AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, AND ADVOCATE OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT No. 35 WALL STREET, NEW-YORK, AT THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. D. K. MINOR, EDITOR.] SATURDAY, MAY 25, 1833. [VOLUME II.-No. 21. CONTENTS: Extracts from the Law authorizing the South Carolina .322 325 Boston and Providence Railroad; Amount of Power Architecture.. Literary Notices.... lantic, we cannot but believe that the stock will same, be regarded as common carriers. And become exceedingly valuable. it shall be lawful for the said Company to use Section 1. Be it enacted by the Honorable or employ any sections of their intended railthe Senate and House of Representatives, now road, subject to the rates before mentioned, bemet and sitting in General Assembly, and by fore the whole shall be completed, and in any the authority of the same, That the Company part thereof, which may afford public accomprovided for in the aforesaid act, and hereinaf-modation for the conveyance of persons, merter more especially incorporated and author-chandise, or produce; and also to lay off and ized, shall, and may direct and confine their construct, and put in operation and use, any first efforts and enterprise to the formation branch or branches of the said railroad, so as to and completion of the rail communication be- communicate with the waters of the Savannah tween Charleston and the Savannah river, at river, or navigable waters of the Edisto or its or near Hamburg, and other points or places branches, subject to the aforesaid rates of transon the said river, by branch or branches of the portation. And the said Company shall have said railroad, in the manner hereinafter men-Power to take, at the store-houses they may establish on or annexed to their railroad, all 334 tioned; and when such communication shall 335 be completed, or before, if the said company tended for transportation or conveyance, pregoods, wares, merchandises and produce in336 shall find it practicable and advantageous, they scribe the rules of priority, and charge such shall have power and authority to lay off and .327 328 .330 332 .333 AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, &c. NEW-YORK, MAY 25, 1833. construct branches thereof, to Columbia and just and reasonable terms and compensation for Camden, or to the most convenient points at or storage and labor, as they may by rules estabnear these towns, or otherwise to constructlish, (which they shall cause to be published,) railroad or railroads between these two towns which compensation shall and may be distinct or may be fixed by agreement with the owners; GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD.-We would ask and Charleston; and the right to make, keep from the aforesaid rates of transportation. the attention of those of our readers who are up, and employ such railroads, shall be vested at all interested in the prosperity of the city ted exclusively; and for the term of time here- bany Argus of Wednesday) to learn that the breaches in the company herein and hereby incorpora- THE ERIE CANAL.-We are gratified (says the Aland state of New-York, to the communication inafter mentioned, no other communication beof "G. Jr." in this number of the Journal, upon tween Charleston and Savannah river, at or in the canals have been all repaired, and that the enthe subject of the Great Western Railway. It near Hamburg, or the waters of the Savan- tire line of the Erie canal is now navigable. The is a work of great importance to New-York, nah river, or the towns of Columbia and Cam-packets arrive at and depart regularly from Schenec-one in which every New-Yorker should den, or to any point on the rivers at or near the tady. Much credit is due to the superintendants of same, by other railroads, or newly constructed repairs, for their activity in preventing and prompti. feel deeply interested, and we therefore cheer-canals, shall be constructed by or under the au- tude in repairing injuries by the late rain. Under fully join with our correspondent in saying, thority of this state. their supervision, the amount of damage to the ca"GO ON." Sec. 11. And be it further enacted by the au-nals, compared with what might have been anticipathority aforesaid, That the said South Caroli-ted, is very trivial. na Canal and Railroad Company shall, at all SOUTH CAROLINA RAILROAD REPORT.-The last Annual Report of ALE.ANDER BLACK, Esq.times, have the exclusive right of transporta- There are 1681 Canal Boats that ply on the Erie which will be found in this number of the tion or conveyance of persons, merchandise, canai. 300 of these are said to belong to Cayuga Journal, gives us the desired information rela-and produce, over the railroad and railroads, Lake alone.-[Alb. Adv.] and canals, to be by them constructed, while tive to the South Carolina Railroad. We have HOMER AND STEAM.--At the ninth ani. they see fit to exercise the exclusive right: of late heard many inquiries relative to the Provided, That the charge of transportation or versary of the London Mechanics' Institucondition and prospects of this road, and are conveyance shall not exceed thirty-five cents tion, Dr. Birkbeck, in awarding a prize of therefore gratified to be able to give an answer per hundred pounds on heavy articles, and ten £20 for the best essay on steam, observed, so favorable as that which may be gathered cents per cubic foot on articles of measurement, that the author had discovered several noti for every one hundred miles, and five cents per ces of the power of steam by the ancients, from this Report. In order to give a fair view mile for every passenger: Provided always, which had escaped preceding writers. He of the advantages and privileges of this com-That the said Company may, when they see had also detected, in the eighth book of the pany, we also give the 1st and 11th sections of fit, rent or fam out all or any part of their said Odyssey, a probable allusion to steam navithe act of incorporation, from which it will be exclusive right of transportation or conveyance at once seen that their privileges are very ex- their privileges, to any individual or individuals, of persons, on the railroad or railroads, with gation: tensive, and