THE
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ilfl
OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
OF THE
RAILROAD COMPANY,
HELD AT
XraWBEREST, Iff. €?*
JULY 17th, 1856,
WITH THE
iiMits if in iiiiiiit
NEWBERN, N. C.
WILLIAM J, WILLIAMS, Printer,
1856,
&E&ERAL MEETISra OF THE STOOKHOLDEE
j E
1 rHE
RAILROAD COMPANY.
The Stockholders of the Atlantic and North Cakolji n a I
,
&
Companv, in conformity with their Bye-Laws, met in Fe ;
!
)C
Thursday, the 17th day "of July, A.D."l85C.
On motion of the Hon. J. M. Morehcad, W. B. Wadswovlb, Esq.
of Craven, was appointed Chairman.
Chas. C, Clark, and Isaac Ramsay, on motion of A. T. Jerkins, !
were appointed Secretaries.
On motion of Jno. Blackwcll, Esq., a Committee of three wan
pointed to ascertain what stock was repsesented in person and by proxy
John Blackwcll, Geo. Green and A. T. Jerkins constituted said con:'
mittee, who reported through their Chairman, M". Blackwell, that they
had examined the list of Stockholders and proxies, and find 2,273
shares represented in person, and 12,707 by proxies ; which being a
majority of the whole number of shares, the Chairman declared the-meeting
ready to proceed to business. (Council Wooten, held: the
States proxy,)
On motion of John IT. Richardson, the President of the Com.
submitted his report oi' the Proceedings of the Board of Directors, foi
the fiscfd year, ending July 1st, 1850$ which was read.
Israel Disc-sway, Chairman of the Committee to audit and settle the
accounts of the Treasurer, made a report, which,togethei vith the
President's, on motion of J, M. Morehead > I I ibli*hr"l
4 GENERAL MEETING OE THE STOCKHOLDERS.
J. M. Merehead inquired of the President, whether he had been of-ficially
notified of the appointment of Directors by the Board of In-ternal
Improvement, who stated in reply that he had been informed by
Pulaski Cowper, Esq., Secretary of the Board, that E. A. Thompson,
of Wayne, Council Wooten aud Lewis C. Desmoud, of Lenoir; G. S.
Stevenson, A. T- Jerkins and F. P. Latham, of Craven, and Isaac
Eamsay and Levi T. Oglesby of Carteret, had been appointed Directors
to represent the Staco in the Company, and their commissions forwarded.
On motion of G. S. Stevenson, it was resolved that the meeting
proceed to an election of four. Directors on the part of individual
Stockholders, and on motion of Gen. H. G. Cutler, it was resolved that
a committee of two be appointed to superintend the ballotings. The
Chairman appointed H. G. Cutler and C. Wooten said committee, who,
after the first ballot, reported that J. D. Whitford, Geo. Green, W. P.
Moore and Council Best, having received a majority of the votes cast,
were duly elected. The report was received and adopted.
On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet again at 3 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
At 3 o'clock, the Stockholders met according to adjournment, and
the meeting was called to order by the Chairman.
On motion of Geo. Green, it was unanimously resolved, that the
President of this company receive as a compensation for his services
i"an annual salary of two thousand dollars.
On motion of G. S. Stevenson, it was resolved that the ByevLaws
be so amended that five members, including the President, shall con-stitute
a quorum of the Board of Directors for the transaction of
business.
On motion of J. D. Whitford, it was resolved that the committee
of finance be appointed by the Chair. The Chaiimen appointed, I.
Disosway, J. W. Carmer, and W. G. Singleton.
On motion of George Green, it was resolved that the next Geueral
Meeting of the Stockholders of this Company be held in the town of I
Kinston, in the County of Lenoir.
On motion of J. M. Morehead, one thousand copies of the proceed-ings
of the Meeting were ordered to be published in pamphlet form
under the supervision of the Secretaries.
On motion of G. S. Stevenson, the thanks of the Meeting were ten-dered
to the Chairman and Secretaries for the efficient manner ir.
|
which they had discharged their duties.
