Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-05

" From GuGdolotPe, oy the S1ononaiaia
Springs to Leesbug. =" BY this route it is pro
posed to cross The Blue Ridge, at where observ-
ed we should wish to it, were it no, for the
elevation of il at that point, and it remains TO 30
shewn II that constitutes so great obstacle as TO
render 1t more expet,ient TO proong The road by
Keyes' Gap.
Is The direction of this route would be such as
TO leave Cbarles'own about 3 miles TO tie north.
and passing the Shanondaie Springs, it would unite
with the by Chsrlesiown at Hillsboroush.---
The actual distance from Guadaloupe to the Sha-
nondale Springs Is between II aad Is miles, and
from Shanondsle to Hillsborough the probable
distance would be . l-2 miles, with a slope for 3
miles at deg. and 1-:2 miles at a slope of 2
and less than ) degrees.
A." IT this estimate approximate near the truth,
there will be saving in distance of 3 miles BY
crossing the Blue Ridge at the Shsnonda!e Se:jres
rather than at keyes' Gap; or if Charies,own ne
made point, (Which would increase the distance
! l-2 miles beyond what i, would be, by going
direct TO the Shanondale Sprinss,) there oula De
saving in distance Of / 2 miles the length OF
Bridges, the soil, Sc. would be, about the same GA
either route from Guadaloure TO Leeshrrg
" HarPer's Ferry route One other mode OF
passing the Blue Ridge and the Short Hill has
been suggested, which is by making Harper's
Ferry point in the proposed road, and Coins,
around hem, where they are broken by the Po-
omac, just below that place. In this event we
should continue the DAD from Gerraydsto,cn in
preference 10 Guataloupe, because OF the greater
direc,ness OF route by Mills Gap, from tie
B!oomeTy 10 HaIper's Ferry.
Z" The distance from Gerraristown 10 Harpers
Ferry is between l9 and 20 miles, we shoul GA
this route leave Charlestown 81 miles 10 the south
ward
The objections to this route are principally de-
rived from the expense of passing the Blue RIDGE
aud Short Hill, and the increase of distance ." for
the .iIst Z miles, around the Blue Ridge i cause.
mr. a feat b.
road against inundation, TO which, otherwise, it
would be subjected during the frekhets of The Po-
oniac; 10 90 which, however, materials in ahun-
dance at hand: * in The next o. mfrs in con-
sequence OF differ high bluffs of the Short Hill
winch put into the river, and run perpendicularly
above II, wall for about an half mile in extent
and ~ or 10 feet high, would be requisites; for Tie
remaining two miles there would be no particular
diligently, ard with the caUseways and wall speci-
fed, doubt not the Blue Ridge and Short Hill
may be passed in four miles, a slope of from 10
= deg.ees."
The probable distance from Gerrar,,sto,yn 5y
this QUITE " ouid re to Harpers Ferry
90 miles
To LeesbuIg 1877 total
Length OF Bridges $40 yards
Length of Causeways2 ms. 25J yards
The report Concludes with the following reea-
pitI!a,ions and obseTvations:---. With respec, To
materials, the sol, and The length Of bridges, all
the routes are SO nearly equality that they may
be considered similar; In other respects they dlter
thus:
CdHseicays.-- The Gualaloupe route will re-
qmire The least length oil causeyyays; tho Gerrariy
town Iouie the most.
GradWati0n. 1t will lie mos, expensive on Ire
GeTrardsown route; least 20 in the Winchester
routes; and more those routes crossing Ibe
Blue Ridge at the ShanDondsle .:rIings than in
thai crossing at Reyes Gap.
PDUH!1tiOR.--The w Iuches,,r ard Gs,,a,,tv
town routes would accommodate the greatest
number OF inhabitants; The Guada.pupe route The
least.
Distdnce.-Ihe Gerrardstovn route is the lon
ses; those route by Guadaloupe direct TO The Shan
no'1ddfe Springs and by ISHickeyS' GAP direct 10
GeOrg ctGic1 aie the shortest The difference being
81 miles IN favour OF the former, but IS itb Ie.-
pect to time, in consequence of the much greater
facility with which the Blue Ridge would he pas.
sed al Smokers Gap, have doubt tie Win
chester route would eventually prove as direct as
any route by the Shannondale Springs Tn. lctz,i,
of these routes by Snickners or Reyes Gap
Through Leesburg, would be about tie same
ETPenSe.-The expense for materials for a
duraihe aud solid construction, and Tor bridging
VIII be alike all the routes; for causetvays least
on the Guadalope route; and most expensive on
the GerIards. own rolte.
lhe expense to obtain n propeT graduation Mas
already been adyeried 10.
Such The general! results afforded by tie
reconnoisance, from "hch IT appears that ONLY
those routes by Winchester and Guadaloupg rsn
compete Tor tie preference; ZOE that by Gerra,ds-
town and HaIpers Ferry, has developed no adj
vantages TO compensate for its greater length; Oh
the contrary, IL does not promise 20 favourable =.
graduation, and the construction OF 70 d in that
direction, would doubtless be the most expensive
As TO military and political considerations thew
can have, should suppO.e, but little weight in
tins dscusson Tor where all the routes are so con-
uguous 10 each other, know not which can have
any natural advantages not common 10 all unless
II be that a;iortng greatest dferiness, Offering
Jeioest difficulties to It's construction and fyaceT
sing me mast hopeless section.
% Such advantages will be found united on 51
the Jtuchesfer routes; for they are more prac-
ticable than any except those by Keyes' Gap; tne
oil The Winchester routes Is shorter than they amt
both are equally practicable. In actual distance
The route dUect ifom Snickefsyilie 10 Georgetovn
IS but . j miles longer than that which crosses
The Blue Ridge at the shan ondale springs and IN
point OF time, for the reasons previously piyep Sc
could be travelled equally soon, and is therefore
equally direct
" The Winchester route thea, r. m Snicke -
Vile direct 10 Georgetown, is superior TO route
from Guadaloupe, whether it cross the Blue
hijSe at The shanondIe Springs, at Keyes'
Zap Tor IN the one case, il il more direct, end
the other more practicable, and ~ direct. Ii
would accommodate more Immediately, from it,
passing through The most popuOus town between
Cumberland aud GeOf, ,tttu,a greater number of
persons than either Of 'be Guadaloupe rou,es:ard
This Circumstance, combined with the other sdysn.