secured for a long period.. or other company, and for such term as may When we reflect for a moment upon the ex-be agreed upon, subject to the rates above mentent of its privileges, the enterprise of those tioned; and the said Company, in the exercise of their right of carriage or transportation of engaged in its construction, and the wide expersons or property, or the persons so taking tent of country for which it is destined to be- from the Company the right of transportation come the medium of intercourse with the At-or conveyance, shall, so far as they act in the "So shalt thou instant reach the realms assigned, Some Remarks respecting our Western and business, of trade; and if we can, by a good sect every corner of these counties. The IthPennsylvanian Counties, and the Means of and profitable investment, draw resources to aca Railroad, continued through Ovid to GeCommunication with them. By G. JR. [For our own house-if we can do this, too, with neva, Geneva to Rochester, and so on, by two the American Railroad Journal.] greater ease, in less distance, and with less ex-other routes to Buffalo. In fact, we cannot pense, than others can draw it to them, (and if now (neither could we of the Erie Canal,) comyou will look at the map of our state, or visit pute the number, nor hardly where these little the remarked sections of country, you will, I but vigorous finebria would extend to. am convinced, say with me that we can,)-let us up while we may, and about it. Since the first agitation of the question of a great Western Railroad, from the city of New. York, through our southern counties, to Lake Erie, there has been at times much excitement expressed by the community upon this important subject. A subject we will venture to declare of more vital importance, not only to our city, but to our state, has not, since the first projection of that living artery, the Erie Canal, been held before the public consideration. But, unfortunately for us, within the last year, the public mind has been so much distracted by general, political, and, at times, opposing interests, that the subject for the present appears to be at a pause. 60 miles in our favor. From a want of decision in the exact route, I have not entered into any particular calculations of the amount of the present, or proTaking Owego, (which, if our contemplated bable trade; my intention is a communication road go into operation, will be the Utica of the to the public of such considerations as have of calculation, and that too at which the com- ters as those other I conceive to be the peculiar route,) as the general and most proper one point come within my own observation. Such matputed distance, reckoning from Baltimore and province and privilege of that gentleman who New-York city, would meet, we have, by follow- has probably bestowed more attention upon ing either of our proposed courses, and the this subject, and is perhaps possessed of more bed of the Susquehannah, a balance of 50 or general practical information (I will not yield to him in an interest in) respecting the route than Some persons I have heard who consider any other individual-I mean Mr. Engineer Philadelphia as the great rival of New-York De Witt Clinton. city in the benefits resulting from the improve. As far as an interest in its construction along ments in the west. For my own part, I know its proposed route may be satisfactory to those At the Kaatskill, upon the Hudson river, a not in what, nor about where, this rivalry will engaged in its welfare, I am assured, partly by be, for if you will observe the face of the re-observation, and in particular by the committee ridge of mountainous district commences, and marked country, where their feasible points of appointed from Tompkins county, (those two extends in greater or less elevation, with a broad communication come out, they are at just such intelligent gentlemen, Judge Geer, and Mr. sweep through Madison county, and then south-distances from any one point of our own, that Bloodgood, the President of the Ithaca and erly again, across the whole state. The only any information from thence will rather bene-Owego Railroad,) that along its whole route break worthy of importance along its whole from Owego to New-York city, the inhabitants fit than injure our enterprise. Who, conversant with the topography of were rejoiced at its proposition. Mr. B., with extent is the gorge of the Beaver Creek and both states, and acquainted with such matters, a laudable spirit and generosity, travelled in the Cattatunc, showing, from Ithaca, at the head of would advise, for the benefit and interest of our fall of 1831 through every principal town along Cayuga Lake, in Tompkins county, to Owego, neighbor, a line of Railway from Philadelphia its proposed route, appointing meetings, and on the head waters of the Susquehannah riv. to Owego? I would, were I assured of our gaining expressions of the inhabitants' feelings present inert, and, shall I say, culpable procras- towards the proposed road, as we all know it er, the present route of the Ithaca and Owego tination of our western railway for ten years was successfully chartered the following sesRailroad: so that you will at once observe, to come, recommend a route of way along the sion of the Legislature. that from the westerly portions of Green, Uls- Hudson and canal, and so join the Ithaca road ter, and Sullivan, and so through all the south through the Cattatunc gorge: I repeat, were from disputing whether it shall commence here we to procrastinate ten years longer. Let us or commence there, and from a very inert, ern and more western tier of counties, we look into the advantages of the contemplated though, strictly speaking, a just delaying, waitare, in a commercial point of view, entirely route: We will take the one running through ing for Government to commence, it has redeprived of any communication, either by ca-the north-eastern corner of Pennsylvania, and mained in pretty much the same state up to nal, good road, or navigable water, with the connecting itself with the Paterson road. All the present moment. The whole moment of grand focus of the wealth of the State-our proposed routes that I have heard of yet, meet this great national Appian way has