On mofiiou, the meeting adjourned sine die.
W. B. WADSWORTH, Chairman.
Isaac Ramsay, ) f, , .
prrAc p n, .,,, r Secretaries.
LIIAS. L>. OLARK,
j
J)f the President and Directors of the Atlantic and Moills
Carolina Rail Eoad Company, to the Stockholders at the
Annual Meetisg held in iffewbern, July 17th, 1855.
,
.Gentlemen :
In submitting' their Second Annual report, it gives
the Board of Directors pleasure to be able to announce
to the Stockholders, that the affairs of the Comimnv
are in a very satisfactory condition. During the past
year we have been enabled to meet with punctuality
all our engagements, notwithstanding a large amount
of work has been performed and materials delivered
and paid for, including three thousand two hundred
tons of rails for Mr. Stanly's contract.
On the 17th day of August last, the location of the
Eastern terminus was finally settled by concluding
contracts with William Murdoch for the founda
tions and masonry and Stone and McDowell for the
Superstructure of the Viaduct over Trent River;
Council B. Wood, for the construction of the Road
from the Southern abutment of the Trent River Bridge
to the east bank of Slocumb's Creek; John M. More
head from that point to White Rock on Beaufort Har-ber,
the Eastern Terminus of the Road; Henry G„
Cutler for the Arm to Carolina City. The entire Road
from Beaufort Harbor to Golclsboro, with the excep-tion
of the line through IVewbern (which the Board
thought best to reserve and build,) including Wharves,
Ware-houses, Water Stations and Machine Shops, is
now under contract and in the hands of gentlemen
whose experience and zeal guarantee its construction
in a workmanlike manner and its completion at as
REPORT OF TQL PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS-early
a day as practicable; for although uo arrange-nieut
has yet been made for the purchase of Iron for
the Road from Kinston to Goldsboro and from New-bern
to Beaufort Harbor, (the price being so high it
was deemed inadvisable to insist upon the contrac-tors
buying until it was actually needed,) we feel con-iident
that they will secure, if posible, the rails for
their contract in time to prevent any serious delay in
1 the completion of the work.
In approaching ShepaixVs Point the Road for three
miles passes through Carolina City, and follows an air
line immediately upon the margin of Bouge Sound,
and for the distance of three thousand feet before
reaching White Rock, the track is constructed across
marshes that are covered at hiqvh water. This work
requires a permanent and expensive protection against
the action of the waters. But the great value of the
location of our Terminus, directly at the confluence of
Bouge Sound and Newport River, upon eighteen feet
water, affording the most perfect facilities for the inter-change
of freight between the Cars and Shipping in
the Harbor, would certainly justify any reasonable ex-penditure
of money, and can best be appreciated by
those who have had to bear the heavy expense of the
conveyance of Goods through Towns.
At the terminus also of the branch Roads at New-bern
and Carolina City, the arrangements for transfer-ring
freights to and from Vessels and Boats will be of
the most convenient and desirable character.
The requisite amount of Stock ($300,000,) to secure
the State's" subscription having been paid into the
hands of the Treasurer of the Company on the 25th
August last, the Board of Internal Inprovements way
notified of the fact by a certificate under the seal of
the Company signed by the Treasurer and counter-signed
by the President, as required by the amended
Charter; and on the 12th September, 1&55, a subscrip:
REPOET OF THE PRESIDENT ANE DIllECTOR I
II
Lion of $1,066,600, (two thirds of tiie Capital-Stock,)
was made on behalf of the State. There not being
the necessary means in the Treasury of tlie State to
pay the instalments, bonds were promptly issued by
the Public Treasurer for that purpose, and bid off by
the company at" par. These bonds have been a great
assistance and convenience to us—furnishing all the
Northern funds required by our contractors and so far
have been disposed of without loss. Before another
instalment can be exacted from the State, an amount
of the private subscription must be paid, in equal pro-portion
to the payment required of the State ; there-fore,
however unwilling the Directors have been to re-sort
to legal proceedings to coerce payment from those
in default, if the contractors are to be supplied with
the necessary means for the construction of the Road,
they will be compelled to insist upon the punctual pay-ment
of instalments and require both corporations and
individuals to pay all arrearages into the Treasury
without delay.
