The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-11-19
Misc&llan&nms.
Report Of Commissioners Of the Union ant
Central Pacific Railroads.

The following extract from this report,
as published in the New York Herald, will
be found interesting, as descriptive of
these the greatest works of this age and
nation:
The joint resolution under which the
commission was appointed requires it to
examine and report upon the condition of,
and what sum or sums, if any, will be re-
CURED to complete such said roads for the
entire length thereof to said terminus as
| first class railroad, in compliance with the
several acts relating to said roads. The in
structions of the interior Department re-
quire that the report should be minute and
specific upon the several particulars relat-
ing, to the construction and equipment of
each :. of the reads which suttsuld state
to what extent if any, the line of either
road deviates from the most central, direct
and practicable route mentioned in said
acts of Congress. The instructions add -
"You will not, however, be restricted to
these instructions, but WILL in the spirit of
the resolution, include in your report any
suggestions or facts relating to the roads
elected by your examination which you
shall consider necessary to be submitted to
| the President of the United States"
| The first question that comes before the
commission is what is meant by Congress in
its various acts relating to the "Paciic
Railroad by the words "first class railroad"
Railroads now ranked as first class in this
country are far from being perfect at their
\ opening and have been brought to their
present high standard by large expendi-
lures, which small traffic in the beginning
could never have justified. To require the
Pacific Railroads to be brought at first to
the standard other roads have reached, af-
ter years Of heavy and lucrative business,
would be waste of money. 1t is evident to
the commission that this was not what
Congress desired or intended in requiring
a first class railroad. If private corpora
tions had built these roads without govern
mental subsidy it would undoubtedly have
been for their interest to build them at first
at the lowest cost consistent with keeping
them in operation, and when built, if a
business should be developed, to have grad
ually made the Improvements which in
creasing traffic should render necessary
But Congress had made large loan and
an extensive land grant, part of which
will be valuable, and in return it required
q better read than private interests would
have built--a road that should be capable
of transporting passengers and freight with
rapidity, safety and certainty; a road as
good as q majority of those in the thickly
settled States. In the opinion of the com
mission the requirement of the law will be
satisfied and the designs of Congress car,
ried out if the roads be properly located
with judicious grades, and have substan-
tial road beds of good width and ballast
ing, which with proper care, shall be able
to keep the track in good condition
throughout the year; permanent structure!
for crossing streams good crossties, iror
and joint fastenings, sufficient fastenings
water tanks, buildings, machinery and ade
quate rolling stock, the more important
machine shops and engine houses being O.
masonry. And the commission is glad tc
be able to say that, in its opinion, while
some expenditures still need to be made
these two roads are rich roads to-day. The
expenditures needed for the completion
will be given in detail for each road.
REPORT ON THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAIL
ROAD, WITH ESTIMATES OF SUMS REQUIR-
Ell III COMPLETE IL.
In the opinion of the Commission the
general location is good, although they saw
several places where it appeared to them i
might be improved in some of its details
perhaps, at a somewhat increased expense
But this could only be determined posi-
lively by an extended instrumental survey
for which the Commission did not have
the time at its disposal; while as was to b'
expected, the location is open to criticism
there are no errors the immediate correc
of which should be required by the gov
eminent. 1t is not thought that they ex
coed reasonable limits, considering tn,
haste with which the latter part ofthe roat
was built, nor that either bonds or lane
, grant should be withheld for the small dis
lance by which they increase the length o
the road Tho road il canahla of dninu oil