with a in Owego. Let us begin at the south, Here great burthen rested upon, been borne up, city. we would have the Paterson trade; that the and defended, by a few public-spirited men, These counties, especially the more west-iron, and Goshen, and Neversink trade, a great the President and Directors of the Western, are in richness, depth, and fertility of soil, share of the lumber and ore trade of the Jerseys; ern Railway, and one or two more pubnot surpassed by any, either in the country or new mines of wealth would be opened, and lic-spirited individuals. Every one seems to speculations would be profitable in the soil and be in favor of it, but no one will act.. state; and some of them possess immense reproduce of Sullivan, Delaware, Broome, and This should not be so. Why should New. sources in quarries of an excellent quality of so on, along the whole line far west. Property York wait for Government to help her? Away white and grey granite, limestone, and gypsum. would be brought out, and cultivation where is with Government patronage; it is very good Every moment that we procrastinate is an a wilderness. but let others beg for it who need it more than age of interest against us. Baltimore, that city through Broome and Oneida, another from and still can. A railroad company is chartered to run we do. We have always got along without it, I aim, then, that we go to work whose enterprise and public spirit is so justly Utica to Watertown, in Jefferson county, (late- on "our own hook." Call in your instalments celebrated, is now, this very moment, drawing ral arms these of powerful strength and extent, upon your shares, give Mr. Clinton his instruincreased resources from out the very bosom commanding a rich valley country, and much inents-not next year, but now-and set him to of some of our western and richest counties cultivated space,) the Binghampton lumber work. I know its difficulties, but he shall be in the state! trade, the lumber, flour, grain, and plaster, de- cheered on. I have pioneered in some places manded from the entire vicinity of Cayuga and he will have to go by; and, Mr. Editor, I want The Susquehannah, whose head waters Seneca, (and in time much farther,) by the Ith- you to join with me in saying-Go on-go on! branching out in navigable and many courses, aca and Owego Railroad. Other railways will G. JR.. look upon and embrace our frontier, is every be made, but thus far, and without other aid, April, 1833. season whirling down its rapid tide the rich will suffice to cut off the Baltimore trade.* produce of not only Alleghany, Tioga, Steu- When we arrive here we can branch off with ben, Broome, and Delaware, but since the ca- profitable advantage far into Pennsylvania, nal from Seneca Lake to Newtown, is extend-some way down the Genesee, and so continue ing its trade in Ontario, Yates, Seneca, and our direct line on to Portland, upon the shores Tompkins; the three latter counties, especially, of Lake Erie. considered the garden of our State. And now The whole route to Owego completed, the that the Ithaca and Owego railroad will have merchant at New-York city would get his proovercome the former heavy and expensive car-duce to market from Rochester, by the way of rying pass, it will, like a funnel, draw wealth the Ithaca road, in from 2 to 24 and 3 days; and business down the Susquehannah, even later in winter, earlier in the spring, and at a the very produce of Erie and Genesee! cheaper rate than now. If we look around this section of country, we will find chartered railways in every direction, waiting but for our great road to inter This is not imagination: I call upon every person conversant in our western trade to agree with me; it is not that we have looked upon this fair and productive soil, and that the pitiful jealousy of seeing its rich produce borne When I was in Baltimore last November, I took cononward to Baltimore, Philadelphia, or any other siderable pains in inquiring into the Susquehannah trade place, has caused me to regret that its rich-of that city-found large and extensive store-houses rising ness has gone that way, nor is it either that individual witom I could hear of had regretted his inup, the growth of its budding richness, and not a single the trade will continue to go to any of these vestment of capital in that trade; on the contrary, I was places; but it is that I would rather that it told it was "a chief hope" of that city's prosperity. should come here. have since been informed, that the last Maryland Legislahannah. ture chartered a railway to run north along the Susque Competition, we are told, is the very soul of Report of ALEXANDER BLACK, Commissioner, to SIR,--Having in my communications to the Directors, at their stated monthly meetings, furnished them with all the facts in relation to the road, requiring their consideration and direction, I shall, at present, omit every thing but what is necessary to enable the Stockholders to form an opinion as to the future prospects of the enterprise, appending data which will enable every one to judge for himself. My recent visit of examination on the western division of the line has enabled me to arrive with greater accuracy at the results stated in the summary. The execution of the a very substantial and superior character, espework throughout this division of the line is of cially through the valleys of Horse and Wise creeks, where extensive sections of the trussel work have been substituted for the piling construction. In some cases the elevation of the is 3720 3744 States. grade of road above the surface of the country||opening a communication between the court-in relation to the performance of the locomorendered this mode of construction indispensa- house and the railroad, more direct, and in all tives lately placed upon the railroads in the ble, and in other cases, where the soil consists respects better than that heretofore used. United States is not sufficiently minute to esof soft mud, ten or twenty feet below the natu. There are three stations on this line, between timate the value of their performance, when ral surface, its adoption was judicious, as the which a spirited though friendly competition compared with that of the "Phoenix;" but it most effectual mode of