The State, having made the subscription to the
Road, will have the appointment of eight Directors
;
four only will be elected by the individual Stockhold-ers.
Much of the land required for the road has been
released by the citizens along the line, and the right
of way through Hancock Street has been granted by
the Commissioners of Newbern. This liberality on
the part of the land owners, is highly commendable;
and it is to be hoped but few persons at the comple-tion
of the Road will feel so much aggrieved ly the
enhancement of their property as to insist upon adjust
nient by legal condemnation. We have purchased
about nine acre3 of land, near the Town on the Ncuse
for the Ware-house, Machine Shops and Station-House;;
and two lots on South Front-street, where the Road
crosses Trent River" and four acres in addition to the
8 REPORT OF THE PRESIDED AND DIRECTOR- .
land heretofore purchased in the Town of Goldsboro
Subsequent to the purchase of the lots on Trent River
1 the Town gave the Company the water lot at the
Southern terminus of Hancock Street, which affords
greater facilities for crossing the River and will make
a convenient and desirable freight Station for the
Road.
The Agents of Craven and Lenoir have been prompt
in paying the instalments due on the subscription of
those Counties, and considering the difficulties incident
to the financial tightness of the times Ave have had no
reason to complain of many of the individual Stocks
holders.
Having stipulated to furnish the principal contrac-tors
on the Koad with trains, for the transportation of
the Iron and other materials for the prosecution of
their contracts, they paying all the expense incured
therefor, we ordered some months ago, contracts to
be made for three Locomotives, and two of them have
been delivered; the "Gov. Bragg" and "Charles F.
Fisher," manufactured respectively at the shops of
Messrs. Rogers, Ketchum and GrosvernoE, Paterson,
New Jersey, and Breese, Kneeland & Co., Jersey City,
N. J. ; the third, the " John. Baxter, will be ready
as soon as required. They are first class Engines, con-structed
with great care, finished in a superior
manner (though purchased at a reasonable price)
and are designed for either freight or passengers. The
"Gov. Bragg" was put in motion on the Road at the
Station in Newbern on the 15th, and delivered to Mr.
Stanly on the 10th March last, with a train of Platform
cars. Since that date it has been run about two thou-sand
mile3, which test has proved that it comes up to
the reputation of its builders in every particular ; not
a screw having been loosed, or one cent paid for repairs
except for slight damage received by the accidental
falling: of a shed
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS. \)
The company have to thank the Hon. James C,
Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, for two hundred copies
of the Chart and Report of the Harbor of Beaufort,
which we' would suggest be bound with the proceed-ings
of your meeting. They are also under obligations
to the Honorable George E. Badger, Asa Biggs and
Thomas Eiiffin, for useful and valuable Maps and
Surveys.
The committee ©f finance appointed at your last An-nual
meeting have investigated with Great care the
accounts of the Treasurer, Having had access to all
the books and papers in the office it is presumed their
report will be full and satisfactory.
In consequence of Mr. E. R. Stanly's having become
interested in a contract on the Road he resigned the
office of Treasurer, which he had filled with zeal and.
intelligence from the organization of the company up to
1 your last Annual meeting, when we were so fortunate
| as to secure the services of D, S. Willis, Esq., our pre-sent
efficient Treasurer.
The work on the Road shows abundant evidence of
vigilance on the part of the Chief Engineer and his
assistants. Mr. H, L. Brown, master Machinest has been
faithful and energetic in the discharge of his duties.
In the month of November last we were honored
by a visit from His Excellency G©v. Bragg and D. W.
