Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-21

/ East. How could we now descend from the
| Eastern top OF the mountain, here called Ureen-
brier Mountain, 500 feet, down TO The river IL
self. among The confusion Of steep cliffs, spurs,
high knobs and deep ravines, which Intercept the
| route especially when The tremendous height OF
the Allegheny mountain, beyond The valley OF
| Greenbrier. would next have 10 be overcome,
amidst equally appalling obstacles !? To follow
the top OF this range OF mountains, and keep
along lis rugged SUBMITS, circing now towards
the North to head the Greenbrier. which nows 10
direction opposite 10 that ofCheat RIVER woud
/ be the only way 10 proceed with the location
Such an undertaking would be too gigantic for
execution and need not be discussed, for even
common road could be located al Al degrees
through this range OF mountains with great diifl-
Gully.
AS 10 lunnellng, it is utterly out otthc question,
under mountains 500 feet high, and IN miles
broad. in a strait line. And, after all, what would
be accomplished By overcoming 80 many difficult
ties Either we must descend from Greenbrier
Mountain 10 The river, and follow II down 10 The
line OF connexion between James River and the
kanawha; or, else, if we pursue and continue
along the SUBMITS OF The Allegheny mountain,
We would find ourselves at last on Middle Noun
| tain, in Randolph county, 200 feet above Back
Creek tributary OF Jackson's river; then long
descent among precipices would place US in The
valley OF This river within short distance Of
Covinston.
In conclusion Of this particular inquiry, am
fully convinced, that the only reasonably practi-
cable route from Richmond 10 the Ohio River, is
by way of The James and Kanawha river; thatihe
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad cannot be carried
TO Parkeisburg by the last described route, and
that there is not much TO be apprehended from il
in that direction.
will now proceed 10 answer your other heads
of innury-
Isl. Can Railroad he carried 10 Staunlon
from Gordonsville7 The possibility Of extending
the Louisa Railroad 10 Siaunon has been esia-
blished by one Of my surveys-I believe, in 81.
The route is by Rockfish Gap and requires
tunnel three quarters OF a mile long. Other gaps
have been spoken OF lcwerth Rockhsh but nav
ing, from the top Of this gap, carried level line
along the face Of the Blue Ridge, which wonld
have passed 10 the other side OF the mountain
through lower gap, iflhere had been any in This
vicinity, can affirm, that Rockflsh Gap is lower
BY upwards OF 300 feet than any OF It's neishbors,
and in other respects more practicable.
2dy. Can Railroad be carried from Staunlon
hy the Warm Springs, or any other route, 10 the
Northwest, and al what Point should II strike the
Ohio? The latter part of this inquiry is answer
ed Nv The preceding description Of The in!erve-
ming country. As regards the Warm Springs as
point. every one is acquainted with the noun
tdlU WHICH ucdIs iUC Sdtlc dlIc dilu " III bIlc
winding road which passes over il; 10 construct
Railroad here would be much more expensive,
and about as long as 10 turn The mountain-and
as regards tunnel il must suffice TO say, that the
Warm Springs are about 600 feet above The !
Eastern base OF the mountain 40 that tunnelling
is out ofthe question Nor is the mouna in more
favorable al any other point TO the South for it
becomes much broader, being occupied by the |
Falling Spring Valley, known 10 almost every |
trav pllor off hs ka hla
OF The country.
From the Shenandoah valley, therefore, the I
simples, plan would be 10 pass by way of Lex
inston 10 The vail yoilhe James River. Nothing
would be gained By going through Jennings Gap;
for, this would place us on the Cali-pasuTe
river, which would bring us back 10 Lexington,
or, If The ridge between il and the Cow-Pasture
river was overcome, the Warm Spring Mountain
would turn us back along The Cow pasture river
10 the James river, near the point where il re-
ceives Jachson's river, and only about 20 miles
above Paltonsbnrg, after having increased the dis
lance and he difficulties Of The undertaking.
Every avenue in that neishboThood has been so
mnuely surveyed, that no possibility can exist
OF finding favorable way in that direction.
Having demonstrated, that a railroad would
necessarily he led back 10 James river, and stated
thai il would be best 10 proceed al once towaris II
by waY Of Lexington | have only TO answer aiiir
your inquiry, whether Stduhtun anu
Buchanan can be connected BY a railroad. The {
ground is not very favorable, the line might he
somewhat circuitous, owing 10 the House Noun ,,
Tain, GreenSpur and Purgatory Mountain which
would defect the course, but there is no insnper-
able difficulty in The way. will only add that ,
The James river would very likely be struck some
distance below Pauonsburg. ,
Finally What is the best route for the rail
road from Buchanan All my reports give
uniform answer 10 this inquiry ever since 1880.
As an engineer, must give the preference 10 the
route BY way OF Montgomery county to New II !
yer; because il is not any longer and will make {
a better and cheaper road, requiring no high F, /,
grades, no tunnels, and presenting no extraordi-
nary difficulties. The other route, which has
obtained good deal OF preference from great !
portion Of the public, proceeds up Jackson's RI ,
FER TO Dunlap's creek and thence over TO How J
ards creek aud down Greenbrier. Conside.a-
ions OF general policy may influence decision
n favor Of This rouIe other persons are better .
prepared than myself 10 discuss those; | conhne {
myself 10 my legitimate province, which is, 10 :
urni>h The professional and practical elements OF
he question To those on whom The decision will I
lepenJ But do not hesitate 10 say, that II must '
,e made between one OF these Two routes, and :
hat no point higher than Point Pleasant can be !
cached. 4
am very respectfully,
Your most obedient,
c. CROZET $