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CHAPTER 16 1838 HE Act of December 23, 1837, authorizing the southeastward extension of the W. & A. Railroad from the Chattahoochee also provided for the election of three Commissioners to supervise generally the business of the road, and to act jointly with the Governor in raising funds for constructing it. The first Commissioners elected were Joel Crawford, Chairman, Thomas Hamilton, and Charles L. Bolton.1 The settlement which grew up around the river crossing of the railroad bears, in all probability, the name of Commissioner Bolton.2 The exact date upon which actual construction of the railroad began is not disclosed by the record. That it was early in 1838 is, however, certain. By January, sixty miles was ready for the builders.3 James M. Calhoun, writing to Governor Gilmer on February 20 after his return from the Cherokee country , probably Cass County, reported that he saw a number of Indians at work on the railroad.4 Long's idea was to begin at the now Atlanta end, since supplies could reach it more readily.5 It eventuated, however, that construction began on both ends of the line about the same time. Joel Crawford, reporting as chairman of the Board of Commissioners, wrote to Governor Gilmer on April 12, 1838, that, ". . . the last not mentioned having directed an extension of the road east of the river, that part nearly eight miles in length has since been located, and is known as De Kalb division, and forms the first number of a series to the Tennessee boundary," and that ". . . upon completion of surveys and location Col. Long was instructed to advertise that sealed proposals would be received at Marietta during the first week in April, 1838, for executing Masonry and grading. This was accordingly done. About seventy proposals were offered, and enough accepted to place under contract upwards of fifty miles of the road."6 Here the matter rested for a time. Five hundred men were already at work and commissioners were busy in efforts to procure rights of way. By October 30, 1838, Crawford was able to report that ". . . that part of the road which was put under contract in April last, extending from a point nearly eight miles east of the Chattahoochee to one about two miles west of the Etowah River, embracing a distance of more than fifty miles, has been greatly advanced in a course of construction."7 Pick and shovel gangs were at work on the eight miles of railroad in De Kalb County before title to the right of way had actually been acquired. This eight miles of line, from the original terminus in Land Lot 78, traverses sixteen land lots in reaching the river. Five, being numbers 78, 79, 82, 81, and 112 are located in the 14th District. The others,^Nos. 150, 189, 190, 191, 192, 223, 228, 229, 243, 244, and 245, are all in the 17th District. All were in De Kalb County until Fulton was created in 1853. The lots are listed in the T THE EIGHTEEN-THIRTIES 157 order traversed by the railroad from southeast to northwest. Deeds secured thereto were all uniform and are exemplified by that from Reuben Cone through No. 78. "Georgia, Cobb County. Whereas, the General Assembly has by law provided by law for a great public work, appropriately known as the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a part of which located on lands to use. Now, be it known that Reuben Cone, of the County of De Kalb and State aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of One Hundred and Twenty-five Dollars, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has, and do by these presents, concede and grant to said State, for the use and purposes of said railroad, the right of way comprising a space of an average of breadth of sixty-six feet, with the privilege of felling all timber which may reach said road on lot No. 78, in the 14th District of Henry, originally, now De Kalb County, Georgia, together with the privileges of taking and using all and any timber, either stone or gravel lying or being on said space of sixty-six feet for the construction of said road; and for the perpetual guaranty of said right of way, and the rights and privileges to said State of Georgia, I bind myself, my heirs and assigns, in fee simple, forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this 29th September, A. D. 1840...

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