TX, ET 6/11/1861

To the Board of School Commissioners
 
Gentlemen,
   In compliance with your letter of instructions dated April 11, 1861 as Engineer appointed for this purpose I have examined the Eastern Texas Rail Road and submit the following report
   The Eastern Texas Rail Road Company have completed twenty six & a half (26 1/2) miles of their Rail Road for actual use.
   The material used to construct the road thus completed are of good quality and the work has been done under the supervision of skillful agents and officers of long experience and in reference to its character the road is entitled to take its ran among the first class roads of our country.
   There are two Bridges on this division of the road. The first across Mud Bayou three (3) miles from Sabine Pass. This is a substantial Pile Bridge two hundred & twenty (220) feet long. The Second Bridge on the eight miles is built across Layton's Bayou which is a navigable stream. A good draw Bridge opening thirty six (36) feet has been built. The approach to it is made by a good pile Bridge. The whole length of the Bridge is two hundred & ten (210) feet.
   There are no Culverts -- a few drains at the surface being all that is necessary. The Road bed has been formed nearly the entire distance by embankment. The surface is very uniform & nearly level. The embankment will not average more than one & a half (1 1/2) feet in height. The width on top is twelve (12) feet and side slopes of 1 1/2 feet base to one foot perpendicular.
  The road bed is with few exceptions dry and firm -- careful attention has been given to the side ditches and the easy maintenance of a permanent superstructure secured by efficient drainage.
   The grade of the first ten miles is level from there to the end of the twenty five miles the ascent is only twenty five feet. This is a gradual ascent of twenty five (25) feet in fifteen miles or an average of 1 2/3 feet per mile.
   The iron is of superior quality, the weight being from 56 lbs to 58 lbs per yard. The width of the track is five and a half (5 1/2) feet.
   The following statement shows the courses and distance from the point of commencement to the termination of the first division of twenty five miles.
   Beginning at a point 691 feet west and 1972 feet north of the S. E. corner of the Dennis Gahagan League
Course Length of Straight line Length of Curve Radius of Curve Angle of Deflection
Then N 8deg 41' W 4100 ft
" Curve Left 1480 ft 2196 ft 38 deg 36'
" N 47 deg 17' W

2 deg 50' W. C. left

1320 " 1500 " 2023 " 42 deg 30'
" N 89 deg 47' W

1 deg 30' C. R.

1100 " 400 " 3820 " 6 deg 00'
" N 83 deg 47' W

1 deg 30' C. left

600 " 900 " 3820 " 13 deg 30'
" S 82 deg 43' W

C. R.

800 " 900 " 2162 " 23 deg 50'
" N 70 deg 27' W

2 deg C. R.

1900 " 500 " 2865 " 10 deg 00'
" N 63 deg 27' W

2 deg 28' C. R.

3000 " 1400 " 2323 " 37 deg --
" N26 deg 27' W

1 deg C. R.

3300 " 1000 : 5730 " 10 deg --
" N 16 deg 27' W

1 deg 30' C. R.

12173 " 1700 " 3820 " 25 deg 30'
" N 9 deg 00' East

1 deg 30' C. R.

5379 " 1333 " 3820 " 20 deg 00'
" N 29 deg 03' E

1 deg 30' Left

16548 " 1600 " 3820 " 24 deg --
" N 5 deg 03' E

1 deg C. Left

8128 " 4234 " 5730 " 42 deg 23'
" N 37 deg 20' W

30' C left

15850 " 2300 " 11460 " 11 deg 30'
" N 48 deg 50 W

1 deg C. R.

37194 " 1000 " 5730 " 10 deg --
" N 38 deg 50' W 361 "
Total 111753 20247
   Beginning at the terminus of the road already completed twenty five (25) construction miles are graded ready for the cross ties and other superstructure. The course and distance of the road so graded is as follows
   Beginning at the end of the first division of twenty five miles
Thence Course Distance in feet Length of Curve in feet Radius of curve Angle of Deflection
N 38 deg 50' W

30' C left

18312 433 11460 2 deg 10'
N 41 deg W

1 deg 30' C. R.

40960 2167 3820 32 deg 30'
N 8 deg 30' W

30' C. L.

13954 467 11460 2 deg 20'
N 10 deg 50' W

30' C. left

3378 380 11460 1 deg 54'
N 12 deg 44' W

1 deg 30' C left

5153 962 3820 14 deg 16'
N 27 deg W

1 deg C. R.

