Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-05
DOMESTIC.
Itrom the Winchester Yir-inian.I

oWeAi our representative In congress, Tor an In
speciion of Capt. M'Neill's Report TO the eDgi-
neer department, upon his examination of the
country, with view 10 the location of a route,
for extending the Cumberland road TO the tide wa
ter of the District Of Columbia The report
which covers torty-six pages of manuscript is too
voluminous to be copied in ertenso into col
umns; but knowing the deep interest felt by many
OF our readers, IN the subject it embraces. have
been Induced to make copious extracts from il,
which will be found in this days paper.
With view to condense within as small a
compass as possible. the matter of the report, we
nave occasionally yentured 10 depart from the
precise phraseology it employs, but have no, in any
instance varied further from it than seemed necessary
TO eeci that object This interesting document fur
nishes detailed, perspicuous & satisfactory view of
the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the
several routes 10 which the attention of Captain
M'Neiil, (the eneineer) has been directed; and
we should lament our inability to publish it entire,
but tor the direction Mr.. Powell has given to the
copy 10 which we have had access. That gentle
man In spirit OF accommodation, has deposited
the report in the hands OF A. S. Tidball, Esq. with
request that he would retain il in his possession,
subject to the examination OF any who might de-
sire il.
II will be found that the route TO which
the report gives the decided preference, is
that from Cumberland through Oldtown, the
Bloomery Gap, and Winchester, crossing the
Blue Ridge a, Smokers Gap, and thence direct
to Georgetown. This route possesses an advantage
OF IL miles in the distance from Cumberland 10
Georgetown over the route of the existing road
through Maryland. without any disadvantage TO
counierbalance IL.
EItracts from C0pt .NcIHeil's Report.
LIST ROUTE From Cumberland 10 Martins,urg /;
whence it would be directed, either through Shep-
herdstown and by the mouth of the Monococy TO
Georgetown, or by HaTper's Ferry to George
town.
q 2I RoUrH- From Cumberland, by Old,own
and Titus Gap, in the Siding Mountain, TO
Bloomery Gap, in the Great Ca-capehon noun
tain; thence, by either Winchester, Guadaloupe,
or Gerrardstown, 10 Georgetown.
Sd RoUTE-From Corter's Tavern, on The ma
tional road, FIVE miles west of Cumberland, by
Cresaptown, Frankfort and Springfield, to nersect
the second route at the Bloomery.
4th RoUrE.-From Carter's tavern to SPRING
field, ard thence by Heskeli's tavern, in a gap of
the Connoloway mountain, thro' Winchesfer, to
Georgetown.
The engineer then remarks, I" But as on arriving
by either route in the valley of the Shenandoah,
there will be comparatively but little difficulty in
determining the proper location for the continuance
OF the road TO Georgetown assumed the eastern
termInatIon,) the respective merits OF the diffe-
rent routes will be more readily seen, by compar-
ing first, those sections which lie ives, OF Martins
burg, GeTrardsIown, Guadaloupe and yYinches-
ter
Topography. In relation to tie first route,
IRON Cumberland 10 Mart:nsburg by O.dtown and
Greenwe's, 1t is observed, that - there are diff
cultles not 20 be avoieed for Siding mountain,
the Great Ea-capehon, Sleepy Creek mountain and
Third Hill, must be all met where they most
formidable" Other object ions might be enu.urIa a.
ted, which are by no means Uncomfortable.
-U0teTiGis-"As it regards mai eria!s for a dura-
bic and solid construction, It's scarcely necessary
to mention that they in general abound; and if
sometimes they are not seen for several miles, there
Is little question they will always be found in the
vicinity"
Distance from Cumberland to Marin-burg by the
present road, 63 miles-probable distance 80
Length ofbridgcs 72i yards--length of causeways
COS yards.
Gerardson, Guadaloupe, and Winchester
TOutes.-" For all these routes, it has been re-
marked, that TO the Bloonery Gap the na,ionai
road might be continued, either from Cumberland ,
through OlJ,own, or from point miles es, OF
Cumberland, through Ciesaplcwn, Frankfort ana
Springfield"
On this route il is proposed TO proceed direct to-
the Forks of the Potomac river, and cross into
Virginia, two miles from Odtown, where diff,
Guilty, though not insurmoun,abe one, is pre-
sented by the Eastern South Branch mountain
commonly called Break.Eeck.' TITUS Gap is
an obvious point in any route TO the Bloomery, for
it is there hat the Siding mountain is completely
severed; it is distant by the present road ID
miles from Sberrard's store, in the Bioomery Cap
and In that distance we pass the Sideling, Connol-
foway and Great Ca-capehon mountains (ihe first
and last OF which appear formidable on the Mar
unsburg Toute) without crossing over either Dis
lance from Cumberland to SheIIard's store by the
present road, 81 LIZ miles-pfobabe distance,
33 81. Length of bridges, 42O yards--length OF
causeways 2S5"
Section from Carter's, through Cresopt0lc1s to
SherroTd's k0re.--The first advantage presented
by Ills route is, that WIFE mountain is not 20 ele-
vated at Carriers from which we Immediately begin
~ descend in the direction Of Cre,a pown as il is
between Carriers and Cumberland; and although
tie road be already made To- Cumberland, our object
shall be TO determine, as near as may be from the
data in our possession, Tits other advantages may
not outweigh consideration relating merely to
expense, and TO the accommodation oil the town OF
Cumberland.
-" First, then, from Carier's TO Cresapiown ii is
3 Ia miles, with average slope Off deg. & less
tIsn deg whence 10 here the existing road
crosses the Potomac river is about two miles, over
somewhat mlly country, bnt susceptible Of an
easy graduation Here the Knobly mountain inter
poses, but may be passed at one OF its depressons,
not more than $50 feet in height and the graJua-
ton reduced to deg. without sugmenting the dis
lance. From Knobly to Sprii. gfeldabe course for
road is without objection; thence to Sherrard's
Store il il more cifcuilous but 10 compensate for
this it will entirely avoid every mountain. The
Eastern South Branch mounisin is every where a
serious obstacle; on this route Il may be overcome
with less difficulty, than at Break Neck
" The remaining part Of the road TO Titus's was
in slope Of but from 10 %; fact illustrative
Of one great advantage OF ibe route, when we re-