Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-01-02
~.#" DUBUQUE, IOWA, JANUARY 2. 1919.

--.-M5...-.--z.....-
will be necessary, extending from the river to
the ''Bluffs, I" on the south side. Materia Is
for the bridge can be found almost at humid
The line after striking the Bluff, follows for a
short distance the course of the river, then as.
cending the course of a long ravine, it passes, |
after encountering some rough ground, by the
head of ROTOR Creek, to the summit between
and Cedars Rivers; and termin.
ates this division on very favorable ground. In |
from the Wapsipincon a grade of |
SO feet per mile. will probably be necessary I
on short portion of the route. An easier grade ,
could possibly be admitted by substituting |
different route from the summit north Of the
Wapspnicon by passing into the hcadsof Fawn
Creek, and descending by its valley, crossing
the Wapspinicon, SO as to strike the valley Of
Reeds Creek, and following its course on tbs
south until attaining the necessary elevation
to surmount the ridge. The distanc. would
be. however, greatly increased, and the ground
still be broken. This route would leave 'An-
amosa," half mile to the west of the line, and
under my instructions, did not consider my
self at liberty to consider any route which
sh ould not make that place point.
4th Division, extending from the termina-
ton of 3rd Division 20 Cedar River, distance
of l6 miles and 1920 feet. |
This division embraces favorable portion
Of the route extending over level or gently
rolling prairie. through nearly the whole dis
lance. Three small branches of Big Creek
and Sqaw Creek are crossed, requiring small
BRIDGES within twelve miles Of the commence
ment, after which Indian Creek, the largest
on this division. is encountered, passing this
with bridge of 80 feet, requiring no heavy
work, high grades or sharp curves. The route
continues on in a southwesterly direction un-
Ill the ravines and bluffs Of the creek are pass
ed; the route then turns to the south, and
passing over quite favorable ground, strikes
the Cedar River, at the "Rapids," where q
bridge of $50 feet will be required. The faci.
lities for crossing here are not surpassed at a
ny other point on the whole route or on this
river.
5th Division, extending from the Ce1ar to
the Iowa river, a distance Of lS miles and 4G2
feet.
Flom the "Cedar" the route takes south
western direction across 4 wide bottom, and
ascending the Bluff by a ravine, crosses low
summit without difficulty, and strikes Prairie
Creek 1T q distance of about p miles, when a
bridge of 30 feet will be necessary, continuing
on about the same course, gradually ascends
the dividing ridge between the two rivers,
and passes the summit at the distance Of about
miles from the commencement. The ground
up to this point being highly favorable, con-
tinuing on, in nearly the same direction, over
bout IL miles, crossing in this distance, four
small creeks, requiring an aggregate amount
Of bridging Of fifty feet, when the route curves
to the right (having gained sufficient space, to
avoid great number Of deep ravincs leading
to the Iowa River,) and passing over ground
somewhat broken, crosses "Rapld Creek, d"
with bridge of 90 feet, then ascending pass.
cs the summit and strikes the head of erals
ton s Creek" at distance Of about miles
IT r,1l
Of this creek, the line continues on through
Iowa City, and strikes the "River >" about one
mile below the town. A bridge of 800 feet
will be necessary to cross this stream. The
gaound is very favorable on this division until
arising within few miles of 'Rapid Creek y
when it assumes comparatively an unia vnra
bic aspect, and continues so to the lcrr,na
tionsof the division. The grades can probably
be kept below IS feet per mile without incur
ring heavy work. .. tt..a .
9Th Division, extending from the Iowa RIv.
or, to Mount Pleasant, distance of 4Sd miles
After crossing tho Iowa River, the route con.
! tinues OIL the river bottom miles, then as.
cen DIS by moderate grade, the side of the bluff,
crosses the summit and descends to the valley
of "Old Mans Creek" crossing which with a
bridge Of 40 feet, and another low summit, il
strikes the south Brrnch OF Old Mans Creek
all within distance of about 81 miles.
There will be no difficulty in keeping the
grades on this part Of the route, belt " the
maximum assumed on the first division. II,
to this point there will be no heavy work, O.
sharp curvature on this division, and from THU
point the route assumes very favorable char
acter, crossing the English River at distanc,
of about 10 miles, with bridge Of about Isl
feet. and ascending without difficulty, from
its valley, the route is nearly direct to ''Wash
ington," and for considerable part Of the dis
tancc over nearly level prairie, crossing ''Da
Wis Creek" with trifing bridge in this dis
lance. and leaving the town of Washington
the route continues on equally favorable grount
until reaching the west fork Of "Crooke t
Creek, u distance of about 81 miles, which
is crossed with a bridge of 60 feet, and with
out any difficulty rs to grade or curvature. A
u further distance of about q miles the mar
branch of 'Crooked Creek" is encountered
requiring bridge Of 100 feet, and some extr,
work near the crossing. thence aft r ascend
ing from this creek, the route continues owe
very fair ground TO Mount Pleasant. The or
ly interruption to grades or abrdgemcnt, wor
thy of notice, occurs at Big Creek, about 8;
miles from the town, and here nothing of Sc
rious nature; bridge of 60 feet will be rcaui
red here. This entire division may be consid
cred favorable.
7th Division, extending from Mt. Plcasan
to Keokuk, a distance Of 4811 miles. On leav
ing MT. Pleasant, the route inclines to the left
striking the Skunk river below the mouth o.
Big Creek, the descent to the river being faci
itated by the valley of this creek: bridge o
300 feet will be necessary here. After ascend
ing from the river, tho route continues ove
favorable ground, passing through or neal
West Point, and strikes the valley of Devi
Creek near the Mississippi Bluffs, and descend
ing by this valley othe bottom, !" takes near
ly q direct course 10 "Montrose;" thencedowr
the Mississippi II miles, to Keokuk, without
difficulty. gt ElI
The grades on this division can be kept be-
low the maximum admitted on tho northern
end of the route. without requiring expensive
work.
Another route not differing materially in
distance from the one here adopted, presents
itself for consideration on this division; to wi.
from Mt. Pleasant, inclining to the right tc
meet feasible descent, to the valley Of '.Bp
Creek" crossing this stream and surrounding
by extended curvature, the dividing ridge be.
tween the creek and Skunk river; crossing the
river and ascending from its valley, by long
ravinc, to the general level Of the Highlands
between this aud the Des Moines river; thence
on very fair ground through or near Salem, and
crossing the heads of Sugar or Devil Creek