Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-19
REPORT OF G. 7. LEWIS, RECEIVER
OF THE NJ. @. L. L. RAILROAD.

OFFlCE NJ. ". q. IL. hAlLROAD,
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, March 80, 1867. !
To HIS Ercelleney, W. G. BrOwnlov,
Nashville, Tennessee
SIN: When | took charge of this road,
the necessity for immediate action to raise
means to place it again in running order was
apparent, and ! used my best endeavors to
effect this end. Exhausting all resources
within my reach and without satisfactory
results, l appealed to the State, through
your Excellency, for the desired aid, and re-
ceived appropriations which enabled me to
push forward the work on the whole line of
the road
Among the many roads which suffered
| from the war, this stands ont prominently,
and needs no special word in this report to
satisfy your Excellency of the ruin which
met the eye on every part, fom one end OF
it to the other. ! respectfully call your at
tention to the Reports of the Assistant En-
gineers, made September and October, 1866,
and January 1867, on the condition of the
road copies of which are herewith enclosed,
marked A. B. and g. These Reports, Sir,
will also give you correct information in re-
gard to the work done through the means
appropriated by the State
respectfully refer your Excellency to the
Reports of the Treasurer, enclosed and
marked d and Il, for information relative to
disposition made of the State Bonds. My
contracts were all made upon q cash basis,
believing, as ! did, that thereby, a great
saving would accrue to the State. In for
mer Report, you will remember, stated,
that 100000 of the Bonds of the State had
been hypothicated for a loan of $3.50, 900 in
cash. for three years, with interest on the
amount borrowed Mt six per. cent, per. an-
mum. The Bonds required to raise means to
pay for bridges built by Bristol, Skidmore
4 Co., amounting 10 about $l60, 900 cash,
netted seventy two cents in the dollar, and
the remainder of Bonds realized about sew
enty cents in money. Full reports of the
Affairs Of the road were placed before the
Committee of the Senate in November and
January, but these Reports, like the evidence
in the case then under investigation, have
not been permitted TO see the light. In a
letter marked "private,' which | addressed
to you last September, | said; "The mems
appropriated by the State are about exhaust
ed, leaving unpaid in pay rolls and estimates
for August, the sum of thirty thousands
dollars. To meet this demand have but
eight thousand dollars; the balance shall
meet by getting time on what is due to
bridge contractors, aud the receipts of the
road"
"A new bridge is absolutely necessary at
Yellow Greek, and also at Palmyra, which
will cost fully twelve thousand dollars. One
hundred thousand cross-ties and two hundred
tons OF new iron will be required to be put on
the road within the next twelve months. ]
have now quite large force on the road, put
ting in cross-ties, di,ching, &C, and would
have il greatly increased II | had the means
in hand, SO as to have the greater part OF the
work completed by the the time winter
sets in
al have given this work, Governor, my
undivided attention--have endeavored "
do my whole duty, and have the satisfaction
of knowing that had tie road belonged TO
myself, l could not have been more faithful
10 its interest"
! Since the letter referred to above was writ
tsn-winter came, and has passed. The
I long continuous rains in December, January
and February, aud the overflow OF the
Cumberland. aud Tennessee rivers have in
terlerred materially with the successful ope-
rations Of the road, but, as we may reason
ably expect good weather now, for some
months TO come, ID is TO be hoped that a
prosperous season Is before u.s.
The future Of this road. taking into con-
sideraIion he mporIapttonnee,iohs Ess, and