The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-12

whlcn IL ID MS spec1al duty to superlntend.
At tho risk, however, OF repeating some
statements contained in my former report, /
will refer briefly to the condition of the work
already done.
where the earth-work is specially heavy, and
am glad to be able to say, that during the long
period OF abandonment the road has sufferel
but little, aside from the ordinary wasting OF
undermining Of masonry, breaking of embank-
ments by freshets, falling Of the roofs OF the
tunnels, or other similar accidents, there has
been sustained bat trihing damage.
The emOankments show now about nine feet
In width on the top on that part Of the work
which seems most advanced. but as we have
no means Of judging whet her they were ever
can be but imperfectly stated. In making the
approximate estimate OF the cost Of complet-
ing the work to Franklin, which will be found
in another portion OF this report, the loss from
waste Of the earth-work already done has been
assumed at twenty per cent.
The work presents the most ragged appear
ance in the cuts, in many OF which are heavy
now needed to restore the embankments. At
the approach to Saddle Tunnel, in South Caro-
lima, is q very serious slip Of earth from off an
inclined surface Of rock. This was anticipat-
in his notes his fear that it would occur, and it
is not likely that any precauton or care would
have availed to prevent it.. That the masonry,
complete and unfinished. is also little injured,
it Was built. There is none of beJter character
IN any railroad in the country.
Had the tunnels been through material not
self-supporting, eight years Of neglect would
work done, as the weak points wero not lined
with masonry. but supported d by timber which
has yielded from decay. They are, however,
driven through hard mica schists, which rare
ly require support, and, except for accumula-
tiOns Of wa er, are in as good condition as
when the work on them was suspended.
have observed in the tunnels but one instance
twenty feet OF Worr Woman tunnel in Geor-
gia has given way and crater opened to
the surface Of the ground above: It is
however, less than hundred feet from the
eastern portal, and is not matter of great
moment.
expressed in my former report the opin-
ion that twenty months from the time of re-
pletion Of the longest remaining tunnel (that
at Dicks Creek, in Georgia). The road may
be completed and the iron laid to the
eastern portal Of this tunnel TWENTY-FIVE
through, and ..at the same time the road-bed
may be in readiness to receive the track as far
as Franklin. in North Carolina. There is,
therefore. nothing in the character Of the work
place in twenty-five months after resumption
OF operations.
On the 4th Of February, had the honor to
submit report on the condition OF the COM
w
In that report made no reference TO the con-
dition OF the bridges, as had been informed
by Mr.. Gaillard, the superintendent, that st cps
bad already been taken toward procuring the
iron necessary for covering them. have now
to repeat the recommendations con !alned in
that communication, and to add that the
bridges should be covered without delay.
Those are excellent and expensive struc ures.
and should not be day longer exposed to dan
ger from fire and deterioration from weather.
The wooden roofs, which admit the water aud
exclude the sun and air, are worse than moth
ing. If the terms of the lease under which the
Greenville and Columbia Railroad Company
operates the Blue Ridge Road are such as to re-
quire the former company to restore the road
in good order at the termination Of the lease
it should not be hastily terminated and the
road received in its present condition. On the
other hand, If repairs are not made at once
the said road will deteriorate in rapidly in
creasing ratio, and if that company cannot be
required to repair it, we should take possession
at once and put IL in order. observed mud
and water over the rails in one place at least,
and the whole line needs thorough ditching
ana sGsfaG,ng up Not less than thousand
diately. Il these repairs are neglected the iron
9ns t3'n before the company is ready to ssxts6d
# the contract can be made without delay
with men of capital, experience and energy,
June, 1871, there will be direct railroad COM
munication between the Tennessee Valley and
Charleston. Completed 80 tar, 1t is impossible
that the enterprise should stand still. Tho
passed the mountain region. with the tun-
nels, the heavy earth work, and the expensiy.
structures, which absorb capital, task the pa
tience and test the skill. will be behind us, and
from thence to meet the line from Knoxville
we follow route opened by the hand OF nature,
which has broken the Alleghanies before us,
and given the road a clear path to the rich
valley of East Tennessee.
, The road wOuld airaadv heoin fo no thor n
trafRc from the head Of the valley of the Little
iennessees which, I Iventure TO say. will aston
ish the most sanguine This is no sterile and
hills responds now to the hand Of the, husband. nd
man and .repaysl richly his labors. The hills
and mountain sides are n 1t abrupt, rocky and
inaccessible, but present easy slopes and
rounded forms, and are covered with a soil
capable Of supplying in many ways the wants
OF man.
When production is stimulated by mea ms of
access to market and by the various activi-
ties which will accompany the prosecution OF
the work, there will spring up q local traffic
that Will go far toward supporting the road.
: ButiI by no means anticipate that it will be
necessary to wait for the completion OF the
road to Franklin before anything can be done
beyond that point. Too many interests will
unite in demanding the completion of the
work TO- admit ofJsuch delay. Charleston
from that region, and not only the cities Of
South Carolina, but every town from Franklin
to Knoxville and Cincinnati will be vitality in
terested in urging the comparatively I asy
work OF completing the connections.
Men will no longer be discouraged by de-
niancs tor immense Snnds which disappear in
the bowels of mountains, expended on works
that seem intermin8ble; but stimulated by
prospect Of success, will give to the enterprise
q more hearty support. l
Undoubtedly long before the road is open to
tlnue it, aud we may confidently predict that
the work will not halt again until the NOR
chants Of Charleston and Cincinnati meet at
the great tunnel to celebrate the opening OF
the road and the union Of the cities.
JAMES p. Low. Chief Engineer.
"C0nsagnees pcr gousRA csssoAana Haalroau d
x " o er April 10. Tetst8
$50 bales Cotton. II bales Domestics, As pkgs Ta-
con. 166 casks Clay, 6 cars Wood, cars Lumbar
and car stock. TO Railroad Agent, w Roach Co.
Goldsmith Son. Pelzer. Rodgers & Co. heeder