Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-01-15
REPORT OF !. KNIGHT, ESQ. OF HIS
RECONNOlSSA NgE.

hBCC4NtNOlo) ~ T..
EAST BrrnmEN, WASHINGTON co. Pa.
JQWuryS 5. ISIS.
To S. BRADY. Esq
In the month Of DC, Der last al the instance
of the Ohio Genital Rail Road Company. "a
route to their road wss feconnoitred by me,
from point on the Ohio River opposite to
the City Of Wheeiu 10 Zlnesviile, by way
of the ravne OF that liver, MMahon's Creek,
the Evansville Rid1a Leatherwood Valley,
the town of Cambrld-e, Crooked Creek &c,
of which report was made under date of tue
18th November, to solomon Sturges, ESQ.,,
President.
That report suggested the property of other
examinations; which. indeed, it was under
stood the Company would order before decd-
ing upon the line OF their road; but which, on
account of the very recent organization OF the
Company. they were then unprepared to pros
ecute. A route having been found practical
bic, the company wouId rest upon that Tact,
from further expenditures east of GAINESVILLE,
unit their financial ability should justify
more enlarged operations on that side,
In this state of suspension, however, the
City of Wheeling, in view of the deep inter-
est which she felt il the enterprise, and in
more direct intersection Of the Ohio river, op-
poslte 10 her, by way Of the ravine OF Indian
Wheeling Creek. could not consent 10 delay
an effort TO ascertain, proximately at least, the
relative merits of such route. Accordingly,
at the request Of The authorities OF Wheeling,
/ have made examinations in the direction
proposed, and have the honor now to submit
my report.
This route commences on the bank of the
Ohio river near the mouth of Indian Wheel
ing Creek, where the M'Mahons creek route
was commenced al HE village of Bridgeport.
or it may be, at kirhwood; thence ascending
the ravine Of Indian Wheeling Creek to its
source, at the dividing ridge, near the village,
Flushing, in Belmont county; thence acr3ss
that ridge aud descending successfully by the
ravines of the Trail Fork, Bogg's Fork, and
the main branch OF Saltwater Creek, to Brown
ing and Jones mill. at the town of Freeport
III Harrison COUNT; thence ascending the
Craborchard branch to the Gap at Robert
Reeds, in the ridge dividing the drains of
Saltwater aforesaid, and OF Wills creek;
thence across this ridge, and descending the
ravine Of the Brushy Fork; passing the village
of Winchester, in Guernsey county, to the
Salt Fork; and by the valley of the latter, to
Wills creek; thence up the valley of Wills
creek n tla ,,,otlfb Of CroOlad c,oal- .L,,-o
mentioned; and up the latter, to junction
with the other route, Examined in October)
at point on the National Road about one
aud three eighths miles westward from Cam
bridge; if thought proper, the intersection
may be at Cambridge.
From this point there will be but one route,
26 miles, to GAINESVILLE.
more detailed description of the route
will now be offered, as follows:
The level OF the point Of commencement
is 80 feet above the lowest water of the Ohio
river at Wheeling; or 50 feet above the level
of Lake EVE; being the same level as assumed
IN the reconnaissance Of the route by way of
MMahon's creek.
Thence the line ascends the ravine of Indi.
an Wheeling Creek 10, and through, the ridge
at Flushing: a total rize Of AK fsst. -,
distance of 27i miles; being an average of a
little over Ia feet ne, noile hut NOT o,r,.1;.,-
30 feet per mile in any part The ridge is 10
h. nassad nv . 4,or.I 100 uo.,s 7S.t
passing 1873 feet below the apex in this low
part of the ridge.
Thence the line descends 235 fee, in . Ais
fame. Of 1913 NH. -, 49,, -, -
creek. at Freeoor,. an average Of aho,, 1eI
feet per mile: but practically If ~ f.et va
mile for miles next TO the ridpe and Of orIr
4 feet per mile through thu remaining 90 ro;Ia,
10 Freeport.
Thence, one mil. lepsl 10 tbe entrance of
the valley of the Crsborcbara and cro.s;,r
Saltwater creek Immediately below the innn'
lion of the Skull fork
Thence 6g miles 10 the RIDGE At Robert
Reeds, The dividing Of the drains of SGlI,va,
ter ana OF Wills creek. an assent estimated
at l76 feet or an average Of Sc feet ,,.r mil.
but not in auy par 10 exceed 40 feet ner mia
Thence three zig Is Of q mile Leget nassina
through this ridge at n feet below The 49,
surface by tunnel go wards in leoptb
Te1cs down the Brasby Fork. IA Mills
and descent OF I4J leet. to Winchester At
an ay.sage of 81. 5a, not to exceed the rate