The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-07
THE A. AND D. RAILROAD
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR TO
GENERAL HILL.

The Road fieing Built Too thcapiy MI
Too Rapidly Many sharp curv,
aud Heavy Grades. aud Too Few Tar
rcnts-ccncraI Items Of Local Intsrcs
A TIMEs reporter dropped in yester
day morning TO see General j. c. Hill
Railroad Commissioner. who had jus
returned from ms home at ScottsvIllo
where he went last wednesday evening
In answer 10 the reporters question
Have YOU any news the Commits
sioner replied that there was a very i'm
pOrtant report on the Atlantic an,
Danv.llc Railroad. which road is to run
from Portsmouth, passing Suffolk. an,
on through the border counties 10 Dan
vile. Va.
"Wili you let me see that report -
- don { know that IL should be given
out just now.
rs 1t not right now public prop
eriy z"
Yes; and | suppose ! am compelled
to show it 10 you.
THE REPORT.
The report reads:
General H. C. Hi1, RGRr00d COmmis-
missioner, RichTOHd Ia.
Dear Sir-1he examination Of the
Atlantic and Dinville Railroad was
completed TO day with the valuable as
sistsnce # Captain :. y. Sumter. The
part inspected was from Portsmouth 10
Laurenceville. a distance Of nnety.fOur
miles. No mile-posts being put up, it
Is necessary to describe particular p0r-
tons Of ,he road by their proximity to
the stations and trestles. some of which
are mentioned. Since the June floods
have passed away the condition of the
track has much improved.
The rapidity with which this road
has been constructed prccludes the
practiCabiiiy of firm and settled
road bed, and almost of well selected
aud judiciously aligned locomoI H.
But 1t is feasible - work out the
line after construction. substituting
natier curves and larger taugents
with easier grades. thus shortening the
length of the whole road. giving to the
district which has heretofore had DO
highway Of its own q tangible value ia
return for its generous subsidies from
county treasurers.
MAR HODGES FERRY.
Hodges ferry bridge over the Western
Branch is a sound trestle. &c. The |
grade is sufficiently easy. the grade was
fla,tencd out. the whole track iialtened. |
SIX miles Of the old lumber railroad |
have been adopted as part of the main |
line here. having curves Of 12O to l6j |
feet radius. which should be changed |
and ilattened. and the line generally be- |
made 10 approach tangent between |
and lindale crossing.
where it touches a bend of The Nanse-
mOnd river.
CROSSINGS.
Seven Of these crossings were *
lmined, of which only tho crossing Of
he SeabOaTd railroad can be entirely
approved. The rest are grade crossings.
dependent upon the yiellancsand faith
'ulness Of the employees for immunity
rom constant danger.
After giving in detail tho work done
IN aud the condition of the bridges and
restles, the report says;
BAD CONDITION.
From Telhcld westward the align
mcnt is especially faulty. Curves re-
'eIsed, without an intermediate tan
.ent. are unsafe at high speed, and DC
tru0tive of rolling stock. just east Of
ieody Greek is a noticeable example OF 5
his. which Is, unfortunate for "A ROAD
Ipon which saw mills daily deliver
80 GOO feet of finished lumber. noces- I
Iiating the use Of long and heavy Sec
la. L..
sw months ago. without sufficient al l
)wance for shrinkage. should be S
rought up to the proper height
trades Just west of Suffolk. on either
nd Of suuken bank, between tresile~.
each one hundred feet to the mile. G.
heso faults are all susceptible 90 cor ]
,c:lOn.
DANGEROUS To LIFE. c
The general manager proposes to lay "
ne hundred miles of such track before
ccember Lei. and however notable the W
-iimony TO his energy and enterprise
le passengers upon tho new line thu
.stily constructed. should be warned y
vat they travel at their own peril and !,
} SO at their own proper risk.
The force Of trdckmen tone man To
'ery two miles, is inadequate t. the
opor care and belierment OF new
ack fl
- Fourteen ties are hardly enough -,
ider thirty foot rail of fiity-sIx II
unds.' ~
Thanks are due to General Manager n,
larlcs K. Park for facilities courte n
sly rendered Capt j. ". Sumpter and IT,
yself during the examined. m
'ISignedl T. p. LEAvENwOETn.' -,
Ilill told the reporter
al he went over the line himself first.
Il found il very unsatisfactory.
Thereupon he sen. Mr.. 4. Il. Leaven- an
nth. an expert and civil engineer IN
make the examination along with Ia
plain Sumptor. b,
LETTER To THE MANAGER.
General Hill has sent letter. Of -
iich the following IL a copy, 10 Gene ~
Charles Is. Peck. viCe-president and "'
neral manager of the road. ''
'FICE OF RAILWAY COMMISSIONER. n,
RICHMOND, VA, September, >, 1889. : 49,
neral Charles b. Peck. y. i. and G. tio
w.. A. and ID. Il. r., Portsmouth, "a: ct
Dear Sir.-Herewith / hand ycu re- tao
t of Major j. Il. Leayenworth. en- Go
eer expert for this Office. and com
nd il TO your careful consideration.
accordance with section ,301, Code
1887, hereby notify you that the chi
airs and improvements recommend ten
by Major Leavenworlh, must be tel
de- within sixty days from the 9th OF tel
month, at which time the road will WI
Inspected. Please acknowledge this tas
n. Yours truly, OF
j. c. HILL, tai
Rail rCad Commissioner. Po'
f..