The Line which is being constructed is a modification of the Line granted to the Company’s predecessors, and required a new concession.
The Plans, which were laid before the Spanish Government for consideration, were approved of on the 24th of August.
Pending the approval of the Government, the Works were set out; and, on the 1st of August, the Contractor began operations on the lower part of the Line, and since that time the whole Plans and Sections (excepting about 3 Kilometres) have been put into his hands, and the Works are in operation on all the chief Cuttings and Embankments on the Line.
The Girders for the Bridges are contracted for, and are now in course of construction.
All the Bridges required for the lower half of the Line will be ready by the First of January, and those for the upper half are to be ready by the end of March. In the meantime the Abutments are being raised for the reception of those Bridges. These, I expect, will be ready before the Girders are shipped.
The advantages obtained by the new concession, for the construction of the Railway and Works, were—
1. That we were allowed to take forcible possession of the additional Land required for the Line and Works.
2. That we were allowed to import into Spain all materials required for the construction of the Works, free of duty.
To obtain these unquestionable advantages, we have been compelled to make the Line in accordance with the somewhat stringent code of Spanish Railway Laws, which will tend to increase the cost of the Line about £28,500 more than was originally estimated. By this expenditure, however, we secure a superior Line, with comparatively easy gradients and curves, and the lessened cost in the working and maintenance will fully compensate for this additional outlay.
The Contractor entered upon and has continued his operations with much vigour; and I am confident that the lower half of the Line will be ready for Traffic early in February, and the whole Line in less than a year from this date.
WILL. MOORE, ENGINEER. GLASGOW, 16th October, 1867.
