| Annual Report of the Knoxville &
Kentucky RR |
| as of January 1, 1861, |
| Engineer's Report |
| |
| Engineer's Report |
| Engineer's Office, Knoxville &
Kentucky R. R. Company |
|
Knoxville, Tennessee, March 25, 1861
|
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the gratification of
reporting to you very favorable progress in the construction of your
road, notwithstanding the embarrassment which the recent and
continuing political agitation has brought not only upon unfinished
but also completed and operated lines of railway throughout the whole
country. |
| Since my last report, then
miles of your road from Knoxville to the Copper Ridge have been graded
and about nine miles of track laid, and much work done upon the next
section of eleven miles to Clinton. |
| At the time of your last
stockholders' meeting, one year ago, only six miles of the grading had
been let to contractors. In October last the grading was so far
completed on the first ten-mile section that track-laying was
commenced at the point of junction of the East Tennessee &
Georgia, and East Tennessee & Virginia railroads, and December 25,
1860, the first excursion train passed over the road from Knoxville to
Beaver Creek, a distance of nine miles -- the excursionists expressing
much satisfaction with the road, which had to that extent been
completed in the manner indicated in my last annual report. |
| From Copper Ridge to Clinton
the work of graduation has so far progressed that one-half the entire
distance is now prepared for track-laying, and the remainder of the
distance, including the deep cut at the passage of the Copper Ridge,
is in such a state of forwardness that it is confidently believed that
the track may at last be completed to Clinton by the coming fall or
early winter -- the only difficulty in the way of an earlier
completion of the road to Clinton existing at the Copper Ridge, at
which point a night as well as a day force should be employed, if it
is deemed important to hasten with all possible despatch the extension
of the track to Clinton. |
| From Clinton to Coal Creek
the work has not yet been let to contractors, for the reason that it
has been deemed advisable to await the opening of spring and its
developments as to the financial condition of the country. This last
ten-mile section is, however, of so light a character of work that it
may yet, without difficulty, be put under contract and be ready to
receive the iron without any delay in track-laying at Clinton. |
| So far, I have no reason to
make any material change in the estimated cost of the road from
Knoxville to Coal Creek. From the work already done, I am satisfied
the road may be finished and equipped for the sum indicated in my last
report. |
| The ten miles finished, which
are provided with a T rail of the most approved pattern and of
American iron, laid upon good cross-ties, distant from each other's
centre twenty-nine inches, with the joint fastenings of the best
quality of wrought iron chairs now in use, have cost your company,
under my supervision -- |
| For graduation, masonry, and bridging |
$43,085.38 |
| For iron rails, delivered at Knoxville |
49,672.32 |
| For chairs and spikes, delivered at Knoxville |
3,524.02 |
| For cross-ties |
6,500.00 |
| For track-laying, (which cost would be even less
if a large amount of work for which contractors charge extra,
were deducted) |
1,972.34 |
| There had been expended for graduation on this
section when the work was resumed |
13,064.50 |
| Thus making the entire cost of the road from
Knoxville to the base of the Copper Ridge, a distance of ten
miles |
117,813.56 |
|
| or less than twelve thousand dollars per
mile. The savings, so as to reduce the cost considerably below that of
most other roads, is to be attributed in part to the favorable
location adopted, and the amount saved by your agent in the purchase
of iron, and also to the fact that the track-laying was not let to
contract, but done under the immediate supervision of your engineers,
thereby materially increasing their labors, as well as those of the
secretary and treasurer, in employing and settling with laborers
employed by the day. |
| The locomotive "John
Williams" has so far given good satisfaction and proved to be
well adapted to the road, as also the platform and box cars built in
this city at the shops of A. L. Maxwell, jr., not a wheel so far
having been off the track. |
| Upon the division of the road
from Copper Ridge to Clinton, there has been expended for graduation
and masonry $58,252.47. Upon the bridge over Clinch river, which will
certainly be completed in time for the track, there has been expended
$9,252.75. |
| I would refer, sir, to
interviews I have had within the past year with Colonel McLeod, chief
engineer of the Louisville Nashville road, and Colonel Gower,
chief engineer of the Lexington & Danville road; but as your board
are familiar with the causes which brought these gentlemen to
Knoxville, as well as other steps which have been taken at Louisville
and Cincinnati, looking to a connection of your road with lines of
railway running southward from those cities, I need not encumber this
report with matter to which your board in their report may, if they
see proper, call the attention of the stockholders. |
| All of which is respectfully submitted |
| C. A. Mee |
| Chief Engineer |
|