acquiring solidity of exists, to attract the trade and intercourse of is extremely questionable whether the same foundation, and stability of structure. But the populous neighborhood of the village, and distance, divided into daily trips, has been acthere are portions of the work where a more products of the fertile lands in the Edisto Fork. complished without a single day's interruption economical mode of construction than that This competition must necessarily result in by any other engine in the United States. Much adopted would have answered the purpose, and a manner favorable to the convenience of the credit is due to her engineer, Mr. Henry Racomported better with the fiscal means of the public and the interest of the Company. worth. It is known to the Board, but not to Company. To the above causes may be as- It is pleasing to reflect, and must ever be a the public generally, that the engine now called cribed in part the unexpected excess of expen- subject of sincere thankfulness, that during the Phoenix was formerly the Best Friend.” diture over the estimated cost, on this division the execution of our work, no accident has oc- It was built according to the plan, and under of the road, of which the Board were not duly curred involving either the loss of life or limbs the personal direction of our talented and eninformed, and consequently had not provided of any of the workmen employed in the con- terprising fellow-citizen, E. L. Miller, Esq. Its for. Though this excess may cause a tempo-struction of the road, though their number has peformance was tested on the 9th of Decemrary inconvenience, and has disappointed our sometimes exceeded 2000, and has averaged ber, 1830, on which occasion it exhibited a expectations, yet it is a matter of regret that 1500 the whole time; and also that during the power much beyond that stipulated for in the the means of the Company did not permit the last 12 months, though the trips performed contract; it was, therefore, accepted, and perintroduction of this mode of construction in have been more numerous and the number* of formed with entire success till the next summany places through swamps, difficult of ac- passengers greater than at any former period, mer, when the negro who acted as fireman, becess, either for repair or renewal, where the no personal injury has been sustained by a sin- ing incommoded by the unpleasant noise of the piles are used. There will be required to com-gle individual. steam escaping through the safety valve, venplete the work on this division of the line, Our sole reliance for the conveyance of pas-tured on the expedient of confining it, by press$20,000, including $7,000 due the contractors sengers and freight during the last four months ing the weight of his body on the lever-gage of and for back wages to the hands, and also $2,- has been on two engines of the smallest class, the safety valve, which experiment resulted in 500 for the stationary engine-house: this amount viz. the "Westpoint" and the "Phoenix," the the explosion of the boiler. At the time this however, does not include the construction of" South Carolina" being under repairs the great-engine was engaged, Mr. Miller led the van, a depository, work-shop, &c. at Hamburg, the er part of this time, and the "Charleston" hav-among the advocates of steam over horse or cost of which will be decided by the style of ing but recently arrived, contributed nothing to other power for railroads. Public opinion was finish and size which the Board may consider the increase of our cash receipts. Whatever at that time much divided on the subject: the proper. may have been done by the "South Carolina" Baltimore and Ohio Company leaned in favor A statement showing the actual cost of eve-in the above period while in working order, is of horse power; nothing daunted by the weight ry department of the work, and of each branch more than balanced by transportation of work- of their authority, Mr. Miller persevered, and of service, is now preparing. The classifica- men, with iron and other materials, by the en- with an unyielding fixedness of purpose, protion of the accounts, by separating each item gines, to advance the work, which, of course,posed to construct an engine on his own perfrom the general account, and carrying it to its is not noticed in the cash receipts. sonal responsibility equal to the best then used appropriate head, is nearly completed: without The performance of the West-Point during in England; he succeeded, and to him belongs this statement it will be impossible to explain the 120 days has been as follows: the honor of planning and constructing the in a satisfactory manner the apparent discre-60 trips to Branchville, each 62 miles, first locomotive ever worked in the United pancy between the amount expended and the 52 trips to Midway, each 72 miles, is estimated cost of the road. Considerable sums have been judiciously invested, and other Aggregate, amounts necessarily expended, on objects not (The West-Point lost 8 days occupied taken into consideration in forming the original pairs.) estimate, nor chargeable to the cost of the road The performance of the Phoenix during the or the machinery used on it. I shall advert to 120 days has been as follows: a few cases, out of many, to sustain this remark. There is invested in lands and improvements, $15,588 25, and in negroes $6,146 00. Felling trees to clear the track two hundred feet, advantage would be gained, either in economy, in order to preserve the road against the danstrength, or execution of the work, by importger it would have been liable to from the trees 8184 ing one locomotive from abroad. No one now falling across it, and to shield it from the pernithinks of sending abroad for vessels for comcious influence of their shade, averaging about merce or steamboats. American skill and in$60 per mile, amounted to $7,200. It was The total number of miles performed by the dustry produce specimens of both, that excite nd experience that ditching was essen- West-Point and Phoenix is 15,648, in 120 days. the admiration of foreigners from every portion tial to solidity of foundation, although, at first, The number of passengers that arrived and of the civilized world. They will, ere long, exit