| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Nov. 10th, 1862 |
| |
| Hon. Geo. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have carefully examined the letter of
Edwards Wilkes and Co. contractors for the construction of the
Piedmont Rail Road dated today and referred by you to this Bureau for
prompt consideration: I have the honor to submit the following |
|
Report |
| On examination of a contract entered into
the 3d of September last between Edmund Wilkes and Brothers and the
Piedmont Rail Road Company it appears that the first named parties
contracted to do the work of graduation, masonry, trestle work,
furnish cross ties, & lay the track (at certain prices set forth)
on the proposed road between Danville, Va. and Greensboro, North
Carolina, and to complete the work specified by the first day of May,
1863. |
| For earth excavation if completed
by |
May 1st 1863 |
37 |
cts per cubic {yd?} |
| "
"
"
" " |
Aug. 1st 1863 |
36 |
"
" |
| "
"
"
" " |
Oct. 1st 1863 |
35 |
"
" |
| For loose or soft rock excavation |
|
60 |
"
" |
|
| The other parts of the work to be done at
correspondingly high rates. The usual rates in times past for earth
excavations on rail roads, was about 15 cents per cubic yard -- 37
cents named in the contract are there fore about 2 1/2 times former
rates. |
| In consideration of an increase of force
to hasten forward the work to an earlier completion, Edmund Wilkes and
Brothers demand an increase of 50 per centum on their originally high
prices, making the cost of the earth excavation 55 1/2 cents per cubic
yard -- or 3 2/3 times former prices. |
| The other conditions proposed by the
contractors are that the Government shall do as follows: |
| 1st |
Furnish 650 laborers, and 100 mules on the
portion of the work that is in Virginia |
| 2nd |
Furnish 1250 laborers and 500 mules on the part
of the road within North Carolina |
| 3rd |
Furnish at Danville and Greensboro: Bacon and
corn in such quantities as may be required, also forage on the
line of the road. All at Government prices. |
| 4th |
Furnish "Carts &c" required for
working the increase of forces efficiently |
| 5th |
Furnish the increases of force by the 1st of
December, 1862 |
|
| The Government having done and performed
all these things, the contractors may "be able to carry out your
views" with the understanding that should there be less than 20
working days, on the average, in the month, or an epidemic should
visit the line, or the war should cause a loss of time, they shall
receive such compensation as the Chief Engineer or a Board of
Engineers shall decide -- additional compensation I presume.
Admitting that an increase of force during the winter months owing to
bad weather and other causes, would or might add to the cost of
construction I must consider the proposition of Messrs. Edmund Wilkes
and Brothers as unreasonable. They call on the Government to be
responsible for the supply of the additional hands, animals, carts,
implements, provisions and forage -- all at Government prices, leaving
but little for the contractor to do but receive 50 per centum on the
prices named in the contract. |
| At the rates existing a few years past,
Rail Road contractors paid as much as $12.00 per month for labor -- on
the price of $16.00 per month at only an advance of 33 1/3 per centum.
Again, if the provisions, forage, carts, implements &c are
furnished at Government prices, the rates will be cheaper -- probably
as much cheaper than if furnished by the Rail Road Company as agreed
upon in the contract. This saving will probably amount to a large item
in favor of the contractors. |
| Referring to a Report to you of the 9th
inst submitted by Capt. Edwd. T. D. Myers Chief Engineer, and Edmund
Wilkes, Contractor, I find they came to the following conclusion --
viz: |
| "This provides for half the
entire distance with a view to its readiness for receiving the
superstructure (cross ties, rails &c) early in February." |
| "On the remainder we can manage an
addition to the grading force of 500 men." |
| It appears from this that no definite time
has been fixed for completing the superstructure of half the road; or
for finishing the grading of the other half. |
| If the emergency be such that the
Government ought to step in and ensure the completion of the contract,
I would respectfully suggest, that the construction of a part, say,
one half of the road, be undertaken by the Government, using the same
hands, animals, provisions, forage, carts and implements called for by
Messers. Wilkes and Brothers, agreeing with the contractors upon an
equitable allowance for the profits they would have made on this part
of their contract. In a matter as important to the Nation I presume
any contractor will readily agree to fair terms fixing said allowance.
By full concert of action, it is hoped the road can be built in one
half of the time named in the agreement. As the Chief Engineer of the
Piedmont Road is an officer of the Provisional Engineers, the
arrangement proposed can be easily made. One, possibly two, assistants
can be given to Captain Myers, with whose aid he can direct all parts
of the work. |
| In order to press forward the road
rapidly, it will be necessary to rely on the Commissary Depart. for
provisions, and on the Quarter Master Dept. for animals, forage and
transportation. |
| In return herewith the letter of Messrs.
Edmund Wilkes and Co. of this date. Also the joint Report of Captain
Myers and Mr. Edmund Wilkes, dated 9th inst. |
| I am sir, Very Respectfully |
| Your Obt. Servt. |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Colonel & Chief Engineer Bureau |