Courts, Esq. Public Treasurer of the State. After an ex-amination
of the Harbor of Beaufort, and the work in.
the vicinity , of Sew'bern, the Governor was shown at
the Office of the Company, plans of our Wharves,
Ware-houses, and Bridges, and the profiles of that
portion of the Road he h A not an opportunity to in-spect
personally. We 8 ; ratified in being able to
say that he was • pleased wii ubstantial
.-hnracter of the work and returned to the Capital
with renewed, and. confirmed confidence in the ultimate
luetivene3s % the Road an ;reat importance
to the State,
10 EEPOET OF THE PRESIDENT AND DIEECTOES.
In tlie management of this great- work, we trust we
have had the independence to act upon the re-sults
of practical experience, instead of the influence oi
public wishes. It has not been our desire to build
you a cheap Road, that would, after the lapse of a fe^
years, require for repairs a sum equal to one half ol
its original cost ; but to pursue that policy which truj
economy dictates, and construct every part of it in
j
thorough and substantial manner and of the best m:
terials—to lay it with a heavy rail of the best qualitl
. to erect all the buildings necessary, with a view 1|
durability and convenience—to equip it with first claj
machinery, that it may be operated as economically ail
with as much safety as any Road in the country.
Appended we submit statement of all the Office
now in the employ of the Company and the Treasure
financial statement, to which, as also to the annex]
report of the Chief Engineer, we refer for detailed
formation relative to the progress of construction al
other matters connected with the Road.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN IX WHITFORD,
President
LIST OF EMPLOYEES. J- 1
JriTKMKST o/^c #»^neer* erop%«* on «z4 2)tot«on of the Atlan-tic
akd North Carolina Rail Roab, on ^e Is* a//uiy, I80C.
j John D. AVhitford, President, Salary, f1800
W. B. Thompson, Chief Engineer, do 3000
D. S. Willis, Secretary and Treasurer, do iuuu
EASTERN DIVISION.
James Miller, P. A. Engineer, Salary, $2,000
W. H. Small, Assistant,
Thomas H. Allen, do.
do 1,200
do 600
WESTERN DIVISION,
Benj. D. Frost, P. A. Engineer, Salary 1,600
F. t. Hawks, Assistant, f ^00
Geo. W. Blaney, do *> 1,000
Henry A. Brown, do do 4bU
Henry L. Brown, Master Machinest and .
Locomotive Engineer. _ _
1
'r°
*$900 ef which is paid by contractor, for running Locomotive.
BEPOBT OF TIIE TREAStJBIJg.
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.JLiEPOIlT OF TIIE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 13
&ENTLEMEN :
The undersigned, a portion of the committee appointed at your
last annual meeting t© audit and settle the accounts of the Secretary
and Treasurer, have attended to the duties assigned them, and find
from a careful comparison with books and vouchers, that the statement
annexed is, in all respects, correct, and that there is a balance ©f four
hundred and eighty-eight thousand six hundred and ninety-one dollars
and thirtysnine cents ($488,691,39) to the credit of the company,
consisting of cash, bills recievable and available bonds.
In addition, though not legitimately within the scope of the duties
incident to their appointment, still at the request of the President of
the company,, the committee have examined all the proposals for con-tracts,
and aio satisfied that they have been awarded to the lowest bid-ders,
and that the selections from the offers made, have, in all cases,
been such as to insure the best interests of the State and of the indi-vidual
Stockholders.
The committee take great pleasure in stating that the books of the
Secretary and Treasurer prove him to be an efficient and skillful officer.
Mr. Wood, subsequent to his appointment as one of the committee,
having become a contractor, his associates were theieby deprived of his
assistance, and for that reason his name is not hereunto appended.
Respectfully Submitted.
I. DISOSWAY, ) n
J W. CARMEP. \
Gommttlcc,
July 1st, 185G.
W. CARMER. f
Of ths Chief Engineer of the Atlantic and J\F. Carolina Rail
Road to the President and Directors, July 17th, 1856.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor herewith of presenting, in as brief and as condensed
a form as possible, my second annual report upon the progress and
present condition of the work, in my department, upon the line of
your Rail Road, and in doing so it affords me great satisfaction to state
that the amount of work executed by the contractors, is as great as
could have reasonably been expected from the force they have been
able to secure upon their several contracts.