was supposed to be unnecessary. This with departed during the above period, (exclusive of hibit a similar success in the machinery used lateral drains have constituted a considerable attendants, officers of the company, clergy, on Railroads. A little more experience alone item of expense. The stock of tools and ma-contractor, and workmen, who had, during the is wanting to enable them to effect the object. chinery, with the materials for future use, now progress of the work, passed free,) is 4109, or It is also desirable that our wants should be on hand, may be estimated at $10,000, add to on an average 34 per diem. Cash receipts for supplied from a source not liable to be affected which preliminary expenses, office rent, sta- freight and passage money, $11,526 78. By a by the casualties of a long voyage, or by the tionary, agencies, camp equipage, and survey-reference to the detailed statement marked (B.) interruption and risk consequent on foreign ing instruments. The enterprise created a de- and hereunto annexed, it will be observed that wars; indeed the policy of the Company would mand for labor far beyond the ability of the there has been an uniform increase in the pas- seem to dictate the enlargement of their own country to supply, and caused that increase in sage and freight money. On referring to pre-works, so as to furnish the entire road equipprice which scarcity invariably produces. The vious cash receipts, I find the amount received ment within themselves; it might at the comonly alternative left was to permit the work to the three first months of the present year to be mencement be more expensive and troublelanguish, or to urge its completion at the mar. greater than the amount received during the some, but would very soon be the most econoket price of labor; the latter course was adopt-six last months of the past year. The opera-mical and satisfactory; for the work would be ted as the most conducive to the interests of the tions were chiefly confined to the transmission subject constantly to rigid inspection in all its Stockholders. During the last year the com- of passengers, staple production of the country, parts, and all inducement either of interest or pany and several of the contractors have been light merchandize, and materials to advance carelessness to slight the work would be recompelled to pay 50 to 75 per cent. more for the completion of the work. Horses, cattle, moved. The many evidences of skill and inlabor than the price at which it was valued vehicles for travelling, staves, shingles, and genuity displayed in remodelling, and advanin the estimate. other commodities of less profitable transpor- tageously changing the arrangement of locoThe liberality exhibited by our State Legistation, were necessarily declined. motives, at our workshops, afford abundant lature in granting the prayer of the Company's In order that the Board may have an oppor-evidence that encouragement of our own workpetition at their last session merits the warm-tunity of estimating the comparative impor-men will be the best means of insuring a supest thanks of the stockholders, and evinces a tance (as regards revenue and public inter-ply of our wants in this particular. There are spirit of liberality and a disposition to foster course) of the different stations or stopping considerations, however, which should have our infant enterprise. The citizens of Barn- places on the line, I have annexed returns for weight in making up a decision on so imporwell, who have ever evinced a lively interest in January and April, which will exhibit all the tant a subject. Steam, as a moving power on the prosperity of our enterprise, and to whose essential particulars in detail. My information roads, is still in its infa ey, though no new friendly co-operation the company are indebted principles have been discovered; the manner for many valuable facilities in the progress of road during the last twelve months are supposed to ex*The number of persons who have travelled on the of applying those already known is the subtheir operations, are now actually engaged in [ceed 16,000. ject of almost daily improvement; and judg Many of the Stockholders have expressed a 7464 strong desire that the Board should make trial in re-of an English engine; the subject is properly referable to the chief engineer, and I should not advert to it only from the impatience of the public and the absence of that gentleman 60 trips to Branchville, each 62 miles, on official duties. So far as material, and the amounting in all to 3720 construction of the mechanical part, is a mat 58 trips to Midway, each 72 miles, 4176, and 2 double trips, each 144-288,4446ter of consideration, it is doubtful whether any (The Phoenix was employed every day during the 120.) ing of the future by the past, there is every cars, &c. in one year; and I am informed by a in England had received, offered a powerful inreason to suppose that the locomotives now in gentleman, who was engaged in constructing a ducement to persevere under circumstances use will give place, before many years, to oth- canal one hundred and six miles in extent, at otherwise unpropitious; but the material, cli. ers of a more improved construction. the north, that the repairs the first year it was mate, soil, and resources, of the two countries, The engines, whose performances aston-opened for public use amounted to ninety thou- were so essentially different, as to render_all ished even the scientific world, at the great sand dollars; in addition to which, the same hopes of following the English plans altogether prize competition on the Liverpool and Man-work sustained injury by a freshet, which cost visionary and illusive. Nor were they more chester Railway in 1829, are now laid aside to thirty thousand dollars to repair, within two fortunate in turning their attention to the efmake way for others better calculated for the years after its completion.