Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-03-12
NUMBER 63
First Annual Report of the Directors,
with ACCOMMODATING Reports.

ization of the company and its financial condi-
tion, owing TO the very thorough report on these
subjects in the preceding March.
| AT that time 1t was expected that the gradua-
| ton of tne road would have been commenced nj
an early date but an examination of the former
surveys under MIR. Brady developed the fact that
an entire survey and rc-location of the entire
route would be necessary under the supervision
of the Engineer in Chief, j. Dutton Steele, ESQ.
To accomplish this, N. 2. Hobart, Esq, was APP
| pointed Engineer In charge, and he organized
| two corps of engineers, one under j. ii. Wilson
and the other under s. C. Slaymakcr These sur
veys involved an unexpected amount Of labor,
which was greatly protracted by the uniavorablc
weather, so that the surveys were not completed
and the route located until the beginning of 0c-
| tobcr
| The route adopted although somewhat longer
| than was at first contemplated has great advan-
tages in grades and in cheapness of construction,
there being no grades adverse to the trade except
that between Birdsboro and Springfield, and this
one does not exceed fiity-two feet per mile, and
another which is thirty feet to the mile, while
under the former survey some grades were JOG
feet to the mile.
The estimate for the graduation of Mr.. Bradys
route was $4,000 per mile, while the route now
adopted can be contracted for at less than So 600
per mile, saving on the road, when finished, over
5000, 900.
Proposals for the graduation and masonry of
the line, and for erecting the piers and abutments
of the bridge over the Schuylkill, at BrdsbOro,'
were received from the 10th to the 30th oi Octo-
ber; 16i bids were received, of which 81 were for
the construction of the entire line except the
bridge at Birdsboro. The remaining bids were
for different portions Of the work. For the bridge
81 bids were received, and the lowest, that of
Call & Co., for S2D GSS.70, was accepted, and for
the faithful performance Of their contract Call "
Co. were required to give security in the sum of
IS, 900, and 20 per cent was to be reserved from
their monthly estimates.
The determination of the manner of awarding
| the contract for graduation, whether as whole
In ,f rts.ttc fara-
ton. Detailed specifications of the amount and
character of the work on the different sections
had been prepared by the Englneer-in-Chief, and
furnished to contractors and upon these speciii-
cations the proposals were made. Basing their
calculations upon these specifications the epgi-
neers had estimited the cost OF the graduation
and masonry of the entire road, except the bridge
at Birdsburo', at s506. 610. 20.
The bid Of Wm.M. Wiley Il Co. being the lowest,
was after much consideration accepted upon the
condition that they should reduce the aggi egate
amount of their bid to the amount of the Engi-
ncers estimate. this sum S506,610.2 .26 in lawful
currency of the United States to be in full for the
entire graduation and masonry for single track
road from the intersection of West street with
the p, w. Il B. Railroad, in Wilmington, to the
point Of connection with the Philadelphia and
Reading Road, at Birdsboro'. AS security 20 per
cent OF the monthly payments was to be held
back and William NJ. Wiley & Co. were to give
security in the sum of s200,000 for the faithful
performance Of tho contract. These conditions
were accepted and the contract awarded.
The contract further provides that If by any
change in the route or grade, the cost shall be
diminished, that such sum shall be deducted from
the whole amount agreed TO be paid. The pay
menfs to the contractors are to be made in MONTH
" instnments, on estimates of the chief engineer
us to the work done each month, in each case
| twenty per cent being retained as part security
for the faithful performance of the contract Tie
work is to be done within one year from the 10Th
| of December, 1867.
The Directors say, ''although we well under
stand that it has been the subject of harsh COM
| mcut in some quarters We cannot but believe
that when il is fully understood every stockholdcr
who il uniuflueneed by personal or selfish mo-
lives, or by Partially for some individual who
was an unsuccessful bidder, must agree that il
faithfully performed the highest and best inter-
ests of the company have been consulted in
awarding it, The contract is Tor liked, abso-
lutte sum, and that sum, less per mile in g,een-
bucks than amy similar work has heretofore been
contracted for In gold"
They further express their full faith that the
contract will be completed within its spirit and
letter.
