New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-02
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE SECR nr,
TARY OF THE INTERIOR On THE CohDiii0'
THE ROADS,

of the Pacific Railroad Commissioners has just been D'
public: The
Hon j. D. Cox Secretary Of The Int.riormsiEG3; m ina
undersigned members OF Commission for Tor eAli,d
tiOn OF the Union and Central Pacific Railroads of
under joint resolution for protection OF tno Pacific
the Union Pacific Railroad Company the Cent atrnved
Railroad Company, and for other purposes app o re-
April TO- 1862 have the honor to submit the loho"s
Under instructions from the Interior Department. in
August H. 1862 four members OF the Commission % arm
Omaha on August 49, but the instructions Oh t es NOT
Commissioner having failed 10 reach hlIn' no Val to
present aud it was informally decided to proGee nm
Sacramento The Commission met at SacramehmO On, he
Sept 8, all the members being present orKanizt and
the election OF Gen Hiram Walbridge iresuen,
G the ,o,pect,on Of the Central Pacific Pailroad
usually working from $50 a. TIL dark, and QccupypS
The insbectisn of the Union Pacific Railroad was begun
Sept H. and completed sept ~ wheh .nU oeo Rnt The
adjourned 10 meet at Washington Oct 49, isSy % s hao
meeting was subsequently postponed unh OCT 20, The
most of the maps and information asked I0L ,uder
two roods had been received The Joint resolution uu
which the Commission appointed requires II W % -
anime and report upon the condition Of and what SUN 81
sums II any will be required to complete such sau r9
for the entire length thereof TO said terminus as nrs
class railroad in compliance Win tue seN % ftaror
afIpe 10 said roads The instructions OF the Interior
Department require that the report SHOULD pe
minute and specific upon the sene d soninment
Of each of the roads which those INSTRUCTIONS
act FORTH and that 1t should state 10 what extent ~ 3
the line OF either road deylates from the most , ~
direct and practicable route mentioned IN ssu nVo
Congress The instructions add You VIII no. V 'ho
ever be restricted 10 these Instructions put VIA, IN @
snrt ~ fine resolution include your report any suH
gestons or facts reatong to the roads elected Ny your
examination which you shall consider neCessA,y " w
snbmitted To- the President OF the United states"
The first question that before the Commission ~
thr Pacidc railroad by the words "arscass railroad
Railroads ranked as hrstclass IN tnis c9uiS 81
far from being perfect at their opening ana nave ne
brougt 10 their present high standard by large e1penu
lures which small traffic in the beginning eonu ne'ea
have Justified To require the Pacific Railroads. W W
brought at first 70 the standard other roads nave Gu
after years OF heavy and lucrative business Hou 20
waste Of money II evident TO the Commission Lna
mi uof W
II private corporations had bnt these f9aus ml' t
t;oyernmenia subsidy II would undoubtedly have been
for their interest to build them at FIRST at tho lowest cost
consistent with keeping them IN operauon auu h co
bulit n paying business should be developed 10 nave
gradually made the imprO yemens which increasing raj
Tic should render necessary But congress hau hoS
large loan and extensive land grant, part Oi WHICH
will be valuable and in return II required DeIter I3su
than private interests would nave punt rVau t.
should be capable OF transporting passengers ana obn
win rnndity safety and certainty; road rs gOOu as
a majority of those IN the thcky setted otates III
oninon OF the Commission. the requirements OF tue ia"
vi, Inc satisfied and the designs of Congress carried OUT
il the roads be properly located with judelons grades
and have substantial road beds OF good width Daiasth
vhich vim pTouer care shall be able to keep the track
IN good condition throughout the year permanent
tr Tar crossing streams good ties, iron and JOINT
Sstenins su6rent fastenings water tanks, buildings.
machinery and adequate rolling STOCK the more lhPoI
tau machine shops ana engnes houSes ceuE " INA I ~
opinion, while some expenditures SIN meeu 70 Ou
these Two roads are rch Ioads touay co.
needed for the completion Will DO given In deA ior eaon
Rcpol on m, Central Pacific Railroad with The estimates
Of sums required 10 complete Il
In the opinon OF the Commission the general location
IA good although they several places where ~ ap
peared % them IL might bo improved III some Ol S ue
tails, perhaps at somewhat lhnieaSeu eA
this could only be determined positively by an eLtehdeu
instrumental survey. for which the Commission ulu NOT
have at It's disposal while as was TO be
tho location 20 criticism there are no errors ho m
correction OF which should be required by theD0v
rnnsnt n IL moi Thought that they exceed reasonable
ii r,idcpng the haste with which the latter part
of the road built, nor that either bonds OF anu grant
should be withheld for the small distance Oy ne y,
tho au oil az
doing all its business with safety and certainty me
bed Is generally Of good width. Doth "a cuts anu
nents were narrow. and estimate las been made VI
the costs OF widening them,
TUNNELS.
