Tallahassee & St.Marks R.R.
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Tallahassee FLORIDIAN & ADVOCATE, 20 January
1831.
RAILWAY TO ST.MARKS.
Pursuant to notice, a number of citizens of
Tallahassee, convened at the Planter's Hotel,
on the 6th instant, to take into
consideration, the expediency and
practicability of constructing a Rail-Way
from St.Marks to this City. William Williams,
Esquire, was called to the chair, and
T.R.Betton, Esquire was appointed
Secretary.
The chairman announced the object of the
meeting, when the Honourable H.M.Brackenridge
and B.F.Cooper Esquires gave their views, at
large, on the expediency of the proposed
measure, and showed the advantages which
rail-ways possess over other means of
transportation. A committee consisting of
Messrs. Fabian Armistead, B.G.Thornton,
T.R.Betton, D.Davidson, B.F.Cooper, and
R.Hayward, was appointed to enquire into the
practicability and probable cost of
onstructing the contemplated work, and the
probability of obtaining the necessary funds,
also, to obtain, such other information as
they may deem useful, to be reported at a
subsequent meeting, to be called by the said
committee.
At a meeting on the 12th instant Mr.Williams
in the chair, and Leslie A.Thompson,
ecretary, the above committee made the
following report which was unanimously
adopted.
The committee appointed at a public meeting,
held at the Planter's Hotel on the 6th
instant, to enquire into the practicability
of constructing a rail-road from this place
to St.Marks, and to ascertain the probable
cost, and the probability of obtaining funds
for constructing the same, and also, to
procure such other information on the subject
as they may deem useful: Beg leave to report;
That from the best information they have been
able to obtain. The whole elevation between
Tallahassee and St.Marks, does not exceed 180
feet, which would be 8 feet 7 inches, in one
mile, 3 inches in 30 yards, and 1-7 of an
inch in 1 yard, which is a much smaller
inclination, than any rail-road in this
country, or in England; many of the English
roads having an elevation of 50 feet in one
mile.
The probable cost of constructing a rail-road
between this City and St.Marks, with
malleable iron rails, laid on wooden beds,
will not exceed $3,000 per mile, they believe
that the funds may be obtained to the road,
and that if a good charter is obtained from
the Legislative Council, now in session, the
stock would be taken, and the road
constructed in a reasonable time. The
committee, with a view to save time as the
session of the Council is short have thought
it expedient to prepare and submit it to the
meeting. All of which is respectfully
submitted.
FABIAN ARMISTEAD, Chairman.
A charter prepared by the committee was read
and adopted, and ordered to be presented to
the Legislative Council. On motion it was
resolved that the above proceedings be
published.
Tallahassee FLORIDIAN, 14 May 1836.
To Joseph M.White, Louis M'Lean, Charles
A.Davis, John Carnochan, Peter Mitchell,
Thomas Baltzell, Hiram Nourse, Benjamin
W.Rozers, Collin Mitchell, and Benjamin
A.Putnam; trustees, directors, agents and
proprietors, of the district of land, known
as Forbes' purchase, and all others
interested; greeting:
Please to take notice, that on the 13th day
of June 1836, application will be made to the
judge of the county court of Leon county,
Territory of Florida, for a writ of ad quod
damnum for the purpose of determining the
value of the land, laying one hundred feet on
each side from the center of the Tallahassee
Rail Road so far as said road passes through
the district of land, known as Forbes'
purchase, which said number of feet on each
side of the center of said road the
Tallahassee Rail Road Company, hereby make
known their intention of appropriating for
the use of said road, and that the president
and directors of said Company, will forthwith
proceed to have said writ executed. By order
of the President and Directors of the
Tallahassee Rail Road Company.
Tallahassee, May 9th, 1836. C.Austin,
Secretary.
Tallahassee FLORIDIAN, 26 May 1838.
NOTICE.
The stockholders in the Tallahassee Railroad
Company are hereby notified that an
installment of five percent upon the Capital
in said company is required to be paid on or
before the 15th day of June next. By order of
the Board of Directors. T.R.BETTON,
Secretary; T.R.R.Company.
Tallahassee FLORIDA SENTINEL, 13 February 1855.
DIVIDEND.
The Board of Directors of the Tallahassee Railroad Company, have this day declared a dividend of Two and one half per cent upon the Capital Stock of the Company, from the earnings of the Road for the six months ending 31st December 1854, payable at the office of the Company on and after Wednesday, 14th February, 1855.
THOS.J.PERKINS, Sec'y.
Tallahassee FLORIDIAN & JOURNAL, 2 February
1856.
TALLAHASSEE and ST.MARKS RAIL ROAD.
This road is undergoing reconstruction in the
most substantial manner. The road-bed has
been widened for its entire length, and the
grades and curves of the old track have been
corrected and reduced. Cross-ties, of very
superior timber, are on line of road, and
wrought-iron chairs and spikes of the best
quality have been landed at St.Marks, enough
for the whole road. Two thousand tons of iron
rails were purchased during last summer, and
1420 tons have been received. A cargo was
ship-wrecked on its passage from Wales, but
covered by insurance, and has been promptly
reordered. The iron rails are of the T
pattern, weighing 60 pounds per yard, a
weight unusual at the South, and perhaps
greater than was necessary. And we have the
further satisfaction to announce that
track-laying was begun last week, and is now
steadily progressing. With a set of laborers
wholly new to the business, and in a season
of unusual severity, the progress will not be
rapid at first, but we are pleased to learn
that experienced judges pronounce the work to
be done in the very best manner. It is
necessary to connect the old and new work for
the daily passage of trains, which also
retards the work, but is indispenable to the
business of the country; and in the midst of
these improvements, tis has been conducted
with as much regularity and despatch as in
any former season.
The Directors have decided to order a
Locomotive of 15 or 16 tons weight, capable
of carrying 70 to 100 tons of freight, over
the grades of this road, at 15 to 20 miles an
hour, and it may be expected to arrive in
April or May, by which time the new track
will have been laid to a distance that will
enable it to be used to advantage. And in
proper time the necessary provision of a
better class of freight and passenger cars
will be made, so as to be fully equipped for
the next season's business.
The Directors of this company have also
decided that the time has now arrived, when
their valuable lots, for wharves,
ware-houses, &c., may be advantageously
disposed of, and invite that competition
which is ever the life of trade. Confidence
will now be felt that the improvement of the
road and its facilities for transportation
will be certainly accomplished within the
approaching season, and will lead to
corresponding preparations by the merchants
to enjoy them.
These matters have been carried on so
quietly, that we were not fully aware
ourselves of the progress that has been made,
and we believe we are rendering an acceptable
service in announcing it to the public. And
while we commend the spirited enterprise of
those concerned, and congratulate the
community on the benefits they will very soon
enjoy, it is most agreeable to know also that
it is no doubtful investment of capital, but
will certainly yield a very handsome
income.
Tallahassee FLORIDIAN & JOURNAL, 9 May
1857.
ANOTHER LOCOMOTIVE.
The Tallahassee Railroad Company have just
received another beautiful Engine from the
Manufactory of Messrs.M.W.Baldwin & Co.,
Philadelphia. It is named "Gen.Bailey," after
our highly esteemed fellow citizen of
Jefferson County, and is of sixteen tons
weight. The incresing business of the
St.Marks road, and the prospect of a larger
increase --- the Pensacola and Geo.R.R. is
finished ---- makes this addition to the
locomotive power necessary.
