Year: 1860

And gives a business for the roads in this


State of S45s, 800


But it is believed that many of the Southern roads
would either become partners in such an establishment,
or at least give il their patronage and If only those OF
North Carolina aud the East Tennessee and Virginia
should do So they would require nearly loo miles of
rolled rail per annum which at the weight Of rail as
before assumed and at $50 per ton for rerolng, will
amount to u OOO and give to the rolling mill bust
ness of S63l 500 The East Tennessee and Virginia Road
would save about $1,000 per annum IN ireights, and
the North Carolnu Road would doubtless effect very
large saving from the same cause though We are not pre-
pared 10 say how much.


Your committee think that this amount Of word would
amply support a large establishment at Richmond, if
there was any certainty ofs being able to command the
patronage of the various roads They also believe that
there is truth in the old adlge, "lf you would have
thing well done do it YOURSELF and that the best way Of
securing the patronage of all the roads is for them all to
be partners in tue concern. They know full well that the
affairs OF company not always managed as udicious
y as those Of an individually but they think that sys-
TEN can be devised which would insure to the
companies mill better management than any
other Joint stock company could have They
think that the Presidents of the various roads represen
ting the interest of their stockholders could elect Pres
ident aud Board of Directors from their own NUMBER
who could keep close supervision the affairs the
rOng-min That the President of the company and
his Board could select suitable Treasurer, and thus
they could select petent a Superintendent Of the
rolng-mill could be found in any establishment in
America or Europe. And if he should fail TO furnish
better rail than laid any road in America he
could be displaced and a competent man appoint
ed As the President the Superintendents and Master
Machinst OF every road would keep close look out
his work we think that ne would be apt that
they were furnished with good article than if he should
be sent to Europe watch the manufacture of it abroad
They believe that rail made under this plan would last
twice as long the ordinary rail- but they will only
sumo it as lasting 33 lS per cent longer and that the
cost of making il would be- based upon the price of
pgiron at S2S b. The average before shown which
would make the cost per ton 500 IS They Will assume
the English rail TO cost only Si5 Allow for S3 3 per
cent in favor Of the former rail SO. Making the COM
parison for English S60-or s. II per ton IN favor OF
making the rails when pig iron is very high and $40 per
ton when it is at S22 80.


If should be thought advisable to have the esta
bshment partly under the control OF private capital as


guarantee for better management they think that the
railroad companies might unite with individuals in sub
scribng TO the capital stock thus giving TO capitalists
the strongest guarantee in their power that the establish
ment would receive their patronage They will state that
an establishment similar 10 this plan now in the full
tide of successful experiment at Atlanta, Georgia. and
one of the most competent and successful managers OF
railroad of any in the Union thinks that is turning out
the best rail that he has ever laid on his road.


They will also call the attention Of the meeting TO the
many deporabe casualties occasoned by the breaking
of axes and wheels and to the heavy pecuniary loss
taned by the different compsni 8 attributable entirely to
a defective axle wheel. They advise that some step
should be taken to prevent the frequent occasion of such
accidents as they are called; though they deserve
much stronger name. They think that something nigh!