There are fifteen tunnels on the road through soma
rock and congomerate or soft granite par, OF tI,g
for many years Those not through solid rock ava NOT
arched have stood without giving tronbT zoe I'VE 1d
three years. and show no signs OF failure We He''oc
make no estimate for archuC any OF them.
BRIpGEs. TRESTLEs AND CuLvLEfs.
and workmanship Several Of them are however. hight
err especially in their suspension rods tha Is
that can DO put on thcm-a train OF locomotives
coupled not over them at high speed
An estimate has been made for Strengthening such a.
are deemed too weak 20 carry the maximum load WIN
safety they the bridges over The North FORK OF inc
Humboldt over Bonner Creck aud the two long spans
Of that at the American Iaver The piers of the Amer'
can River Bridge Of wood ard AL estimate Is made
and In the Sierra Nevada generally oi good chAraC
ter but az least two OF them should ultimately be hed
up or replaced by permanent structures as also the
trestles and temporary water ways cast OF the Sierra
Nevada. An estimate is made Tor tins the lnmediNle
replacement OF these restcs however should not be ro
qured as they will be safe for four or i've years and ia
the time the necessary experience Wil be- gaued
1uired The masonry especially. the Mountain DIys-
ion is well constructed aud OF good materials
snow SHEDS.
AT the summit Of the sierra Nevada. the snow some.
times fa 10 depth of about 10 feet making u PROB
lem OF great difficulty the running Of trains
during the Winter but 1t Is believed which has been
boldly aud successfully met Through The region OF
heavy snow fall except on some high entertainments. the
has been covered by strongly punt sheds boarded
ia At the sides thus thoroughly protecting u from sno"
There are IN these mountains frequent snOwsides or
snow and IN many places the road crosses
their track Whenever THIS occurs III cAShiAlOn bSay
roof is built the road aud extended up the side OF
the mountain, to which its upper edge u uled ana he
whole securely fastened to the rock US solr D.hE sue
that the avalanche will pass readily over H. These
roofs cases extend up the slope OF tue
mountain from 100 TO 300 feet, ana are very
strongly built carry tho great weight that may be sud
denly thrown upon them. In distance ~ 80 miles there
Is an aggregate length Of - miles OF snow sheds ad gal
eres costing according 10 tho statements furnished by
the company g. 3l O the iron In the track varies from
&C pounds per lnea yard and 70 thoroughly spiked
per nile About $50 miles Of the road Is LAID with chairs
aud the remainder with hs joints the whole IN good
surface and line and well adapted 10 high rates Of
speed average rstCass railroads IN the United nates
The sdinr, which are about per cent Of the length
Of road ample for the accommodation OF It's bust
ness. and Judicially located
BALLAST.
large portion Of the road is well baasted with good
material In making estimates % supply the dchcrncle.
the material OF which the rOadbcd Is constructed, and
tho small rain falls OF the Sierra Nevada
sTAIiOHHOUbEs
The station houses Of tho sierra Nevada are not
deemed sufficient and estimate 10 made for additional
ones Further east. while they are but common build.
ugs they yet sufficient for the present business OF
road When replaced they should be OF better char
acter.
WATER ST ffoSs.
These sufficient Ia number and located at convent
ent points excepting In the AIka country where some
are apart for operating the rOad-in
one case 81 mies-Dut Is so obviously Tor inc great M
vantage OF the Company 10 get water at convenient dts
tanees that do think necessary 10 estimate for
the cost Of an additional supply
MACHINE SHOPS AND KSGINE.HOUsEs.
The machine shops ara considered sufficient except at
the proposed junction OF the two roads There Is sum-
cient supply OF machinery and tools hand for all the
sOps except at Junction. East OF ROcktOn the
are OF wood and these should have walls OF
brick or stone Some additional are needed ksti.