Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-12-13
Dubuque and Keokuk Rail Road.
Report Of the Ensineer.

NCYVES Va SA1C AoACCBs
'-t-H Iowa CRY, Dec. 4, is4s.
The Board Of Directors for the Dubuque and Ke-
okuk Rail Road, met at Iowa City, and quorum
being present, proceeded to organize, by electing
Maj. L. H. LANGWORTHY, Of Dubuque, President,
p. r. SKINNER, Esq'r Of Anamosa, Jones county,
Secretary, and J. II. FISHER, Esq, of Iowa City,
Treasurer.
The following report Of the Surveyor and Engi-
neer appointed for that purpose, was submitted,
and accepted: -.
2t@ DECEMBER 4, Is4s.
To Maj. Lucias II. Langworihy, President Of the
Board Of Directors s:for the Dubuque md Keokuk
Railroad"
SfR:-Having in compliance with my instruc-
tons made reconnaissance Of the Route from Du-
poin:s, with view to asceftsA tse practicability
demonstrating RAN Road thereon, have the
honor to offer the following report as the result
of my examinations: tsr,.-sv
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE.
This Railroad IS designed to connect Dubuque on
the North, with Keokuk on the South. The for
mer the centre of great mineral and agricultural
district The latter situated at the foot of the Des
Moines Rapids" the Mississippi. the head Of
certain navigation on that river. alg
In this route, the Road will pass through the
heart of several of the most populous and fertile
interior counties of the state Of Iowa, now labor
ing under serious Inconvenience, in common with
the entire district, west of the proposed improve
ment tor want of some outlet for their abundant az
ricultura products. .tss ~
The work is there fore very materially regarded
an object of interest to nearly all the eastern
slope of the State and besides accommodating the
business in this alstrict, as well as the increased
amount and extended of traffic, which such inn
pfevements never fail to produce-it will constitute
an importantlink in the great chain Of communities
ton between the eastern and southwestern markets
taken in connection with either of the Railroads,
IN contemplation, from Lake Michigan to points on
the Mississippi, near to and opposite Dubuque
One from Milwaukee; the other from Chicago, the
latter now in of construction it will conn.,
etc the chair Ofrapid communication from the
tern cities to point on the Mississippi, within a
bout $50 miles of st. LOUIS where the navigation is
seldom interrupted by the severity of winter wea-
ther. ISL .,..-
The length Of the route, is fraction less than ls6
miles.
PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE.
For the sake of convenient reference, the route
will be considered in several divisions:
LIST. Division, extending from Dubuque to the
White Water creek, distance Of Is miles and
1920 feet commencing at the foot of Clay street, In
Du Buque, the route extends westwardly along said
street about 1900 feet; then running to the left
te,s brick yard hollow, and following the course of
this ravine, atains the summit of the ridge between
the City and Catfish creek, at depression indicated
by the heads Of this and another ravne leading to
the eek, at distance Of about II miles, To sur
mount this ridge, grade, of sixty feet per mile, on
pOTtion Oi FOute3 anu alSO, SuoTt put ueep
cut at the summit will be necessary. Descending
from the summit, short distance by easier
grade, the route strikes an elevated table land
through which channelled out the deep but mar:
row valleys of three branches of the Catfish creek
all enc tered within space of about miles
these, together with the numerous lateral ravines
present broken surface but with care in adjusting
the line of location, and by crossing these at consid
cradle elevation, the cuttings and filings, though
numerous, will be short; for crossing these branch
81 bridve of and two of 40 lcet each,
will be necessary; stone for the abutments Will be
found near the crossings, CroSsingthe last branch
at distance Of about miles from the commence
ment, the route is then along the general course of
this valley, gradually gaining by its slope suicIent
elevation to command the dividing ridge between
the Catfish and Whitewater creeks; passing over
more favorable ground, with moderate grades ard
no abrupt curvature.
After crossing the ridge, at a distance Of about IL
miles, the general course, without serious obstacle
is along the White Water slopes until striking the
stream, at distance of Is miles and 1880 feet;
where bridge of 80 feet, at only slight elevation,
will be required.
The most difficult part of the line embraced in this
division, and the most expensive Of any equal por.
ton of the entire route, will be in the first or
miles.
The topography Of the country indicates another
route for this division of the road, which ac-
count of the very limited time allowed for my ope-
rations, was unable to examine particularly, but
which should not be overlooked in making the
veyS preliminary to definite location of the line.
This route leads from Dubuque along the River
Bluffs by side cuttings to the mouth of Catfish. and
then following the general course of this valley to
its source, the dividing ridge, and striking
the Whitewater, at the termination of the other
route.
end Division, extending from the White Water
to the south fork Of the Macoqueta, distance of
II miles and 1865 feet.
From the Whitewater, the route continues
favorable ground, requiring but moderate grades and
gentle curves, without any heavy work, crossing
Curran's Branch and Johns Fork, where bridges of
IS feet each will be required, then ascending
es the Dividing Ridge, between White Water and
Macoqueta, at the heads of two opposite ravines,
where slight cut will be necessary, it continues
on with easy grade to the North Fork Of the
Macoqueta, and crosses at Cascade, requiring a
bridge Of 100 feet at small elevation. The dis
lance from the WHITEWATER to the Macoqueta, is
about Il miles.
After crossing the river the line curves to the
left In order to pass by lone summit into the val
ley of Farm Creek, then passing up this valley it
gains the elevation of the dividing ridge between
the two forks of the ssMacoqueta traversng in its
course, Bowers Prairie, on very favorable ground,
and crossing this ridge, with slight cutting il de-
scends the course Of long line without heavy
grade, or sharp to the South fork of the Ma
ooqueta. where bridge of 100 feet will be required.
This division extends almost entirely prairie.
Tho grades cnn be kept within 80 feet per miles it'll
out unnecessary expense.
Bird Division, extending from the South Fork of
the Macoqueta, to point near the summit between
the Wapspinicon River, and the Cedar river, dis
lance of II miles and 1881 feet. From the NIaco-
quota the line continues on very favorable ground
crossing successfully ssStory' and kiddcy's creeks
with bridges of % feet each, then running along the
general course OF the last named creek, it crosses
the dividing ridge between the Macoqueta and Wap
sipinicon Rivers, by the heads of two opposite ra
vines with moderate grade, but sharp cut at
distance of about miles, descending with about the
same grade, fair ground the route strikes Wal
worth's Creek, and continues down its valley to the
valley Of the sBufialo Fork,' passing about mile
of rough ground and crossing the creek twice with
quite small bridges, continuing the left bank of
the Buffalo and passing through "Anamosa' C:coun-
ty seat Of Jones county' it crosses the Wapspini-
con Immediately below the mouth Of the "BuTalo
Fork,' at distance Of 10 miles from the COM
menccment. A bridge of 800 feet will be required
here at considerable elevation. A short but high
embankment, will be necessary, extending from the
river to the 0BluffS,' the south side. Materials
for the bridge can be found almost at hand. The
line after striking the Bluff follows for short dis
lance the course of the river, then ascending the
course Of long ravinc, it passes after encounter
ing some rough ground, by the head of Roton
creek, to the summit between Wapsipiaieon and
Cedar Rivers, and terminates this division on very
favorable ground. In ascending from the wapsi-
pinicon grade of so feet per mile, win probably be
necessary on short portion Of the route An east
er grade could possibly be admitted by substituting
a different route from the summit north the Wap-
sipncon by passing into the head of Fawn Creek,
and descending by its valley crossing the wapsipin-
con, so as to strike the valley of Reeds Creek,
and followinps its course on the south until