* It is not necessa-forts of their sister States. Few works of this purpose. Since that period, genius and sci-ry, and indeed it would be invidious to go fur-nature had then been contemplated, and but ence, fostered by the great and the affluent, ther in these statements, than the two cases one (the Baltimore and Ohio) which at all aphave been incessantly engaged in rendering referred to. As a general result, it may be af-proached in magnitude to that contemplated by the locomotive a powerful and efficient agent to firmed that most works for conveyance or the Board. All were in the incipient stages of railroads. A mass of talent and experience is transportation, whether rail or turnpike roads, progress, and the most that could be said of the therefore to be found there, which can be ob- or canals, incur a greater expense the first best plans then proposed was that they were tained no where else, and it will be for the year they are brought into operation, than the “splendid theories.' Their value was yet to Board to determine (after consulting the Chief average cost of the next succeeding ten years. be tested, by the infallible touchstone of expeEngineer) on the expediency of ordering one The plan adopted in the construction has been rience. Unaided by examples elsewhere, with or more engines from England, for the purpose peculiarly fortunate; it has been emphatically no precedent that could be followed with safety of testing their relative value with those con- called the "Inland Bridge"-recently it has or confidence, the Board were thrown upon structed in this country. proved itself so. At a time when every mail their own resources, and finally determined to The system of supervision which was intro-teemed with accounts of the disasters occa-construct a road five miles in length by way of duced last fall, to protect, maintain, and keep sioned by the late heavy freshets, when the experiment, on the novel and untried mode on the road in order for daily service, as commu-Savannah river rose higher than it has done which the road is now constructed, as best nicated to the Board in my report of the 7th since the memorable Yazoo freshet, when seri-adapted to the climate, soil, material, and class of January last, has fully realized my expect-ous apprehensions were at, one time enter-of labor of the country, and also as being betations. Monthly reports are received from the tained for the safety of the Augusta Bridge, ter suited to the finances of the Company. persons in charge of the several stations, ex- when the houses in Hamburg were encom- With what success, and how far judicious, is hibiting the aggregate of work done; from passed by water, and all communication be- for the Stockholders and the public to deterwhich the total cost per annum of maintaining tween Hamburg, Augusta, and Barnwell Court- mine. and preserving the road can be ascertained, house, was suspended for three days, and re- Meantime the limited essays made in the and those portions of the road most liable to sumed on the fourth, at the risk of losing the railroad system responded favorably to the anderangement, or "wear and tear," corrected mail and the lives of those entrusted with its ticipations of the sanguine, and the important and strengthened by repairs and renewals. Se-conveyance-when the navigation of the rivers bearing of this enterprise on the future destinies rious apprehensions were entertained by some was stopped, their banks strewed with the of the State and city rendered it a subject of persons that the sinking of the piles in loose, fragments of houses, mills, &c. the highland the most intense interest, not only to the capuncertain, or wet soils, would be a great source roads washed into gullies, and the bridges in italist, but to the patriot and the statesman. of difficulty and expense. Indeed, it was not the low country in many places washed away The Stockholders were convened on the 19th unreasonable to infer that a superstructure at this period, so destructive to property, and of August, 1830, at which meeting, stock suffiweighty in itself, extending one hundred and when intercourse between various parts of the|cient to increase the capital to $581,340 was thirty-six miles, subject to enormous weights, country was entirely stopped, it will be gratify-subscribed, and the Board authorized to compassing rapidly over it daily, and depending for ing to the Stockholders to learn that, with the mence operations, with a view to the compleits support and permanency chiefly on posts exception of the sliding of the side of a bank tion of the entire line to Hamburg. The Board driven into the ground, should yield in some on the road (avalanche) within two miles of determined that the road should be surveyed, places. The first five miles from the Lines, Hamburg, the works have not sustained inju. with a view to a definite location, and that the which was constructed as an experiment, ex-ry to the amount of five dollars. During this work should be placed uuder contract forthwith. hibit more cases of this kind than four times whole period the trips were performed regular- On the 5th of November, Mr. Allen, as Chief the distance on any other part of the road.ly in the usual time, and with the usual loads, Engineer, with an efficient corps of assistants, The experience gained there suggested the and the passengers experienced no inconve-commenced an examination of the route, with use of posts larger in size, and less pointed ornience, except that resulting from a moist at-a view to a final location, and in the following tapering at the end inserted in the ground, mosphere. Had the system of embankment June reported a line fourteen miles shorter than which has obviated the evil. The mode of re-which is generally resorted to in similar works, had been expected from former examinations, storing the road to the true grade, when a de-in order to preserve the grade over low grounds, and four miles less in distance than the most pression is occasioned by this cause, is simple, been adopted in this work, it is probable that a direct communication by the common travelling efficient and economical, giving at the same large portion of it would this day have been a roads. On the 28th of December, the first contime additional strength and permanency, and mass of ruins; as human sagacity could scarce- tract for the construction of four miles of road its execution is within the range of the duties y have anticipated the necessity of culverts was concluded with Messrs. Gifford, Holcomb assigned to the road police. From