The quality of the work executed is also of a permanent and dura-ble
character. Your brick culverts and the absence of Trestle- work
iipon the entire line of the Road will give it a durability and safety not
generally belonging to Roads in our Southern country. The additional
"width given to the embankments insures ample bearing for the sills to
their extreme ends, and avoids the unsightly and insecure washing
away of the soil, which much also give stability and security to your
Road.
The excellence of Rail Roads as well as of all other Roads, as you
are aware, depends upon the formation of the road-bed, the materials
composing it, and its perfect drainage ; when this is properly done, and
time allowed for the settlement and consolidation of the materials, you
then have the surest possible guarantee of minumum expenditures in
keeping up your road, as well as in the saving of wear and tear of
machinery. If the present plan of construction is carried out to the
completion of your Road you cannot fail to secure the above most de-sirable
considerations.
It will be remembered that in the last annua! report, it was stated
that the contracts had been let between Newbern and Goldsboro,' and
that the contractors had made some progress in their work. It was
also stated that the surveys were in progress and would soon be com>
p>leted for the Shepard's Point and Carolina City lines, and that the
results would be submitted as soon as the calculations could be made
up. I beg leave to refer your honorable body to a supplemental report to
my last annual report, giving the results of the surveys referred to. The
contracts were shortly after let to highly responsible gentlemen for the
Trent River Viaduct and the Graduation, Masony, Bridging and super-structure
from the Trent River to Bar water in Beaufort Harbor. The
work was soon after commenced with energy and zeal and has been
steadily prosecuted with such force as the contractors could procure up
to this date. They have encountered great difficulty in procuring la*
bourers for the execution of their work, but as they have ample tituo
REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER. lo
for the completion of their contracts, this will not Occasion them any
serious inconvenience. Net so with the contractors from Newbern to
Goldsboro'; the difficulty of procuring labourers has operated very-much
ao-ainst them. As negro labour could not be obtained in suffix
cient numbers, the contractor from Kinstou to Goldsboro' who is also
a sub-contractor from the end of the 11th mile from Newborn to Kins-ton
fov the graduation, found it necessary to resort to free white labour
from the North, mostly recent emigrants from Europe—always a preca-rious
reliance in our Southern country, and with us not comparable to
slave labour. Out of 580 laborers brought out at different times by Mri
J C. Washington, there are now remaining upon the work only GO ot
them. The consequence is that upon such portions of the line, and es*
pecially upon that portion between the 11th mile from Newbern to kins-ton,
where the work could not be prosecuted during a portion ot the * all,
Winter and Spring months, on account of the continued rams, and upon
which the contractors expected to concentrate a large force during the dry
season, is not sufficiently advanced to insure the completion of the work
in the time required by their contracts, and it remains with the 1 re-sident
and Board of Directors to consider the propriety of an extent
sion of their time, which from the force of circumstances it seems to
me is reasonable and just, and should be granted.
On the 5th ©f February last and again on the 5th ot Aprn 1 made
a requisition upon the contractor for a sufficient force, and designated
it to finish his contract in the time specified. It is believed that every
exertion has been made to secure the required force, but without suc-cess
the white laborers refused to work there, and the negro force nas
been diminished by their running away. There are now from near
Core Crook to the end of the 11th mile from Newbern, 73 hands and
•21 horses and carts with some prospect of a further increase.
The following is a statement of the present condition of the work
executed upon The entire lino of the road, together with its value in
dollars and cents
:
WESTERN DIVISION.
Tho entire line upon this division is cleared with the exception of
2 1*2 miles, and about 11 MO miles graded to receive thesihs. Inere
are several lengthy cuts and fills upon this division between Kmstoii
and Goldsboro', upon which but a limited cart force can be worked.
