-AME REGAN RAILROAD _"J 0 URN AL.

723

which nature is constantly presenting to the obser-
vationof an American, when_ visiting the Island of
Cuba, he cannot overlook those to which he is more
accustomed, but which tend so much to his comfort
as a traveller. Iallude. to the railroads; and as a
short description ofthem may be interesting _to your
readers, 1 send you the following description of some
of them——and first of the
HABANA AND comes RAILROAD.

“The railroad from Halrana to Gaines was com-
menced in the year 1835, and finished to Garciny,
about one mile farther out of town than Villamuva,
its present station of commencement, at the‘ close of
the year 1838. 1

In-1840 the road was brought in town, and the lo-
cation of Garciny abandoned.

It was built by order of, and with funds furnished
by, the Real Junta dc Formento, under the immedi-
ate supervision ofthe commissioners from that body,
Senorcs Meguel Anto. I-lerrera, Antonio Maria Es-
coveda. The “ Intendente,” Conde Villamuva, pre-
sident ot'the Royal Junta, was one of the most zeal-
ous friends of the enterprise.

From Villamuva to Byucal, 1'7 miles, the road
was graded for a double track, and from thence to
Guines, 537% miles farther, the bridges, and other
works of masonry, were calculated for the same pur-
pose. In the first instance, the rails of the lirst 17
miles were laid on blocks of the soft limestone of
the country, into which the chairs sunk so much,
that for greater security wooden cross ties‘ were at"-
terwards substituted, so that now there are very few
bearings of stone in use. _

The rails are of the English T pattern, weighing
4.5 lbs. per yard, with chairs weighing about 18 lbs.
at each 3 feet into. which the rails are-fastened by
iron keys. ,, J‘ ‘

In this distanccof 44% miles, there were 9 stone
arch bridges, varying from 20 to 50 feet span, all of
which, save one, were carried away by freshets prior
to the year 18:12; and have since been replaced by
truss bridges of greater span, made of the,hard wood
ot'the island, on cut stone abutrncnts. There are
only two gradients as high as 032 feet per mile, and
no curves of less than 1600 feet radius.

The road was built under the direction of ALFRED
Corsican, Esq., civilengineer, (B. H. VVright, a son
of the late eminent Judge“ VVright, was associated
tor the first 13 milcs,) who also was the chief engi-
neer of the Jucaro, Matanzas and Coliseo railroadsi._

In 18-11, the road to Gaines, including all the out-
fit of engines, cars, etc,‘ was sold to a company of
'25 individuals, for three millions of dollars, with
the obligation to construct, within six yea rs, one
branch to the south coast at Batabano 10 miles long,
one to San Antonio, towards the west, of 8 miles,
and prolong the main lines 21 miles to the partedo
of “ Los Palos.” The company also reduced the
rates of fare, of the first class, 50 per cent., of the
second class, 33 per cent., and of the third class, 24
per cent. on the charges existing at the time of the
-sale. 7 . _ ‘

TIIE BRANCI-I"l‘0 Bxnnmo, was commencedat
the close of 1842, and finished in December, 1843.
It is graded for a single track, ‘and laid with cross
ties of the durable hard wood of the island, with the
H, or American pattern of rail, weighing 56 lbs. per
yard, having no grade exceeding 20 feet to the mile;
and only 1800 feet of curved line. There is a
wharf at its termination at Batabano, with double
tr.ack,~1200 feetvlong, extending out to 10 feet depth
of water. I . - .0

/ Its cost, including wharf buildings, etc., is $134,-

243, or $13,424 per tnile-being $19,000 less than
the estimate. _ , _

THE San Antonio Bmucn was opened in De-
cember, 1844, is 8 miles long, and extends from the
main line at Rincon, 14 miles from I-Iabana, to the
town ofSan Antonio; the least curvature is 5730 ft.
radius, and the grade (the greatest) descending to the
valley in which the town is situated of 33 feet per
mile. It is graded for a single track, laid with que-
brc /Lac/ta, or break-axe wood, cross ties, with the
same kind of rail as the Batabano branch, or 56 lbs.
per yard. ", h

The road has been in use nearly four years, and
is now probably the smoothest and best, in the.
new world. The passenger house at San Antonio,
is a very pretty stone building, the store house much
like those of Los Palos and Bernega.

The quebra hacha wood is here called eternal. I
have seen wood (posts) that have been from 50 to
100 years in the ground, and still sound. 0

The road cost about &l$1t5,b'00, with buildings and
turnouts, etc., or $111,450 per mile——being about 25,-
000 less than the estimate. A I I '
The extension of the road from Guines to join the
Matanzas road at Reyes, or La Union, was com-
menced in January, 18-16, and on the 1st inst, opened
to Bermega, 27 miles from Guines, or '72 miles from
Habana; there still remains 5} mile, which is al-
most graded, and will be opened on the 1st of No-
vember, when the I-Iabana and Matanzas road will
be joined, and the distance between the two cities
will be 98.5 miles.