the expe. sufficiently capacious to have afforded an out- & Co. The balance of the eastern division was rience we have had, I am inclined to believe let to such immense and overwhelming floods. let out, as promptly as advantageous offers that the expense of repairing and keeping the As the duties of my appointment will cease could be obtained, in small sections, so as to road in secure travelling order, will fall within on the completion of the work, which may be enlist all the efficient working force attainable the amount per annum stated in the original shortly expected, at which time a new system in the vicinity of each. suggestions on the subject, viz. twenty thou-for the permanent administration of the affairs On the 17th of March, 1831, the first consand dollars. On the Eastern Division of the of the Company will be necessary, and as this road, the charge will be less than eight thou-is the last annual communication which I shall sand, including materials. It has been found have the pleasure of making to the Board, I will that opening works of this kind for the first conclude by a summary of the proceedings of year for public use, cost more than at any sub-the Company since its formation. The books, sequent period. Many defects remain unde- according to the stipulation of the charter, were The balance of the western division, except tected, until the severe test of a regular per-opened for subscriptions to the stock on the 17th 34 miles on Savannah River Swamp, was formance is brought to bear on them. On ex-of March, 1823. A moiety of capital only was placed under contract to Messrs. W. & J. D. amining the half-yearly statement prepared for subscribed. On the first Monday in May, 1828, Gray and General Ware, to commence on the the Stockholders of the Manchester and Liver-the subscribers organized the Company by first of June. * tract (except four miles of swamp to Charles De Witt,) on the western division, was signed by Messrs. Gray & Couty for the construction of thirty miles of road, to commence the same on the first of May, 1831. pool Railroad, it appears that repairing the m-electing a Board of Directors, and appointing a The eastern division to Branchville, 62 miles juries sustained in one year after the road was Secretary. The Board, on entering on the from the city, was opened for public travelling opened for the locomotives, cost fourteen thou-delicate, arduous, and responsible duties im-on the 7th day of November, 1832, being one sand six hundred and sixty-two pounds ster-posed on them by the charter, and by the ex-year ten months and twenty-one days from its ling, for thirty miles, being upwards of three pectations of the public, found little to guide or commencement. thousand dollars per mile, to repair and re-ad-enlighten their deliberations, from works of On the seventh day of February, 1833, the just the derangement produced by the steam this character or construction elsewhere. It is road was opened for travelling to Midway, 72 true that the impulse which the railroad system miles. It is two years precisely, from the date *The Road Police on the eastern division is adequate to keep the Road in a state of repair and security, under of this communication, since the contractors * Since the above was penned, I have found more un-engaged to commence the work on the western any increase of travelling, and a slight increase in the questionable evidence of this statement, viz. in Document number of the clerks at the stations. Conductors and at-No. 101, being a report on Steam Carriages, submitted to division. tendants on the cars will be competent to transact ten the 2d Congress, 1st Session, page 180. The following The distance reported by the Chief Engineer times the amount of business at present done. While, is an extract in relation to the Mauch Chunk and Bristol being 136 miles, and taking the divisions of latherefore, our expenditure has nearly reached its maxi-Canal, 594 miles along the Delaware. mum, our income can scarcely be considered as com- aver, has not yet been brought into profitable use, on ac- exemplification, the progress of the work "This canal, how-bor, embraced in the form of contracts, as an menced; and every day's operations will present the af- count of the extensive repairs which had to be made du- stands thus: the track is opened by felling the fairs of the Company in a more gratifying position. ring the year 1831, and amounting to $97,339 51, or $1,629 per mile. trees 200 feet wide throughout the line, except + The Liverpool aad Manchester road. own. within about nine miles of the city, and a few||and keep a record of each day's work, mention-|| iles in the valley of Horse Creek near Ham- ing particularly the quantity and nature of the Will boats run against such a competition? urg, which has been deferred, owing to the work, the number of spikes replaced, &c." Certainly not. The transportation company eluctance of some of the landholders to have eir timber destroyed. Statement of the number of passengers con-advantage of their proprietors as well as their will no doubt engage the present boats, to the The excavations are entirely completed. veyed, and the amount of cash receipts at the itches and lateral drains sufficient for present Midway, from the first of January to the 1st have spare room for much freight, which can Depositories of Charleston, Branchville, and Besides passengers, the steamboats will urposes are formed. All the bridges to ac-of May, 1833: Line Street, $8,645 92; Branch-be delivered in Providence at less than insurmmodate the public, neighborhood and plant-ville, $2,369 24; Midway, $512 02; total, $11,-ance, interest, and freight of carrying it in othion roads, are built. 