| Engineer Bureau |
| April 11th, 1863 |
| |
| Hon. Jas. A. Seddon |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to present herewith
replies to your various interrogatories respecting the advisability of
making a loan to the North Eastern & South Western Alabama Rail
Road Company. |
| A clear statement of the location, length
and features of the road will facilitate greatly an easy comprehension
of what follows |
| This road is a part of the link joining
Meridian, Mississippi on the Mobile & Ohio R. Rd. with Chattanooga
Tenn. and is thus subdivided (see map appended). From Meridian to York
Station in direction of Selma completed and rails laid 27 1/2 miles --
from York Station to Tuskaloosa grading nearly completed two heavy
bridges to build however 69 miles -- from Tuscaloosa to Elyton 54
miles first 25 partially graded -- from Elyton to terminus of N. E.
& S. W. Ala. R. Rd. and junction with Wills' Valley Road at
Gadsden 56 1/2 miles no grading done. Total length of N. E. & S.
W. Ala. R. Rd. -- 207 miles, of which, 179 1/2 miles are incomplete or
untouched. |
| The Wills' Valley road is 95 miles in
length entirely graded with 20 miles of track laid. The total distance
therefore from Meridian Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tenn. is 302 miles
-- of which only 47 1/2 miles are in receiving order leaving a
continuous break of 254 1/2 miles. |
| You ask |
| 1st. What are the military advantages of this road? |
| If completed, very great, uniting as it
does by a direct line the great western military centres -- Meridian
and Chattanooga. By observing the map hereto attached, it will be seen
however that the same end may be obtained although not so perfectly
yet in much less time by the construction of the link from Blue
Mountain Alabama to Rome, Georgia a distance of only 59 1/2 miles, for
which Congress has already made a sufficient appropriation. |
| Simply on grounds therefore of military
connection as bearing upon the present war, an advance to the company
is not recommended by this Bureau, principally in consideration of the
length of line necessarily required for its construction. The
exclusion of the Road from York Station to Elyton however might merit
favorable consideration for while developing the mineral resources of
the country it would present at the same time certain military
advantages, some of which may be thus enumerated. The construction of
the greater portion of this section of this Road is well advanced and
hence it would become available at an earlier period. It passes
through a rich Agricultural region below Tuscaloosa & by the
connection from Elyton to Livingston Station N. & S. Ala. R. Rd
now under construction indirectly aided by a loan from the Government,
a second route from Meridian would be furnished and one less exposes
to any possible successful inroad of the enemy should Mobile ever fall
into their hands. |
| 2nd. "Its advantages as furnishing an easy
access to the Mineral Region of Alabama and the value of that Region
as a source of supply." |
| Its importance in this point of view can scarcely
be over estimated and clearly indicate that the most valuable portion
of the road is that lying between Tuscaloosa on the Black Warrior
navigable for eight months of the year & Elyton on the N. & S.
Alabama R. Rd. This latter town is in the very heart of the richest
iron deposits while in the vicinity of the latter is found an abundant
supply of the very best coal for industry -- trials purporting which
that or any other region of country affords. Limestone also so
necessary for the reduction of iron ores equally abounds. An early
development of the resources of this great mineral region is a matter
of paramount importance to Rail Roads the Army, and particularly the
Navy. It is proper to mention in this connection that the company
propose to manufacture their iron rails & hence their Chief
Engineer's low estimate of $90.00 pr. ton. |
| 3rd. Whether an advance of $3,663,995 could be
secured to the Confederate States. |
| This Bureau is not prepared at present to
present more than a simple opinion that a mortgage on the property of
the company would secure the Government. The principle reason for this
opinion is based on the fact that the company can give a mortgage not
only on their road but also on some 388 834 acres of land of which 288
834 have been located, while their whole indebtedness so far amounts
to only $412,000. |
| 4th. Whether the advantages to be realized afford a
fair equivalent to that advanced? |
| It is the opinion of this Bureau, as may
be inferred from the foregoing, that it is not advisable to authorize
a loan to the full amount of $3,663,995 but that, an advance of
$2,538,066 for the construction of the road from York Station to
Elyton might be judicious while an appropriation of $1,103,066 to
ensure the completion of the road from Tuscaloosa to Elyton is
earnestly recommended. |
| Detailed estimates are herewith appended. |
| Very Respectfully Your Obt Servant |
| J. F. Gilmer |
| Col. of Engrs. & Chf of Engr. Bureau |
| |
|
Estimates on 1st January 1863 of Chief Engineer of
N. E. & S. W. Ala. R. Rd. of amount required to complete the
unfinished portion of the Road 179 1/2 miles. |
| Grading and bridging |
$ 846,995 |
|
| Iron for Rails |
1,505,000 |
|
| Chairs and Spikes |
132,000 |
|
| Depot buildings |
280,000 |
|
| Rolling Stock |
650,000 |
|
| Sundries: embankment protection, ballasting,
engineering, &c |
250,000 |
|
|
|
$3,663,995 |
|
| |
|
Estimates York Station to Tuscaloosa -- 69 miles |
| Grading and bridging |
$ 352,142 |
|
| Iron for rails |
578,524 |
|
| Chairs & Spikes |
50,741 |
|
| Depot buildings |
107,632 |
|
| Rolling Stock |
249,861 |
|
| Sundries |
96,100 |
|
|
|
$1,435,000 |
|
| |
|
Estimates Tuscaloosa to Elyton -- 54 miles |
|
Appropriation strongly recommended by C. S. Engineer
Bureau |
| Grading and bridging |
$ 255,612 |
|
| Iron for rails |
452,758 |
|
| Chairs and Spikes |
39,710 |
|
| Depot buildings |
84,234 |
|
| Rolling Stock |
195,543 |
|
| Sundries |
75,209 |
|
|
|
$1,103,066 |
|
| |
|
Estimates York Station to Elyton -- 123 miles |
| Sum of two preceding estimates |
$2,538,066 |
|
| |
|
Estimate Elyton to Gadsden -- 56 1/2 miles (not
recommended) |
| Grading and bridging |
$ 239,241 |
|
| Iron for rails |
473,718 |
|
| Chairs and Spikes |
41,549 |
|
| Depot buildings |
88,134 |
|
| Rolling Stock |
204,596 |
|
| Sundries |
78,691 |
|
|
|
$1,125,929 |
| |
|
|
| |
Attached Map |
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