Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-19

ruhhihg order. They were worse uetwsSn |
Clarksville and Palmyra than on any other
part Of the division and best on the ridge, |
and westward to its foot There were About
one hundred and sixty defective rails be-
tween Clarksville and the State Line. On
the west side of the Cumberland, and as far
as the division extended, the heavy rails
were all good, and only few Of the light
tubular rails had given way.
Many parts Of the road between the Cum
berland river t.estle and the west foot OF
the ridge were overgrown with grass, weeds.
broomsedge, brush and briars; and the
track torn up at different points by the farm.
ers for the convenience of road crossings -
two rails being displaced, on opposite Sides
The tanks all required repairs, except the
two between GAINESVILLE and the State Line.
The switches, west of the Cumberland, and
side tracks were all out of order, many
of the rods of the former having been car
carried off, the targets bent down and the
the circles broken. There was scattered
along the division, at the time took charge
of It, quantity of railroad material of diff
ferent kinds, nearly all being worthless, ex-
cept about nine hundred railroad chairs,
fout frogs, and as many sets OF spring rails.
Having given you general idea of the
condition of my division at the time took
charge of It, will now proceed to state
what has been done on it since then, and its
condition on the first day of the present
month Beginning at the State Line, we
find that new turn table, fifty feet in diam
eter, has been put up-the side track and
switches overhauled-one new frog put in,
and one and .One-third miles of new iron
laid, extending to Tait's Station; going on
from thence, the trestle at Hampton's has
been repaired; new ties put on, beside one
stringer and eighteen new holsters; and
from thence to Cumberland River, the defec-
tive rails have been taken up, and four thou
sand rev ties put in.
The long trestle over Red River bottom
has been thoroughly repaired twenty thou
sand feet B. NJ of lumber was used to put
II ID its present excellent condition: The
trains can now make twenty-five miles an
hour, with safety, over this part of our road.
Beginning again at Cumberland River; the
small bridge spanning Water street and con-
Meeting with the main bridge, has been re-
paired and new span of one hundred ana
and ninety-cight feet Of the McCollum pat
tent has been built in the place of the one
burnt during the war. A new draw of the
Fink patient, two hundred and seventy.six
feet in length is completed; also q v truss
of the Fink patient, having clear span OF
two hundred and eight feet, is just finished,
and put in the place of the span west of the
draw, which was recently destroyed. The
trestle across the Cumberland River bottom
has been repaired and is now in good condi.
ton. At BuddIs Creek, four new girder
bridges of fifty feet spans have been put up,
and the trestles on both sides repaired and
partially built anew. At Aliens Branch,
twenty.one bents of trestle were reconstruct
ed; the fouS girder bridges repaired, and
new iron laid from one end to the other, at
both places. The track between-the tunnel
and Palmyra bridge, which was foated from
its position, has been replaced, the wash be-
ing filled and the road bed ballasted and
faced, towards the river, with broken stone,
The three trestles below the tunnel have all
been Repaired new ties and other timbers
were put in, and the track adjusted 10 true
alignment.
Along this part of the line, the water rose
to the track, washing out the material from
under the ties facing the river. and leaving
them at many places without any bearing al
the end. At all these places dry walls Of
masonry have been put in, making the road
bed better than ever, and perfectly secure
from tho action of high water. The trestle
at Jordans branch, at Grice's creek, and the
trestle at Yellow creek, were all repaired
several bents Of trestle being put under the
latter 10 make it more secure, and new ties
placed upon all Of them, and the track lev
eled and lined. Thence on TO Cumberland
City and Wells creek, more or less filling
and repairs have been done on road bed, from
washes and slides and settling of banks
Bridges Nos. and 3, Wells creek, have
been replaced with How-trusses. One o.
them, one hundred and twenty-seven feel
long, and the other one hundred and seven
teen feet. Two piers Of first class masonry
containing together about Que hundred ant
twenty cubic yards, were built for bridge No
2, and the west pier for bridge No. 3 wa
widened four feet on each side TO suit the
new trtfss. The new masonry is built in tn,
most substantial manner, and both piers
thoroughly rip-rapped. From these bridges
on to the Ridge the road bed needed NOR,
or less repairs all of which have been made
including the long side wash beyond Erin
, On the Ridge the work is still progressing
sufficient material was moved up to Jun,
18th TO pass trains and the work of widen
ing out the cuts to a slope of one foot hori
zontal to one vertical has been commenced
the bulges, or prominent points are, also
being taken of to avoid any future Slides
About fifteen thousand cubic yards Of mate
rial have been moved thus far. From these
cuts on TO the end of the Division, many re.
pairs have been made on the road-bed-sag'
in banks raised, washes filled up, cuts clean
ed out and bitches opened.
The trestle over Lewis branch has beer
repaired; new strings, ties and braces put in
and the whole structure overhauled. In two
washes between the latter place and the emf
of the Division, trestles have been placed
one Of them forty-eight feet long; the 9th
er eighty feet. The side truck and switches
on top of the Ridge, at Erin, Cumberland
City aud Aliens branch, 1.-THE latter two ex.
tended) have been repaired, and new on,
put in at Corbindale.
The whole line from the Cumberland I,
the Tennessee may be regarded as rapid,
approaching a good condition. few thous
and ties only being necessary TO ensure safe
ty to the running Of the TRAINS at speeC
Of twenty-five to thirty miles to the hour.
The following IS an estimate of the guam
tity of material removed from cuts, an,
washes hlled up....... 10000 C. yds
OF first class masonry-.,...... 1875 I"
Culvert, masonry........,..' 22o p"
Timber used in new treste......3o5, 900 B, NJ
Ties contracted for................ 10000
Ties put in rack................. 40, 1000
Ties delivered on road. ........... $4,000
Wood contracted for...........>. 5000 cord
Wood delivered. GOO A"
BRIDGES.
Cumberland Riyer--l Span McCallum trus
l L q l.. IL. L 4