Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-01-02
DUBJ UE g. KEOKUK RAIL ROAD,
Report of the Engineer.

DUBJ uE & KE0KUK RAIL ROAD.
Report of the Engineer.
." e -'8a9 Iowa Cry, Dec. 4, Ie4e.
The Beard Of Directors for the Dubuque and
Keokuk Rail Road, met at Iowa City, and a
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.
|! FISHER, ESQ.,. Of Iowa City, Treasurer.
The following report Of the Surveyor nd
Engineer, appointed for that purpose, was sub
United, and accepted. -. ,... =
DECEMBER 4, ls4s.
! To Major Lucius H. Langsoorthy, President Of
| tho Bourd Of Directors "for the Dubuque and
| Keokuk Rail Road 1884,. ..:.,-e 7r =
SIR:-Having, in compliance with my in.
| structions, made q reconnaissance of the Route
from Dubuque to Keokuk, through certain in
terme diate points, with view TO ascertain the
practicabiIity Of. constructing a Rail Road
| thereon, have the honor to offer the follow.
ing report as the result of my examinations:
| GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE
ROUTE, H:u g..
This Ruil Road is designed to connect Du-
buque on the North with Keokuk on the South.
The former the centre Of great mineral and
| agricultural district. The Iatter situated ut
the foot of the "Des Moines Rapids" on the
Mississippi, the mead of certain navigation on
that river.
In this route. the Road will pass through the
heart of several of the most populous and fer
tile interior counties Of the State of Iowa, now
laboring under serious Inconvenience, in COM
NOR with the entire district, west Of the pro-
posed improvement, for want of some outlet
for their abundant agricultural products
The work is therefore very materially re-
garded as an object Of interest to nearly all
the eastern slope Of the State, and besides &C.
commodating the business in this district, as
we'll as the increased amount and extended area
Of traffic, which such improveme never fail
to produce-it will constitute an important
link in the great chain of communication be-
tween the eastern and southwestern markets
taken in connection with either Of the Rail
Roads, in contemplation, from Lake Michi.
gan to points on the Mississippi. near to and
opposite Dubuque. One from Milwaukee; the
other from Chicago (the latter now in course
of construction it will complete the chain Of
rapid communication from the eastern cities
to point on the Mississippi, within about $50
miles of ST. Louis, where the navigation is sell
dom interrupted by the severity of winter
weather.
The length Of the route is u fraction less
than 1856 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 a nj
1890 feet; commencing at the foot of Clay ST.
in Dubuque, the route extends wcstwardly a
, long said street about 5000; then running tt
the left. enters brick yard hollow, and follow
ing the course Of this ravinc, attains the sum
,,,if If fho r;d,rn bofxy fhc Cifv nd C,tE Eel
= creek, ut depression indicated by the head:
of this and another ravine leading to the creek
+ at 4 distance orabout 2aI miles. TO surmoun
. this ridge, Il grade, of sixty feet per mile, OF
!, a portion OF the route, and also, a short Blu
deep cut at the summit will be necessary. DE
! scendipg from the summit, short distance b,
an easier grade, the route strikes an elevate
table land, through which are channelled on
:. the deep but narrow vallies of three branche
= or the Catfish crcek-all encountered within
i space of about 2 mlles-these, together wit
n the numerous later ra wines, present brok Ell
v surface. but with care in adjusting the line O
location, and oy crossing these at considerab
t, elevation, the cuttings and filings, thoug
numerous, will be short; for the crossing thcs
branches, one bridge Of IS feet and two of 4
- feet each, will be necessary; stone for the q
butments will be found near the crossings
,c Crossing the last branch at distance of bou
d. miles from tho commencement, the route
10 then along the general course OF this valley
r gradually gaining by its slope sufficient elcvi
q ton to command the dividing ridge betwee
y. the Catfish and Whitewater creeks; passin
F. over more favorable ground, with modcrat
j. grades and no abrupt curvaturcs.
n After crossing the ridge. at distance of {
L.. bout IL miles, the general course, without 81
rlous obstacle, is along the White Water sop,
until striking the stream, at distance of !
miles and 1890 feet where bridge of 80 fee
- at only slight elevation, will be required
nd The most difficult part of tho line embrace
in this division, and the most expensive of an
equal portion Of the entire route, will be in til
- first or 8 miles.
ou The topography OF the country indicates q,
re other route for this division of the road, whic
on account of the ve'y limited time above
- for my operations, l was unable TO examn
Mt particularly, but which should not be ovcrool
lie ed in making the surveys preliminary to d
ce finite location of the lne. This route leae
Ia from Dubuque along the River Bluffs by sid
cuttings to the mouth Of Catfish, and thon 70
- lowing the genera course of this valley to il
source, crosses the dividing ridge. and strikin
the White. Water at the termination of tn
: other route. ,} . a RS Sa
I'd Division, extending from the White w;
q ter to the south fork Of the Maquoketa, di
z. lance of II miles and 1865 feet.
From tho Whitewater, the route cor tinut
on favorable ground, requiring but moderat
IN grades and gentle curves, without any heav
or work, crossing Curran's Branch, and John
= Fork, where bridges of IS feet each will be r,
% CURED. then ascending, crossing the Dividin
re- Ridge, between Whitewater and Maquokets
N ut the heads Of two opposite ravines. where
slight cut will be necessary, it continues O
with an easy grade to the North Fork of tn
o. Maquoketa, and crosses at Cascade, requirn
= a bridge Of 100 feet at a small elevation. TIL
* distance from the White We ter, TO the Maquo
. kcta, is about II miles.
After crossing the river the line curves t
tho left in order to pass by lone summit int
the valley Of Farm Creek, then passing u
this valley it gains the elevation of the dividn
ridge between the two forks of the .'Maquoke
ta,'' traverslng in its course, Bowen's Prairie
on very favorable ground, and crossing thi
ridge, with slight cutting it dcscends tn
course Of long ravine without heavy grade
or sharp curve to the South fork of the Maquo
kcta, where bridge Of 100 feet will be requ
rcd. This division extends almost entirely q
ycr prnirls. The grades can be kept With