| 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 |