| Engineer Bureau |
| Richmond, Sept. 16th 1862 |
| |
| Hon. Geo. W. Randolph |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have to acknowledge the reference to me,
for a report of communications from Genl. Bragg, C. S. A. and Judge
Walker of Alabama, respecting the importance and probable cost of
constructing a rail road from Blue Mountain 9 1/2 miles south of
Jacksonville, Alabama to Rome, Georgia, a distance of 59 1/2 miles {an
extension of the Alabama & Tennessee River RR}. |
| Probably next to the Meridian & Selma
connection and that between Danville and Greensboro, the line
advocated by Genl. Bragg and Judge Walker is the most important of the
short R. Road links remaining to be constructed, and our want of iron
precludes at present the contemplation of more extended improvements.
The proposed road runs through a fertile country while the connecting
lines pass through a valuable mineral region abounding in iron and
coal. By the route now in existence the distance from Selma via
Montgomery (see accompanying map {not located})
is 344 miles, of which 100 from Selma to Montgomery is steamboat
navigation, with the further drawback that between Montgomery and
Kingston there is a break of gauge. |
| A Route from Selma to Kingston via Montgomery;
and |
| B
"
"
"
"
" "
Jacksonville and Rome |
| The following furnishes a clear tabular statement |
| Route A |
water |
gauge |
gauge |
Total Distance |
|
|
|
4 ft. 8 1/2 in. |
5 ft. |
|
|
|
100 m |
88 |
146 |
334 |
|
| Route B |
--- |
--- |
213 |
213 |
|
|
|
|
|
121 |
Miles |
|
| difference in favor of Route B. |
| The Rail Road from Selma to Montgomery 50
miles in length is not constructed, but if it were Route B is still
shorter by 71 miles. |
| With regard to time and cost of
construction I claim the views of Judge Walker bid favorable, in the
present abnormal condition of the country. |
| The length of time necessary to complete
the Road if energetically prosecuted would probably be 6 months. |
| Bearing in mind that of the 59 1/2 miles,
21 are graded I give below a roughly approximate but probably fair
estimate of the cost of construction. |
| Cost per mile of track |
| 80 |
|
Tons of iron |
@ |
$120 |
9600.00 |
| 2400 |
|
Sills |
@ |
50c |
1200.00 |
| 490 |
|
Chairs |
@ |
$1.00 |
490.00 |
| 4352 |
|
Spikes |
@ |
10c |
435.20 |
| 700 |
|
for track laying |
|
|
700.00 |
|
|
|
|
Amount |
$12425.20 |
|
| Adding to the length of road 1 1/2 miles
for sidings we may estimate |
| 61 |
Miles |
of |
R. Rd track laid |
@ |
$12425.20 |
757,937.20 |
| 38 1/2 |
" |
" |
grading |
@ |
$5000 |
192,500.00 |
| * Bridging, Masonry &c. -
estimated |
|
|
50,000.00 |
| Water Tanks, Buildings, &c |
|
|
20,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1,020,437.20 |
| Add to the amt for contingencies,
Engineering &c |
|
|
102,043.72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1,122,480.92 |
|
| * Very rough estimate from representations. The bridges
over the Etowa and Cedar Creek the most important streams have been
constructed. |
| To procure the required amount of iron it
would probably be necessary to take up the track of some unimportant
or very exposed R. Rd line now comparatively useless. |
| Should Congress deem it advisable to
appropriate the required amount I can see no objection to Judge
Walkers proposition of securing the Government by a mortgage on the
road. |
| I am with great respect |
| A. L. Rives |
| Actg Chf. Eng. Bu. |