47474 388 5730 3 deg 55'
N 23 deg 07' W 5886
Total 135423 4797
   The embankments are twelve (12) feet wide on top for the first fifteen miles -- for the remaining distance they are 14 feet wide on top. The excavations are all twenty feet wide at grade and the side slopes of the cuts and fills are 1 1/2 base to 1 perpendicular. The first thirteen miles making to Pine Island Bayou is over the Prairie and nearly all is embankment which will average about one foot in height. There to the end of the graded road the graduation is more extensive. The surface is slightly undulating and requires cutting and filling alternately to form the road bed. Some of the excavations are 5 feet in depth and the embankments are generally from 1 to 3 feet. At Pine Island for about 3600 feet the embankment is from 3 to 12 feet high. The grade of the road for practical use is but little inferior to a level road. There are a few undulations in the grade but the ascent or descent is but a few feet on any single mile. The greatest ascent is on the 50th mile which is only 16 1/2 feet and the average rates of ascent per mile is 2 feet. There is but one Bridge which is across Pine Island Bayou. The length is or will be about 300 feet.
   Trestle work crossing several small branches will be as follows 39th mile
Trestle work 12 feet high 50 ft across branch
41st mile " " 8 " " 150 " " "
42nd " " " 5 " " 48 " " "
44th " " " 5 " " 60 " " "
50th " " " 8 " " 20 " " "
   Besides the foregoing there will be about six surface drains -- leaving an opening for the passage of water of six feet.
   Nothing has been done on the Cutouts and Bridges. But the crossties have been furnished and the greater portion delivered on the road.
   The following list shows that 154 individuals have subscribed for 3070 shares in the capital stock of the Eastern Texas Railroad Co. amounting to the sum of $307000.00 and also the no of shares held by each stockholder
{The names are not reproduced here.}
   The amount paid in on the Stocks taken including stocks paid in labor is estimated at $50000.00
   The portion of the Road completed including Rolling stock, Depot buildings &c as reported to me by F. F. Marsh Ch. Engineer cost the amount of ??? ???  $12307.70
   The road has not been opened for business and the Company have run only a construction train at a cost of about $500 per month. All the expenses for running the train and other work done on the road are chargeable to the construction a/c and nothing for repairs. Nothing has been received for transportation of freight & passage.
   The amt. of indebtedness of the Road is about  $358,893.44
   The amt. still due from the stockholders is estimated at $257000.00
   The Company have two locomotives in use. One of 21 tons and the other of 23 tons. These are well furnished and serviceable machines, capable of transporting over the road from 20 to 25 freight cars each having a maximum load of 8 tons. There are ten freight cars, but no passenger cars. Besides these freight cars the Company have the wheels & axles springs bolts &c for 25 freight cars.
   There is only one turn out on the road. That is at Sabine Pass and is 1407 feet long. There has been 47 shares of the original stock transferred as shown on the Books.
   The officers and Directors of the Company were elected June 18th 1860 and are as follows
Hon. H. H. Edwards President Nacogdoches Tex
W. W. Morris Vice " Rusk Co. "
James R. Arnold Nacogdoches "
Wiley Harris Rusk Co. "
Allen Birdwell     "      " "
R. R. Neyland Woodville "
C. H. Alexander Sabine Pass "
S. H. Witman      "         " "
G. W. Cochran Cincinnati Ohio
S. H. Witman General Superintendent Sabine Pass Tex
B. F. March Chief Engineer       "        " "
Jassr H. Muckilsay Treasurer Nacogdoches "
John Forbes Secretary           " "
   The Books are kept at the Company office in the Town of Nacogdoches.
   The Books show all the stock issued and transfers of the same.
   The Books are open for the inspection of any stockholder, officers or agent of the State when duty as with it may ??? to inspect the same. (I found them kept in a business like manner & the Sec. Col. Forbes very accommodating.)
   The meetings of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business are held in the Town of Nacogdoches at the offices of the Company.
   The Company have received 80 sections of land on the grade of the first 25 miles of the road & located the same in Angelina County. It has not been surveyed nor disposed of by the Company. It is a valuable location.
   The road will be completed to the line of the Texas & New Orleans Railroad in a short time after which the road will do considerable business (if the Blockade is not continued). I find the officers of said to be very efficient & desirous to promote the interest of said road.
   I do not think of any thin further that I can say that would be of advantage to you in ascertaining the value & true condition of rail road.
   In making this report I have to some extent, of course, relied upon the Chief Engineer & others, for information whom I find to be competent & accommodating. But I have attempted to make my report in the most important part from actual examination. I went to Nacogdoches & examined the Books, measured the line of the road, length of Bridges, weight of iron, amt of grade by observation &c. &c.
Respectfully submitted
E. S. Pitts
Special Engineer
 
The State of Texas
County of Jefferson
   Personally appeared before me the undersigned authority E. S. Pitts Special Engineer appointed to examined the Eastern Texas Rail Road & upon oath ??? that the facts set forth in the foregoing report are true according to the best of his knowledge & belief.
E. S. Pitts
Sworn to & Subscribed before me this 7th day of June AD 1861
Witness my hand & Seal of Office
G. W. O' Bryan Clerk
Co. Clk. Office

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