They have been urged forward by the contractor, and the work at
Falling Creek and Bear Creek is far advanced towards completion
;
that at Stoney Creek, has been commenced and is progressing well.—
There is also a considerable amount of grading in an unfinished state,
No Masonry has yet been executed ; the Bricks for that purpose can
soon be furnished as rapidly as they can be laid. Stone of a good
quality and of desirable dimensions is now being quarried on Mr. Lull s
land for the Abutments and Piers of the Viaducts' to be "erected ovev
16 REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER.'
the Neuse River and Southwest Creek, together with the culverts in
that vicinity. The track will be laid by the 15th of July from tho
Neuse River to Southwest Creek upon which the materials for these
structures can be transported. The Timber for the superstructure of
these Bridges has been contracted for and a portion ©f it sawed. A
eonsiderable number of sills have been prepared upon this division
and a few delivered. The iron is on hand to lay the track from the
end of the Eastern Division to Kinston, and Chairs and Spikes to a
large amount for the entire Division,
The valu® of the work upon the Western Division and estimated at
contract prices to July 1st, 1856. Distance 49 5-10 miles.
Clearing, ' $7,180 09
Grubbing, 1,266 78
Excavation and Embankment/ 24,727 20
Sills delivered but not laid, 6,098 00
Superstructure laid, 2,487 40
Road Bridges and Crossings, 148 24
Chairs and Spikes delivered, 17,095 56
Iron Rails, 153J389 58
1212,392 85
EASTERN DIVISION.
The line ft cm Shepard's Point to within seven miles of Trent River
is cleared and about 14 miles of this distance graded to receive the
Sills with the exception of the openings for Culverts and Bridges. The
foundation of the Bridge at Slccumb's Creek has been commenced by
driving 45 Piles, the number required being about 130. The timber
and plank for capping the Piles has been procured and delivered at the
work. The Timber and plank for the foundation of the arched Culvert
at Wolf Pit near Slocumb's Creek has been procured.
From 6 to S000 Sills for this Division have been hewed, a few ©f
which however up to this time have been delivered upon the line.
The Piles for the foundation of the Eastern abutment and for Piers
No. 4 and 12 of the Trent River Viaduct have been driven and also
about two-thirds of the required number for Piers No. 6, 8 and 10. The
grillages for all ©f the Piers except the Draw Pier are framed and
ready to be put in place, as soon as the Piles are sawed off, which ope^
ration will be cemmenced in about one week. Stone for packing the
Cribs and for the riprapping has been procured on the bank of the
Neuse River above Newbern, and some 200 yards of tho same delivei-ed
on the work. Timber and Iron for the superstructure is being de-livered
monthly and workmen are employed in framing the same as
fast as delivered. The grading and superstructure of that portion of
this division extending from Newbern station to Bachelor's Creek is so
far completed as to admit of trains running over it. The masonry of
tho arckod* Culvert at Jack Smith's Canal and thfi abutments and su^
EEPOET OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER. 1 {
perstructure of Jack Smith's Creek Bridge, together with several small
Culverts and cattle guards upon this portion of the division arc com-pleted.
The foundations of the abutments of Bachelor Creek Bridge arc
nearly completed and the brick masonry for the same is in progress.
—
Che superstructure fqr this Bridge is framed and ready to he place .
| ou the abutments as soon as completed. The grading between the
!re<ek and the western end of the division will be completed iu a few
. The Wharf at Nev bern upon the Keuse River will no doubt
e completed iu six weeks. The Piles for the foundation of the News
: em Warehouse have been driven, cut off and capped, and the con-tractor
will commence tue brick work in a few days. About seventy
and brick have been laid in the foundations of the Engine House.
,
and Machine Shop.
:
i value of the work upon tlie Eastern Division estimated at con-prices'
to July 1st, 1356. Distance ±4 43-100 miles.
aring,
Grubbing,
Ixcavation and Embankmeu
onry,
. delivered—not
Superstructure laid,
Load Crossings,
Cattle Guards,
Bricks deliverei ,
Chairs and Spikes,
Piles driven and Crib Work framed >
foundation for Trent River Viaduct.
