| Annual Report of the Atlantic & Gulf RR |
| as of February 1, 1861, |
| Engineer's Report |
| |
| Engineer Department, Atlantic & Gulf
Railroad Co |
| Savannah, January 23, 1861 |
| |
| Capt. John Screven |
| President |
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| Dear Sir, |
| Although somewhat in advance,
I beg leave to submit at this time a brief report from this
department, in consequence of my probable absence when the usual
period of the annual report arrives. |
|
The result of the last year's operations has been of the
most satisfactory kind. Anticipations as to the progress of the work
as expressed in the last annual report, have been fully realized,
which must be a pleasing fact to every officer as well as to the
Company; while the public, ever prone, and justly so in the main, to
distrust anticipated results, running through the period of a
twelve-month for their accomplishment, and especially so with
reference to Rail Road construction, has, through the journals and
otherwise, expressed its satisfaction and approval.
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To this end, I am pleased to add, the Company's
contractors have most zealously co-operated with the officers of the
Company, and have, in all instances, cheerfully adopted and carried
out such measures and used such efforts as were necessary to secure
this result. The idea that the contractor would consult his
convenience in completing his work, a too common one, has been
effectually discarded.
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At the commencement of the past year's operations, the
superstructure had reached Homersville, Station No. 11, in Clinch
county; at this time, the Road is completed to within eight and a half
miles of Thomasville; the extent of Road completed since January 1st
1860, being seventy miles. A small fraction of this distance, however,
is due to the operations of the present year. A considerable portion
of this part of the line was, at the same time, through a section of
country involving a much larger amount of labor, from its somewhat
broken character, than the previous portion. While it is common, and
often justly so, to find in the weather, in freshets, and in obstacles
of this nature, excuses for tardy progress, it is proper to remark,
that in these respects, during the past year, we were highly favored,
which contributed much, no doubt, to the satisfactory result stated.
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At the date of the last annual report, the expectation
was confidently entertained and expressed, that the Road would reach
Thomasville by the 15th February of the present year. I have already
stated that the track is within eight and a half miles of that place,
and notwithstanding the political embarrassments of the times, which
have come so suddenly upon us, we may still look to the completion of
the work to Thomasville at the time above stated, -- the middle of
next month. The finished Road has reached each of the preceding
stations established during the past year, at or very near the
previously assigned period. These stations, together with that at
Thomasville, with their distances from Savannah, are as follows:
|
| Lawton |
Station No. |
12 |
|
130 1/2 |
miles from Savannah |
| Stockton |
" |
13 |
|
139 |
" |
| Naylor |
" |
14 |
|
144 |
" |
| Valdosta |
" |
15 |
|
157 |
" |
| Quitman |
" |
16 |
|
174 |
" |
| Groover's |
" |
17 |
|
181 |
" |
| Boston |
" |
18 |
|
188 |
" |
| Thomasville |
" |
19 |
|
200 |
" |
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A considerable amount of grading was also accomplished
West of Thomasville, extending over a distance of eleven miles, the
larger portion of which is completed; only about two and a half miles
remaining incomplete, much the largest portion of which is on Section
44, lying a short distance West of Thomasville.
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The force now engaged on the Road is small,
comparatively, (owing to the embarrassments alluded to,) amounting to
one hundred and seventy-five hands, which will be continued on the
terms you have proposed to the contractors, and it is very likely this
force may be somewhat if not considerably increased on the same terms.
The grading between Thomasville and Bainbridge is of a character still
more heavy than that where lay principally the last two years
operations; eleven miles of this distance, already far advanced
towards completion, as before remarked, may be made consecutive by
finishing up two and a half miles remaining incomplete. I would call
your attention to the fact, whether it is not worth an extraordinary
effort on the part of the Company, and even at some sacrifice, to
secure the completion of these two and a half miles in season, (say by
the first of August,) to enable the track to be continued to the next
station in time to invite to the Road the trade and travel West of the
Ocklocknee River by the first of November.
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It is even likely that this extension of the Road would
draw the trade and travel from the vicinity of Bainbridge, if not from
that point itself. In the absence of this extension across the
Ocklocknee River, not much produce can be expected to reach the Road
from points beyond the River, as it is very often impassable in
consequence of high water, -- besides the distance would be too great
to offer much inducement for business to seek the Road at Thomasville.
