Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-20

braced and LETT In the poSltlon aS Iounu
by me. ar
feet maximum height. The inspection
shows this trestle to be in good order.
with the exception Of one bad sill; new
cauble blocks have been placed under
the cords and some new bracing. The
guard rails are In bad order and should
be renewed.
Craney's creek, 154 feet long, 80 feet
high. The trestle is in good order with
the exception Of the crossties which
need renewal.
Saunders creek, 1876 feet long "a feet
maximum height. This trestle Is IN
good order.
Bridges.
The Catawba river Is crossed by a
Deck Howe Truss bridge Of three
spans Of ITS feet each, and resting on
granite piers; the bridge Is covered IN
to protect it from the weather and was
found to be in good condition, the moor
beams having been doubled. within the
last year.
S. A. L. crossing Catawba Junction.
This Is an iron plate girdle crossing,
"A feet long, resting on stone abut-
ments, and Is In good condition.
Rails-The track from Camden to
Blacksburg Is laid with 60-pound steel
rails, all in good order.
Surface and Alignment Of Track-In
simple justice to all concerned, l am
forced to say that the surface ana
alignment of the track Is as good as
can be found on two-thirds Of the rail-
roads In the south, where the track is
not stone banlasted, special attention,
apparently, having been given to keep
ing all curves in good condition.
Crossties-From Blacksburg to York
VILE, a distance Of twenty-six miles,
the ties are more defective than on any
other portion of the line. / would esti-
mate on this section that $50 ties per
mile are needed, and that on the re-
mainder Of the line 522 per mile would
place the road bed in sound. condi-
ton.
It must be borne in mind that with
five sound ties under rail, placed at
possible for the rails to spread and the
local officials of the road seem to have
carefully considered this point and pro-
tected against 1t, from the fact that
the record shows that there has been
no derailment Of trains on the main
track from defective ties.
Roadbed-This Is in fair condition,
being we'll drained except in few cuts.
On curves and in many places the
track Is we'll ballasted with such ma
terial as obtsinable. II the track force
could be increased for three months
the roadbed could be placed in first
class condition. Considering the atten-
ton that has lately been called to the
reported condition Of the road through
the press, deem 1t advisable to sub
init a summary Of this report, together
with my views on the subject.
I find the physical condition Of the
road between Blacksburg and Camden
such that I consider 1t entirely safe
for the traffic that Is now moving over
1t with engines Of the same weight as
now used and schedules Of a speed
not exceeding thirty miles an hour.
TrestIes.
l have stated that there are 20 tres
ties on the entire road, Camden to Mar
ion, ". c., and that there was over
100000 feet, board measure, OF tim
ber in them; I am advised that the
records of the Southern railway show
that over 100000 feet Of new timber
has been used on these trestles since
the road came into their possession In
July, 1892; this would entail an ex-
penditure OF $31, 200, the cost Of ma
terial worked into trestles being placed
at $500 per 1000 feet, board measure.
This shows that 20 per cent Of the en-
tire structures has been renewed within
fourteen months. In the trestles be-
tween Blacksburg and Camden 1t Is
estimated there are 2,500,000 feet OF
timber; the percentage OF defective Dut
not unsafe timber now In them Will not
exceed 10 per cent; and Of unsafe tim
ber not l per cent.
In the construction Of all railroad
trestles from to 10 times the quantt-
ty of timber, calculated by cubic
inches, more than Is necessary to carry
the heaviest tonnage expected to pass
over them, is placed In the structure,
as special safeguard against accidents
of any kind; II necessary, the author
ties for this can be produced, and 1t
can be shown that this rule was OBJ
served in the construction OF these
trestles in question and that the timber
in them is Of a first-class quality.
Crossties.
In round numbers $4,000 crossties are
needed to place the track In sound con-
dition between Blacksburg and Cam
den. In consequence Of the scarcity
Of timber on the line, q very large ma
jority Of these ties will have to be
transported from other sections OF the
Southern railway. system.
The railway on the line In question
Is sub divided into Is sections. IA OF
miles each and Of miles, with three
men to the section; the addition of two
men to each section force for the three
months would tend to greatly improve
it's condition. I cannot, however, say
that this proposed increase Is necessary
for the safety Of traffic.