The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-06-25
THE SURVEY.

Messrs. Tracy f. Chase is tobeconclusive asto
The track this objection is somewhat lormlda-
Bile. BUTT is well known that this survey as
in all similar cases was only intended as an
approximation TO the general practicability
and expense ofthe route. Itwas furthermore
made where the line was pointed out to the
surveyors by those who attended upon them,
and who it is well known had an eye more TO
the shortness OF the distance, than to many
other considerations which should have
weighed heavy in their decisions. Besides
in the history OF all Railroads this primary
survey is always succeeded by another upon
which the contracts are predicated, and
which is made with great accuracy and with
view to every consideration of the facilities
OF the road and the economy of construction
and operation, SO indispensable in its final To-
cation. Indeed several improvements in re-
spect TO location SO as TO avoid high grades
and great expense of excavation are sugges-
ted by the report OF the surveyor TO the engi-
neer but which are not noticed in the engi-
neer's report Adverting to the route sur
veyed through Mount Holly he says:
The excavation and rock-culting in Mount
Holly makes a formidable appearance on the
profile. There are $4,000 yards of excava-
ton displayed on the profile, 10000 ofwhich
are rock-cutling, Mark here, this is three
fiiths OF all the rock-cutting on the route. The
whole Of this is entirely Unnecessary. We
make the statement, upon the unequivocal
authority Of the Surveyors report 10 Mr..
FELTON,. We quote his words-"'This valley,
speaking Of Millbrook in Mount Holly. on
The western descent olthe Mountains, has
natural declivity Of about 81 leet per mile,
and is ofsutficlent breadth for the location of
the road. with ample curves. The soil is
compact consisting mostly ofMountain allu- (
WON. In the I'd mile, the line, as surveyed
unnecessarily leaves this valley, passing over /
apoint ola hill, requiring for its reduction and |
grade, 1900 cubic yards excavation, 3d.
600 OF which are estimated as rock He al /
forwards says,a snow storm prevented an in
tended survey of this valley, and adds-'So .
much in explanation of the needless expense /
included in the estimate of the first section /
the work. The road can be located in the /
valley with perfect facility, and with very in
considerable augmentation ofdistance.'
Again, in relation TO the route through |
Pitslord, he thus remarks:
1T ought to be remarked, that several
friends of the route believe that the road
should proceed from the lower end ofRut-
land meadows TO the bank of Otter Creek,
and follow the bank OF that stream to Pits |
ford, passing, en- route, Mill-village and |
Sutherland's Falls, places having superior
water-power, and Astounding in marble, of
choice varieties. For want oltime, no instru- !
mental examination of this route was made
We may add, further, that, from the point of
striking the bank OF this Creek, in Pittsford. |
the stream is almost without any perceptible |
current, for % miles, with banks stretching
out into wide and rich intervals, capacivas
enough for the march OF aregiment oil rail- |
roads, abrcast. Over ,his25 miles the reported |
survey makes about II miles of50 10 60 feet !
grade 2 miles of40 to so. This is an error, |
and great one, which subsequent survey
would correct
Butthese errors and doubtless many others |
of very great importance in the location ofthe
line we are happy TO say are in way of
speedy correction.
Confident that greatinlusiice was done to
the Rutland route by MIR. FELTON,, whose re-
port tinow seems, omitted every thing sugges-
ted by Mr. Tracy, the actual surveyor, which |
might sustain its credit with the public, the
Commissioners have employed Mr.. Gilbert,
the surveyor ofthe Ogdens5urgh road, 10 re-
survey the most Objectionable points in the
track. He has already examined the line
between Rutland and Btandon, recon-
mended 10 Mr.. Tracy as an alternative and
founiitin every respect preferable. A friend
has Just shown us a letter from an intelligent
gentleman in Brandon stating the result of !
the survey from Rutland TO that place which /
evinces an astonishing improvement upon
that o: Mr.. Tracy.
We take the following extract:
The Tracy survey makes out 6 miles of
60 feet grade in Rutland and Pittsford de-
scending north, and 100 of ascending grade
in Pittsford going north with an embankment
of go feet in height for half a mile. The
summit oflhe old survey belowMa Cheney's
in Rutland is SEQ feet above Otter Creek be-
low the Falls, and 236 feet above the bridge
above Southerlands falls. Leaving Rutland
for the falls the descending grade is 20 feet
to the mile 10 Gookin's fails, and about ten
10 the mile to SoutherIand's without the rise
Of foot, and the descent to the valley below {
is on a grade OF AZ ieet for two and half
miles running in direct line nearly north to
Brandon south line about miles on grade
Of one foot to the mile makinga saving Of
from $50 toslOO,OOO forgrading n the town
ofPi,tsford alone. The line thro ugh Bran /
don will be level or vary not more than one {
10 FIVE feet in the mile
The same reductionof grades it isbelieved a
ian easily be obtained by following down the r.
Creek from Mddlebury TO Vergennes and i
rom Vergennes to burlington it is conf :
ienty asserted that the formidable grade of
10 feet over Mutton Hill may easily be a. il
,oided by a curvature 10 the west, and thus a
he whole distance might be reported as very 4