikes have been purchased, and cross ties
amounting to FIVE hundred per mile--in all,
fifty-one thousand ties--are being put on the
line. Entertainments are being repaired, cuts
cleaned out, and In fact everything necessary
for the successful operation Of the road is
being done. But the falling of the perma-
nent span of the bridge on the Cumberland
river on Friday last necessitates the rebuild
ing of that and the draw-span on the Cum
berland, which will cost about seventy three
thousand dollars In bonds of the State; and
inasmuch as many of the trestles on the line
of road have been, and are being repaired,
and as the falling of the span of bridge on
the Cumberland--not being seven years old;
casts suspicion on the wood work of the
entire line, it is proper, indeed it is demand
ed, that several of the trestles already re-
paired be entirely renewed. Therefore, your
Excellency, as Receiver of the Memphis,
GAINESVILLE Il Louisville Misunderstanding the
interest of the State and the stockholders
of the road in view-I beg of you, Sir. to
recommend the appropriation of one hun
dred thousand dollars in the bonds of the
State for rebuilding the permanent and
draw-span of the bridge at Clarksvile, and
to rebuild trestling or make fills Of earth,
when practicable on the line Of railroad.
| beg, sir, to say that the prospects of a
lucrative business profitable business over
the railroad is very catering, and feel sat-
isfied that the State will in the end lose moth
ing by her liberality and kindness to this
road. That after July, it will be in condi.
ton to meet interest due to the State semi
annually-and when due pay the bonds
loaned by the State.
. So far, sir, as l. az Receiver of the Mem.
pills. GAINESVILLE and Louisville Railroad, am
concerned, beg to state that, unless the ap-
preparation asked for is granted, feel salts.
fed cannot put the railroad in my charge
in such condition for opening 1t as will justify
reasonable hope of success. But if the aid
asked is gwen, am sure that the road will
not much longer be a burthen upon the
finances of the State. Believing that the
Legislature would make the appropriation
begged for, have already to save time, sent
an engineer to Cincinnati to confer with the
contractor of the bridge work on the Mem.
phis, GAINESVILLE and Louisville Railroad
being anxious to have it up and ready fol
passing trains on the Cumberland river by
the first day of July next the time fixed fol
the opening of the "Great Central Line be-
tween New York and Memphis.
Not wishing to annoy you with words,
merely state facts and have tie honor to be
sir, your obedient servant,
GEO T. LEWIS,
Receiver Memphis Clsrksville and Louisville
Railroad.