II is impossible now to state precisely when the
road will be completed, but they think they can
reasonably hope that in the spring of 1860 it will
be opened.
former iath in the success of the enterprise,
while further acquaintance with the route, and
" clearer appreciation Of the vast impetus the
road will give to trade manufactures, and COM
utTCc III All sCctlOHS lnfOuEu IL I'uhsts,lHtl
especially to the city Of Wilmington, rhich must
be its shipping point, justify us in reiterating the
belief that it will prove business and financial
success"
In most cases the land damages have been re-
leased, but in some cases n disposition is mani
tested to make eXtortOnatc demands. In such
cases the company will use the legal powers
granted it to procure fair valuation.
The existing amount Of the capital stock is
.S000 all Of which has, been subscribed by
parties along the route, and at the termini The
bal nce required can doubtless be raised on mort
gage.
THE REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER,
j. Dutton Steele, Esq, dated January 10th, pre-
sents facts identical with those above given con-
cerning the route and graduation. In addition we
gather from il the following -
The distances from the Birdsboro' terminus to
the principal points on the road are as follows;
10 Springfield, II 40 miles; to crossing OF East
Brandywine Railroad, 1886; TO crossing of Penn
sylvania Railroad at Coatcsville, 30.X TO Forks
Of Brandywine, I277, to crossing of Baltimore
Central Road, 1919; to connection with the T.,
W. " B. Railroad and the Delaware Railroad
system G2.55s; to West street. Wilmington OS''A
With the exceptions as to adverse grade, noticed
in the Directors report, the road deseends to-
wards tide water with maximum grade ei 52S
feet per mile. hut generally with lighter grade
The total cost Ut preparing the road Tor Tue
rails will be MS follows:--
Contract of VIM. NJ. Wiley & Co., s506,610.2G
" 4" VIM. Call d Co., 20,6oo.ol
Superstructure and trestle work at
BirdshOro, 5l,999.UO
Other bridge superstructures, 36,i00.0D
Changing county roads, Sc., l9,l6OOu
Grading for sidings, and connections, 1n,uuO.OO
Engineers and contingencies, lS,5OO.Oo
G63, ,S57.0
To which add land damages and office
expenses, .o,uuu.un
20 miles of main and siding tracks, 75O,OOO.OO
LASS 351. "a
A cost per mile of s23,62l ~.
The necessary equipment for working the road
during the first years Of its operation may he es-
tiinated as follows:
| 10 locomotives at $4,000 each S1O0OUO OI
| 10 passenger cars at So, 800 each 10000 OO
| 200 eight wheeled freight cars at
| $3.50 each ll0.OOO OO
| Stations 10000 10
| $500. 900 10
making the aggregate cost of the road in ac-
tive working condition Sl,1Ss,357 Il. Mr.. Steele
after giving hopeful view OF the traiiic, which
| must open to the new rund and the oprortuni-
ties afforded for the shipment OF the products at
| Wilmington, saws:
II would respectfully recommend that the ex-
| tension TO the Delaware River shall bu made at
the earliest time compatible with the means and
| ability of the Company for without II your work
| will be incomplete and its object will not be fully
accomplished. There Is no harbor ON the Della
ware equal to that of Wilmington, and us site
| for manufactures it is unsurpassed. Located be-
low the region of ice it is accessible by sea-gong
vessels At all seasons, while the Christiana and
| Brandywine furnish some ten miles OF excellent
wharf front in the immediate vicinity OF the
city,"
Birdsboro the charter authorizes its extension to
Reading, and such extension can be made whcn
ever the interests of the company or OF that city
demand il.
Ih,, ranort of p Hobart ESD, Engineer in