This road is built in the same manner as the two
preceding branches, excepting that they have used
the Maine cedar and chesttiut cross ties,9 feet long,
and flattened on two sides, with '7 inches dressed
face, and 7 inches thick between the sides. These
are larger than are generally used in the States.-—
All of the bridgeshare built of the hard wood of the
island, with abutments of cut stone. The store
houses and other buildings are all of masonry, and
the whole work is built in a permanent manner.
The line is remarkably straight and level,‘ there
being but four curves in the 32% miles, one at the
departure from the main line, one at thejnnction
with the Matanzas road,andtwo intermediate, coin-
prising a total of 7000 feet‘ of curved road, with ra-
dii of'2,8G5, 3,820. and 5,730 feet. There ‘are about
2% miles of road with 30 feet grade to the mile (the
limit), about as much more at 264 and 21 feet per
mile, and the, remainder level, or below 19‘leet per
mile. ‘ ‘ ‘
The company are also extending the San Antonio
branch road to Guanagoy, a town of about 4,000 in-
habitants, situated in the “ Vuelty aboga,” 14 miles
northwest of San Antonio. They expect to open to
the public 8 miles this-year, and finish the road by
the 1st of July next. The road‘ was estimated to
cost $250,000, but will probably not cost more than
about $210,000.

When these roads shall all be constructed, the
I-Iabana railroad cotnpan y will own as follows:
Main line from Ha-bana to ‘La Union'—'—miles.—. . 
Branch of Batabanou...  i...  .L..'1’0
Branch of San Antonio and Guana.goy‘.. .. .. CD2]-%

Total ofmiles....      ....109
They have now 6 engines of 18 to 19 tons.
6 “ 13 to 15'tons.
3 16 tons.
And 8 first class double coaches: 5 second class;
and 8 third class, and about 350 freight cars.

In their shops, they make alllthe wood work of
their cars, and second and third class coaches, and

(K

repairs of engines. The latter are from the estab-
lishtnents of Rogc1‘s,I(ctc7ut72t d’- Grosvenor, of Pat-
terson, and BalcltIJi1t, of Philadelphia.

Last year there passed over the road about 135,000
passengers, and the total receipts amounted to up-
wards of $400,000.

The company employ celmiors, or watchmen, on
the road at every league, authorised by the govern-
ment to arrest, and take to the nearest judicial oili-
ccr, all trespassers upon the line, who are general-
ly fined 3'54 for a simple trespass, and in case of do-
ing damage, made responsible according to the cri-
minality. _

, These “caladors” are armed with a lance, and
flag on it, to give signals ifthere is any obstruction
on the road; and where the English '1‘ rail is used,
they carry a hammer and drive the keys in the
chairs, also advise the repair carpcnters—who have
stations of six miles each——-of any points that re-
quire immediate repair; in case the engines are out
at night, they carry a lantern, and make signals with

it, as occasion may require.

They are paid by the company, and immediately
responsible to the administrador general.”
The railroad and branches above described are
under the management of SAN’l‘lAGO CLARKE, Esu.,
as chief engineer. This gentleman who is an Ame-
rican, and was formerly connected with the canals
and railroads in the States of New York and North
Carolina, has the entire confidence of the company,
and most richly does he deserve it. Familiar as I
have been with the rnanagernent of railroads in the
United States for the last twelve years, I can truly
say that I have never seen or known one which——in

timely and proper repairs, promptness in starting of
trains,,ca1'e£ul supervision of machinery, speed of
engines, and attention to all the interests of the com-
pany, and of the community-—has been exceeded by
the [Ir]/l7(I,7LtI.’)'(1.'t.l7‘0(t(]., and those who manage its at‘-
fairs. It may perhaps be considered as something
new, that any of our railroad companies in the U.
States could take lessons from one under the Span-
ish government, but I fear such is the fact, and that
this would._be your own decision, were you here to
examine for yourself. , The credit, however,ot' ex.
cellent management on this road, must be divided
between Mr. Clark the chief engineer, and Jose A .
Ecirnvntinu, adm_inistrador_ general, or ‘what. in the
United States would be callcdthe general superin-
tendent. of the road, as he has the entire charge of
all the passenger and freight business. *4'**
We are gratified to learn that the railroads in
Cuba are so well constructed. In relation to that
“ qncbm /team,” or “ bred/t'—¢z.'cc”'wnJd, we should like
to know more. Is it alnmrlzmt? and easy of access?
-If so it may be found vauable for other purposes.
Will some one ‘please give us more definite infor-
mation on the subject’!

 

Northern (Ncvv York) Railroad Repnrty-‘
, We have received. the a~nnual'rep0r.t:of .-this com-
pany-, dated 5th».-dune ~last,,.showjing the progress
made thus‘ far. The entire line has «been located
and put under. contract—and~ the work was com,-
menced on the western part in Decemberlast, and
on-the eastern half in April, and is progressing, with
energy; and timber for the superstructure and iron
for a portion of the ‘rails contracted for. . '

two-thirds, or 808 acres, have been ceded without
charge, and the remainder, or about 440, will cost
about &Bt4,000—-bringing the average cost very low,
or at about $11 per acre, 1

caution to prevent accidents, vigilance in making‘

The right of way has been mainly secured--over—