Iron, Lumber and Workmanship ii
Superstructure,
Mechanical Yv7oik upon New ben:
Wharf and Stone Filling including
Excavation and Timber delivered
Piles driven for foundation of Slocm
Creek Viaduct,
Foundation's Bachelor Creek Bridge
and Superstructure for the same,
Superstructure Jack Smith's Bridge
and Culvert's, •
Mechanical Work on Machine Shoo
ind materials deliverec.
$199,240 22
ferora the above statements it appears that the value of the work ix
mted by the contractors at their contract prices up to July 1st, 16
£
'
1,744 00
33,433 85
4,189 32
•2,988 56
48,380 68
72,906 62
SO 70
160 00
• 512 00
266 52
5.675
10,373
0,958 8 )
30S 69
1,251 24
2,211 25
1,617 00
18 - EE 3HIEF ENGINEEE.
amounts to $411,633 07—that miles of the line is in condition for
the running of Trains and are now used for the transportation of mate*
rials &a.—that 25 1-2 miles in addition are graded for ihe reception of
the Sills, with the exception of ;be Culvert and Bridge openings; that
there only remains about 9 1-2 miles of clearing to be done upon the en-tire
route ; and that a considerable amount of unfinished graduation upon
both divisions of the Road is in an advanced state. Extensive arrange-ments
for the burning cf Brick upon Bachelor's Creek have been per.
fected as well as at Kinston and we may soon expect a large supply of
that material for the prosecution of the masonry.
The force upon the line has been materially reduced since the 1st of
May last.
No. of labourers now on the line engaged in
Grading, getting Sills, making Brick, &c. 6G6
No. of Mules and Horses, . 130
In accordance with instructions I repaired to the North in Septem-ber
last to examine the several establishments for the manufacture of
Locomotive Engines, and to contract for two Engines, and the necessa-ry
platform and gravel cars. The result of which was a contract with
Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor, ©f Paterson, New Jersey, for the Go-vernor
Bragg, and with Breeze, Kneeland and Company of Jersey City
for the Charles Fisher.
These Engines are about of the same weight, 40,000 pounds, in run*
•ning order, and are worked with the shifting link motion. The Go-vernor
Bragg was placed upon the Bead on the 21st of March last and
tip to this date has been running daily, Sundays excepted, with mate-rials
of all kinds, for masonry, track laying, &c. In this arduous duty,
according to the report of EL L. Brown, Master Machinist, the distance
run amounts to 1959 miles, and the cost of repairs proper §2 77 1-2
cts. The- Charles Fisher is fiaished and is now in store at Jersey City.
From its appearanee and the thorough manner in which it seem3 to'
have been gotten up, I have no doubt that it will give entire satisfac-tion.
I examined also into the arrangement of the Machine Shops and En-'
gime Sheds of the great Rail Road thorough fares of the country, and
consulted the Master Machinists of many roads, who from their voca-tion
thoroughly understand all the requirements of such establishments,
and I feel entirely satisfied that the plan adopted for our Maehine
3hop and Engine Shed will be found to answer all the purposes of re-pair
of Machinery and Cars, "with as much convenience, compactness
and economy, as any other Shops of the kind in the country. They
are of the following dimensions:
The Furnishing Shop, - 75 feet by 50 feet.
Blacksmith and Boiler Shop, 50 feet by 50 feet.
Foundiy Shop, 39 feet by 50 feet.
Stationary Engine Shed, 15 feet by 25 fe*i
LETTERS RELATIVE TO BEAUFORT HAEBOE. 19
1 would respectfully urge upon the Board the speedy completion of
this very essential feature to the economical operation of a Rail Road,,
and especially so to this road, for the time is rapidly approaching
when we shall be running regular trains, always" requiring mors or less
repair, which from ©ur remoteness from similar establishments would
occasion expense and delay.
