The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1837-02-10
REPORT
Of THE COMMITTEE ON ROUTES AM
SURVEYS

what part, II any, OF the route can now be deh- /
nitlvely decided On, and the proper measures 10
be taken TO have such other surveys made
mas be necessary TO enable the Company. at its !
next meeting, to decide on the actsal location |
of the whole road from Charleston 10 Lexington. |
and the branches 10 Louisville, Cincinnati and
Maysyille, have had the matters referred To them /
under consideration, and beg leave to
REPORT; ~
Thar the surveys, heretofore made, and submit. |
ted to the Legislature OF Carolina, by the very a
bic Engineers employed by that State, on that ser
vice. have led 10 the satisfactory conclusion, that
practicable route for Rail Road between Charles.
ton and the Ohio river does exist. But as those
surveys, from the limited means and time allowed
for making them. have necessarily been confined
to parts OF the line where most difficulties were
apprehendsd, no defniie location o, the route can
be predicated on them. The ouy fact clearly aud
distinctly ascertsined is that the Valley OF the
French Broad river must DC adopted, the only
practicable course IN which the road can pass the
Allegheny mountains aud Blue Ridge, having IA
view the connection OF the points prescribed by the
charter Another route BY the head waters OF the
savannah, and the Nales OF the TuckaSeige and
Little Tennessee rivers, saving been suggested on
high and respectable authority, the same mas been
surveyed under the superintendent OF Capt. VA.
hams of the Typographical Engineers, by Lieu.
tenant Drayton, late OF the Array, aud Nc. Feather
sionehaugh, Ot the UnIted States CSi Engineers,
in whose accuracy and Judgment your committee
have entire confidence. The result is presented
in their reports, which are herewith submitted
Tbesc clearly demonstrate that this route iol-
" inadmissable.
On the other hand il is as clearly demonstrated,
that by adopting the frenchbroad route, II Is posi-
Bic 10 conduct The road irom the Valley OF East
Tennessee, centrally through the Allegheny moun.
tains to the Of the Blue Ridge. al two poia,s
IN Runeombc county, \. e., OF gradual ascent
entirely within the range OF locomotive power, as
1 now IN constant and familiar use These po,ats
are at the Recdy Patch and But mountain Gaps.
/ Late surveys and feconnoisanees have also led 10
the conviction, that from one, II not from both OF
these depresslons in the Blue Ridge, the road may
be carried into the level counties OF South CsrOl-
! ma, beyond the mountain region, on grade, which
will suPereede Toe necessity OF stationary power
Bot this part of the ground has not been sufficient
y subjected 10 the rigorous tes, OF the instrument
10 enable The company 10 decide which OF I've seye-
! raj routes that present themselves, should be a.
dopted Three, al least, should be scientifically
I examined lsl-The route Which leafs down the
Reedy Patch creek aud Broad ryer I'LL The rid &c
between that stream and the Canaw b4 riycr IS
Gag, descending through the opening which re-.
etises The Green river, btwe,n the Blue ridge and
Saluda mountains I'll. the latter nl-anialn hank.
ed on tie east and 3rd-The route which de-
seends from the Butt mountain Gap into Green
river Cove, and then passes the S4.uc4 mountain
By Gap creek, and continues 10 tie level country
hear Greenye, :. {. Each o. these routes aust
be carefully and accurately surveyed, to fur
nsh an estimate OF the actual costs y, every part
Of each OF them, With the angie OF their grade
and their ada ptaton 10 locomotive power, before tie
company can BE- able to decide hlch Of these
routes ought 10 be adopted These surveys mus,
be extended with the view OF passing through the
town OF Columbia should obstacle intervene 10
render il inexpedient TO take different route.
Al Columbia, the lluc anil meet the projected
Rail Road OF the South Carolina Canal and Raj
Road Company, which has the exclusive night to
the rOad between that place and Charleston tor 81
years from the date Of It's charter and nov have a
road Wlth = single tract bali that distance. That
company has proposed 10 the that a junction
should be formed between the two roads, on term.
which have already been laid before this mectiD
And your COMMITTEES would recommend that 10,
proposition should b met with the same syir., O
libsr4ty which induced It aud that The Director,
Of this Company should treat With that on the sub
lect and lsy before next meeting The terms o.
which Il Is proposed TO form the connection, to b.
adopted Or not al the said meeting may decide d
that the Directors recommend 10 the said meeting
such other measures 10 relation % the road 81 tie
? South Carolina Canal aud Rail Road Company i,
, they may deem exPcdlcn,.
IL connection wuh this part Of the line you
committee have considered the proposition % To,
Columbia Bridge Company, which has been refer
: red 10 them. And They recommend that the D.
o rect0rs the Columbia Bridge to b. examines
4 BY eDmpeient Eng lneef: and report TO the neI
meeting lie adaplaiion ,of passing the road over III
. Cong4ree liver, and the terms on which u may b
: used acquired tor that purpose, to be adopted b.
that meeting not, as II shall BE- deemed HPedenl
v Beyond the poIat whence the frenchhroid fy
! er issues ron the mountains, the examinations
have not been attended By instrumental surveys
and your committee can DO no more Than msfeiy
e indicate the lines, which in their opinion ough
r 10 be surveyed And here Il is proper 10 remark
. that ii the amendments Of Tho charter propose,
. ty the act OF SOUTH CsroliGa should be sdtg,e,
by The other States the company will he merely
' relieved from The obligation " extend the roai
O further than Lexington, the State Of kco
/. lucky while i will be tclt in full possession
n the power to extend The road 10 Cincinnati
and 10 esustruc, branches 70 LouisYille an
. Maysy1e. This power your committee COZ
10 slder OF measurable value and one which ougt
10 TO b. exercised whenever the company shall po
IN the means Of doing And they reeommen
;, that whenever the means shall be raised by sal
scug,ious 10 the stock for that purpose, o. othe
~ sse, that extension and those branches should
al constructed
Keeping these objects constantly in view, u
surveys must be made IN reference 10 them, VIII
at the same time they must be conducted Dnd'
-. Is mia
a. 10 carrg the road To Knoxville, so as ~ commsf
e w. - Of that place to pass near the head
Oh and 70 reach come pon, on the ria 3. possible