AHC, A&MR 6/16/1863

{From the minutes of the Directors' Meeting of the Alabama & Mississippi Rivers RR, June 16, 1863}

 
Office of Ala & Miss Rivers R Rd Co
Demopolis Tuesday June 16/63
 
   At a regular meeting of the Board of Directors held this day. Present G. G. Griffin President, Jas L Price J. W. Lapsley, W. P. Bocock & L. F. Whitehead
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   Mr Price having submitted to the Board a copy of an agreement bearing date 4th June 1863, made by him on behalf of this Company with J. B. Harrison of Selma as to the Companys Ware House property there. On Motion it was ordered that the same be approved and that the Superintendent be instructed to carry the same into execution at the earliest practicable time & that Mr Price file the original agreement with the Secretary.
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   The following preamble & resolution offered by Mr Bocock were unanimously adopted.
   It appearing to the satisfaction of the board that if their road crosses the Tombigbee River at Demopolis, the track in the west side of the river between Demopolis and McDowells Ldy, 4 miles beyond will have to be on trestles for about a mile & a half of the way, over low ground covered with water when the river is high, in many places deep and of strong current: thus rendering the Construction very costly, the road liable to be damaged by high water, and in such event difficult to repair, and traced and transportation liable to be interrupted and seemingly and really dangerous and unsafe: and it further appearing that two other favorable routes have been surveyed for the track by way of Demopolis, both passing on the east side of the river and crossing at a point near McDowells bluff, the one route entering the town along the street called in the town plan Washington Street, and passing along that Street below the present post office, then diverging to the left and so on between the Academy & the river and on down to the point of crossing the river near McDowells Bluff. The other route passing through the southern part of the town between the residence of Gaius Whitfield, and Genl N. B. Whitfield thence on until it becomes common with the first route, and the board believing that while the best track for the road would probably be the last named route, yet the first named would probably be somewhat more convenient and beneficial to the town of Demopolis and its business. Therefore and in accordance with the recommendation of the Stockholders in general meeting, it is
   Resolved and ordered that the President cause the road to be constructed on the one or the other of these routes, giving preference to the first named if it seems to be preferred by the citizens of Demopolis and if the right of way along the same can be obtained on fair terms.
   Resolved That the President be authorised to take all necessary steps to procure the right of way by donation or purchase where practicable and to take steps for the condemnation of the same where deemed necessary or advisable the President being hereby vested with all powers deemed necessary for obtaining the right of way for the road by donation, purchase or arbitration, or by proceedings of "ad quod damnum" under the charter when deemed proper, and to employ counsel i f necessary, and that he be also authorised to take all necessary steps for the speedy construction and completion of the track to the point of crossing the river.
   The communication from Col Sam Tate was taken up when Mr Brocock submitted the following relating thereto, which was adopted to wit: The President having submitted to the board the communication from Sam Tate Prest. of the Memphis & Charleston R. R. Co. the one proposing a change of the price in which he is willing to hire us his Engines and Cars and the other proposing a contract by which in case of their loss or destruction by the public enemy this company shall be responsible for Engines and Cars so lost.
   Resolved, The the President be authorised to make to the proposed change of price in the terms the same right and that as to other matter of the said communication shall the board comment but think the proposition a bad one *****

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