Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-07-30
REPORT ON THE GULF AND NORTH
FIELD ROUTES,
SUBMITTED NOV. 6, ISIS.

SUBMITTED NOV. g, ISIS.
To NE Directors Of The Vermont Central Railroad
Company:
GENTLEMEN:-As the surveys and estimates OF
the two routes called the Northield and the Gulf
routes, being rival routes, on portion of Your road
are completed, with sufficient degree of accuracy
to determine both the character and the cost Of
them. now proceed to give YOU, somewhat in de-
tail, the cost of constructing good and permanent
road, on each route, and such description of them
as have been able to gather, both from my own
observation and from the reports Of the Engineers
whom have employed to make the surveys.
Preliminary surveys Of the two routes had been
made, by different Engineers, before any examiaa-
tons were made by me but the character Of the
line, as surveyed upon either route, was not such
as your interest required. The surveys of the
Gulf route were superficial and erroneous, at the
most important points, in fact, the Engineer en-
ployed by the people on that line, by mere eye
survey, subsequently corrected, in part several
material errors.
In addition to the character of the line by this
survey, the ground it occupied was unsafe for the
construction of road, aud the plan of construct
ion altogether inadmissable, a brief description
of the Gulf will suffice to show.
The Gulf is a narrow pass, some mile and a
half long, between the hills which rise at the bot
tom at an angle of about 100, to the height of from
400 to 600 feet. The hill sides are composed of
earth, formed by the decomposition Of slate stones
and of masses of stone, which have tumbled down,
from time to time, from the lodges above. These
lodges are much sleeper than AS, and are not
generally solid; in many of them assures already
appear, and if the lodges were disturbed by any
cause large masses would tumble down the side
hill into the bolton of the Gulf There are cracks
in the earth, and near the base of these lodges
which indicate that it has already started from its
bed, and Is held IN It's present position principally
by the roots of trees growing upon it. Traces
Of slides are distinctly visible down the hill sides
one of which we followed TO its source, and made
a rough estimate of the cavity it occupied before
starting. The quantity that came down must have
exceeded $500 cubic yards. This slide occur
red evidently, many years since, as there are now
standing upon it trees of quite large size.--
Slides are liable to occur again from the struct-
ure of the side hills they may not occur this
year or next, but the probability Of their occur
renee would be much increased by disturbing the
materials which now lie upon the slopes. A great
many Of the trees ure already decayed upon the
upper side, caused by masses of stone and ice
falling against them and busing off the bark
That this falling of stone is OF recent date, is
proved from the fact that the bark Of many of the
small trees is bruised Oft, near the bottom Of the
upper side, Travellers and stage drivers tell of
slides Of snow, and Of large masses Of ice having
umbled down to the bottom of the Gulf in the
winter and spring. Under all these circumstances,
cannot hesitate to pronounce the plan that has
been proposed, to build Railroad by cutting into
the steep side slopes of the hill altogether unsafe
and impractcable. Such mode of building
would cut off the connection of the roots, which
now hold the slopes together, and loosen and dis
turb the masses which lie, as it were, connected
with each other, and they would be constantly
tumbling down into the bed Of the Railroad, to
endanger the passage of trains. Again, the eX-
pertinent of hanging up Railroad, from 10 to
20 feet above the foot of so steep slope, would
be an extremely hazardous experiment. The whole
road would be liable to slide down in the spring
of the year, and whenever the road bed is sa'ur-
ated with water | know not of an instance
where such an experiment has been tried at any
rate, | would not advise the trial to be made, in
order to save few thousand dollars a year. 1t
would be assuming a fearful responsibility, such
as no man would be justified in assuming
By surveys made under my own direction, the
distance from Royalton 10 the mouth of Dog Riy-
or, by the way of Mortified, is 9-l00 miles more
than by the way of the Gulf and the cost of
grading, masonry, bridging, &c, on the Mortified
route, by my estimate, will be $l42,050 ~ more
than the preliminary estimate on the same route
| have estimated for road of different grades
and curves from that shown by the preliminary
surveys, - for more heavy and expensive mason
ny, for much more embankment, and more rock