| Engineers Office Shelby Iron Co. Rail Road |
| Dec. 25th 1863 |
| |
| Mr. A. T. Jones |
| Prest, Shelby Iron Co. |
| |
| Dear Sir, |
| I beg to submit the following
report of Your Rail Road. |
| Dr. E. T. Ligon contracted as
you are aware to finish this road complete, that is the Grading,
Superstructure and tracklaying, to be built according to the grades
and ground as shown by the profile. I therefore could not alter the
work without the consent of the contractor, at least could not
increase it. Mr. Geo. Wadsworth made a most judicious location of the
route. I feel certain a cheaper route could not be found. |
| But in my opinion he did not
allow enough trestle work. I have increased this item one hundred feet
and would suggest if the Contractor should object to this increase
that you should allow him the difference between trestle work and
solid Embankment. This will be but a small item, yet I would call your
attention to it. My experience has taught me that too much waterway is
never allowed and should future developments show too much has been
allowed then the trestle work can be very easily filled in. Therefore
I increased the trestle work There was to do, to complete the road
(ready to receive the rolling stock) when put under contract, as
follows |
| Superstructure |
| 6 |
miles track laying |
|
| 11,000 |
cross ties |
|
| 350 |
lineal feet Trestling |
|
| 18 |
culverts |
|
| 66,000 |
lineal ft of stringers. (This last
item to be furnished by the Company) |
|
| Grading |
| 7,011 |
Cubic |
Yards |
Earth Excavation |
| 200 |
" |
" |
loose Rock " |
| 36,748 |
" |
" |
Embankment |
| 34 |
Acres of Clearing & Grubbing |
|
| |
| Of the above amount there has been done to
date of Grading |
| 4,209 |
Cubic |
Yards |
of Earth Excavation |
| 200 |
" |
" |
loose Rock " |
| 24,704 |
" |
" |
Embankment |
| 33 |
Acres Clearing & Grubbing |
|
| And of Superstructure |
| 7,000 |
cross ties distributed |
| 1,000 |
cross ties hewn in the woods and yet to put on
the road |
| 1 |
culvert |
|
| Requiring yet to be done to complete the
road as follows of Superstructure |
| 6 |
miles track laying |
| 2,000 |
cross ties to hew and put on the road |
| 1,000 |
cross ties to be hauled & distributed |
| 350 |
lineal feet trestling |
| 17 |
culverts |
| 66,000 |
lineal ft Stringers (to be furnished by Company) |
|
| And of Grading |
| 2,802 |
Cubic |
Yards |
Earth Excavation |
| 7,044 |
" |
" |
Embankment |
| 1 |
Acre clearing & grubbing |
|
| |
| I would suggest the
completion of this road at the earliest practicable moment. |
| One hundred and fifty
laborers, three teams and teamsters, and five mechanics, could
complete this road ready for the passage of cars in Forty days. |
| Most Respectfully Your |
| Humble Servant |
| Wm M. Wallace |
| Engineer in Charge |
|