This course will render productive a considerable amount already
expended on the eleven miles West of Thomasville, while it will
require but a moderate expenditure to complete the work remaining to
be done to extend the Road to a station West of the Ocklocknee River,
and to within practicable reach, as I think, of Bainbridge. It would
also appear desirable to render such grading operations as may be
carried on the present year beyond the eleven miles alluded to, that
is, West of Section 47 East, as nearly continuous as practicable, so
that the same may be made available as soon as possible for the
continuance of superstructure.
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Surveys were prosecuted, by your order, early in the past
year, West of Bainbridge, with a view to an extension to the
Chattahoochee River, and into Alabama, to a junction with the line of
the Girard and Mobile R. Road; thus affording a connection with
Pensacola by means of the Alabama & Florida R. Road, and with
Mobile over the Mobile & Great Northern R. Road, with both of
which the Girard and Mobile line connects. I have already laid before
you, somewhat in detail, a report (with estimates) setting forth the
results of these surveys, but will very briefly recapitulate.
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The country was found to be highly favorable from
Bainbridge to the Chattahoochee River, which stream was reached and
crossed some five miles below Columbia. A practicable line in point of
grades, curves and cost, was found in Alabama, although the topography
of that part of the State is somewhat complicated and difficult. The
distance to the line of the Girard and Mobile R. Road, in the valley
of the Conecuh River, below Andalusia, in Coving county, was found to
be ninety-five miles. A return line was run, starting from the
Chocktawhatchie River, crossing the Chattahoochee one mile above
Freeman's Landing, thence proceeding to Blakely, in Early County, and
thence to Bainbridge. For a distance of twelve miles next, West of the
Chattahoochee River, the country was found to be more difficult, and
the line of course more expensive than the corresponding portion of
the line crossing below Columbia. The distance from Bainbridge to the
point of junction of the two lines at the Chocktawhatchee River, by
the way of Blakely, was found to be fourteen miles greater than by the
first line. I am inclined to doubt if there are advantages attending
the Blakely route to overbalance this sacrifice of distance.
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When the clouds pass away, and a bright future dawns upon
us, which we may soon hope to see, it may be worth serious
consideration, whether connections with Mobile and Pensacola, by this
route, may not be worth the construction of those ninety-five miles of
Road in Alabama; but should you seek those points by connecting the
Atlantic & Gulf R. Road with the Pensacola & Georgia R. Road,
I will venture to express my conviction that the connection should be
with Monticello, rather than East of Allapaha River. I feel satisfied
there are no obstacles in the way of such a connection after a little
time. The line now contemplated, with a view to a connection with
Pensacola and Mobile, on the one hand, and with that portion of
Florida East and South of the proposed point of junction with the
Pensacola & Georgia Road, (some twelve miles East of Columbia,) on
the other, while directed to two objects, will not accomplish either
well, in my opinion. A connection at Monticello, while it would be
more direct, which should be studiously kept in view when reaching out
for trade so far as Pensacola and Mobile, would be available
ultimately as a means of connecting Florida with Northern Georgia. But
as this would not serve the purpose nor supersede the necessity of a
line connecting the Atlantic & Gulf R. Road with the Pensacola
& Georgia R. Road, East of the Allapaha River, such a connection
becomes necessary; but in my judgment this connection should be at
Lake City. This would not fail to turn a large amount of trade from
Eastern and Southern Florida to Savannah, over the Atlantic & Gulf
and Savannah, Albany & Gulf R. Roads, -- to prove a source of
large income to those Roads, and a work of first-rate importance to
Savannah; for the trade of Florida, having once reached her seaboard,
Charleston necessarily participates in it to a large extent, which
would be much less the case if the Florida trade was brought directly
to Savannah by her Rail Roads.
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The late President of the Atlantic & Gulf R. Road
studiously avoided, unless I much mistake, giving countenance to the
connection now proposed, although, if I remember rightly, repeatedly
urged upon him and upon the Board. But a more Western and a more
Eastern connection he advocated, and this consideration had much to do
with the adoption of the line on which the Atlantic & Gulf Rail
Road has been built. To fail to connect the Atlantic & Gulf R.
Road eligibly with Florida, even at considerable cost, would be to
render the location of the Atlantic & Gulf R. Road a mistake.
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I do not know that these remarks properly find admission
here, as the question of connection with Florida belongs to the
Savannah, Albany & Gulf R. Road Company; but a any Rail Road
connection with Florida will necessarily be from and with the Atlantic
& Gulf R. Road, they may not be altogether out of place.
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I have reduced the corps to the lowest standard
consistent with the duty to be performed -- the principal assistant,
and one assistant on field duty, and one assistant on office duty.
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Respectfully Yours,
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F. P. Holcombe
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Chief Engineer
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