527 18. Total number of passengers up, including stage passengers down, amount er vessels te Providence, fitted out purposely 3,200; passengers down, from Jerico, 50; from for freight, without computing the advantage Sineath's, 79; from Woodstock, 385; Sum-to the merchant of dispatch and certainty; as merville, 180; Laurence's, 60; Inabnet's, €9; has been stated in the engineer's report, the George's, 45; way passengers from one inter- Stonington road will be remarkably level, avemediate station to another, 41; total, 4109. raging only 12 feet per mile elevation; and the Statements of locomotives, passengers, crank, country abounds with the best materials for a freight, tender, and horse cars, on the line and railroad. The economy and saving to the comat the depository, and the arrangements in pany will be very great, by using timber to bridge train towards an increase of the same: across low lands, and to overcome the irregu The foundation, whether consisting of piles, sills, sleepers, or trussel work, is completed for whole distance of he caps and transverse pieces are he rails are laid and keyed for he iron is spiked down permanent- 136 miles. 135 do. 134 do. 98 do. to pense of embankments. 2 eight-wheeled locomotives, viz. South Caro-larity of surface, instead of incurring the exlina and Charleston, (6000, 7000,) 13,000 The surface is prepared for 24 additional 2 four-wheeled locomotives, les. viz. Nine turnouts or passing places have been structed. 3 West Point and Phoenix, (4,000,) 8,000 4 second class passenger cars, in- 1,000 Twelve pumps or watering places have been The iron for Ware's contract 6 miles, is de-4 crank cars, one at Hamburg, one RECAPITULATION.-The road to Branchville 9 two years two months and eleven days. three months after it had been opened to nchville, viz. the 7th February, it was med ten miles further, crossing the Edisto er on a bridge constructed for the purpose, g 72 miles from the city. other in the world. which is respectfully submitted, 1,485 635 sett of timber wheels, $65, and 13 tarpaulins for freight cars, a $9,75, 50 setts of springs a $50 is 2500, and 3 setts at $100, is 300, States. I understand it is the determination of the directors to urge this work on with all practicable dispatch, that it may be completed even before the Boston and Providence. Engagements have been already entered into with the most experienced engineers, to superintend the work, and it is to be at once commenced. O. Q. Amount of Power lost by Curves on Railways. SIR,-A very curious and very necessary table remains still a desideratum in the science of railways, which I am inclined to believe the observations of experienced engineers would be able to furnish us with-I 191 75 mean of the amounts of power lost by curves on railways. This loss, for the sake of a ready perception of its value, I would oppose to a relative inclination in this manner, which would, I imagine, bear to fully elucidate a very important section of that branch of engineering: 2,800 the iron, and locomotive power to convey To the Editor of the American Railroad Journal: ere now at our command, and the stationaSIR, I am pleased to see that the Boston. A curve of 5,000 feet radius ngine should equal our expectation, the and Providence Railroad is pressed on with ern division might be completed one month energy, though our Boston friends have exertis equal to a rise of, say this date, which would be two years anded an influence unfavorable to this road, prefermonth from the day the first contract to mence the work was executed. ring that New-York should be kept at a renidst the many disappointments and diffi- spectful distance, and some depression has been &c., always supposing the outer rail of the es necessarily arising in an undertaking occasioned here by persons who wished to pur-level of the inner rail. ovel and extensive, it must be matter of chase stock; yet the stock will regularly adcurve as in practice to be raised above the alation to reflect that the line of railroad finished, on which our engines travel, is vance, and will, no doubt, stand as high, or made with this view, but I have never met I know that some experiments have been er in extent (in consecutive miles) than higher, than other railroad stock in the United with an account of them, and, in common Should any doubt, let them look at the facts! results of such experiments. It appears to with many others, am anxious to learn the ALEXANDER BLACK, I think that the road will command as large me to be one of those chapters on railways Commissioner S. C. C. & R. R. Co. ce of Commissioner, May 1st, 1833. an amount of transportation of passengers and least understood at present, and on which the om the Notes appended to the foregoing rence to the map it will be seen that no other fected. merchandise as any in the country. By refe-greatest improvements remain yet to be efrt, we take the following: Very respectfully yours, tract from the rules defining the duties of and Philadelphia other roads may be built, and route can interfere with it. Between this city -ns acting as Road Police: "You are to Boston, May 12, 1833. over the section assigned to your care the canal may take a large amount of business, The subject referred to in the above comgoing down on one side of the road and but from Stonington to Boston the route brings munication we deem one of considerable imning on the other, examining minutely Providence nearly in a direct line, and no other portance, and shall be much obliged if some part of the road and correcting every road can rival its natural advantages. t, attending to the most serious first. And of our correspondents will furnish us with the any derangement occur, by accident or Should any, without reflection, suppose that desired information.-[ED. R. J.] wise, beyond your means to repair in due a line of boats will be run to Providence, let it call in the assistance of those on the ad- be observed that, with fare at $6, they hereig stations. To attend especially to se- tofore have not been profitable to stockholders: g the wedges, and to correcting all deions in the road, occasioned by the sink- they make one passage, only, in two days, and f piles or sleepers; also to securing the that requires from 16 to 17 hours, whereas the where the spikes are drawn or broken. boats to Stonington can make a passage every 1 these essentials are done, to employ the day, and not requiring births, would carry a in clearing the road of weeds, underh, and other trash, that would subject it greater number of passengers. The price from iry by shade and moisture, or accidental this to Providence will not be over four dolTo be fully provided with a supply of lars, and the time required less than eleven nd water on the arrival of the engines, hours. |