In conclusion it affords me great pleasure to express my obligation
:© the P. A. Engineer of the Eastern Division, James Miller, Esq., as
well as to B. D. Frost, P. A. Engineer of the Western Division and
their several Assistants for their untiring efforts in urging forward the
»vork upon the line of the road.
Respectfully submitted by yourobedient servant,
W. BEYERMQTJT THOMPSON.
~£t\\m lUlnte k founhxi iarta,
From the Commanders of Ships, freighting Iron for
the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad Company
Beaufort, December 5, 1845.
ME. E, B. STANLY,
Sir :—I do not think I was ever so much disappointed as I was
in . the Harbour of Beaufort. In Chartering im England for this place
I would not take tbe carg© unless the parties would guarantee 16 1-2
feet to cema in with ; to my surprise, on crossing the bar, I found 22
feet of water after a strong Westerly wind [which has a tendency to
blow the water out ef the river.] The wind hauling N. Westward,
the Pilot Fwas compelled to beat the Brig up te the ancherage. We
are a large carrying vessel, and it is difficult to beat in all channels,
aad had this beem narrow it could not have been accomplished. The
harbour is very convenient, the channel deep and there is no difficulty
in loading to 20 feet—19 certain. The vessel I have has on board 520
tons ©f Railway Iron and her draft is 15 feet 3 inches. Had I suppc-sed
the depth ef 20 feet ©r even 18 1 should l©aded to 16 feet 9 inches.
My Vessel is now in the market, and if parties can be f©und t© lead
her from this port to Europe I will fill her full or load to 17 UtX, a»d
I know there will be no difficulty in once more getting her en the
Bond.
I a», dear Sir, v©urs with respect,
CHARLES H. PLUMER,
Master of the Jaanes Gray, of Newburypert, Mass.
§0 LETTERS RELATIVE TO BEAUEORT HARBOR*
Barque Meldon, Beaufort Harbor, )
March 18th, 1S56. j
Dear Sin
:
In answer to your note of this date making enquiries about the
dimensions of this vessel, and requesting my opinion relative to the fa-cilities
of the harbor for ships of heavy tounage, I have to inferm
that the Barque Meldon measures—length of keel 110 feet, breadth of
beam 27 feet, depth of hole 17 feet, draft of water now with 550
rails on board, 16 1-2 feet.
With regard to the harbor, it is easy of access and affords sheltei
from all winds and the bottom is excellent for anchoring-
. In an;
dinary time sailing vessels could enter the harbor, drawing 18 feet
;
with the assistance of steam tugs, Vessels might cross the bar drawing
"'eet with perfect safety.
it gives me pleasure to say as this is my first visit to the coast of
North Carolina, that the representation abroad about Beaufort Ha
does it great injustice, and I was most agreeably disappointed. The
bar and harbor are unexceptionable—the Pilots en the coast are polite
and competent and obtained without difficulty. I shall return to Eng-land
and endeavour to get another cargo of Mr. Stanly's rails, for I
know of no place I would sooner sail from, than the Port of Beaufort.
I am, with much regard, yours,
GEORGE JOHNSON.
i I). Whitford, Esq,, President &c, Newbern, N. C.
Ship Majestic, Beaufort Harbor,
\
July 1st, 185G. f
Dear sir:
Your letter of the 27th ult. was received a few moments since.—
It affords me pleasure to be able to reply satisfactorily to your en-quiries
respecting Beaufort Harbor. My Charter Party guarantee*:,
only 10 feet depth of water on this bar, but in crossing I did not find
i«ss than 21 feet at tw©a thirds flood, and would not hesitate to cioss at.
any time drawing 17 feet. There is no objection to your bar—th
barber is perfectly safe and easy of ingress and egress, and if you do
aot succeed in building up a great Southern Sea-port town the fan
cannot be attributed to your beautiful Harbor.
Very respectfullv, vour obedient servant.
HENRY DURAND
John D. "Whitford, Esq.,
President A. & N. C. R. R. Co.,
New Bern. N. C.
I