Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1851-06-26
Report Of the Chief Engineer of the
Pacific Railroad

ST. Louis, january 10, 1851
10 Tie President anil Directors Of The Pacifc
RoIrOad Compamy.
GENTLEMtN: The preliminary surveys for
your road, embracing al, examination of the
country between st. Louis and the Western
line Of the State Of Missouri in Cass and Jack
son counties, were commenced on the 2ith of
May, and closed On the 29h November, 1850
| have now the honor to repoi. the results.
The accompanying sketch in profile of the
general plane Of the country between St. Louis
aud the western boundary Of the State, will as
sst in understanding the ground over which
We have passed. Sketch No. shows the gen
eral outline Of this plane, Independent Of the
valleys made by the streams which break through
it. From st. Louis TO the Gasconade the sum
init of,hc dividing ridge between the waters Of
the Merrimac and the waters Of the Missour;
from the Usage valley by Versailles 10 the State
line, it shows the submit Of the dividing ridge
which separates there the waters Of the Usage
river from those of the Missouri river above
the mouth Of the Usage. This general plane is
crossed near its centre by the rivers Cascon
ade, Marais and Usage, creating there, (as may
be seen OH sketch No. y three deep valleys
and two intervening ridges. These valleys,
when compared with the height Of The country
on either side which has to be surmounted on
the inland route, are respectively 400, 27O and
$50 fee, in depth. The valleys Vt the Gascon-
ade, Marais and Usage rivers cross our general
course nearly a, right angles, aud are besides
in such close proximity, as TO render a circuit.
ous course necessary TO approach either of
them and to escape from either of them at a
'ortahle grade. There must, therefore, be con
siderable distance lost in passing over this bro
ken portion OF the plane attended with an ex-
pcnse OF construction above the average.
The general elevation OF the lane OF the Hi
nois country, IN a direction east IRON -. Louis,
varies as am II!crmcd from 100 TO 200 feet
above the Mi'.'sippl river. 1t VIII be obscrv
ed 10y tho fr"l'e sketch before You that at -
miles west From st Louis in the general drec-
tion OF your read, tie height OF the plane Is 800
feet above high water Of the Mississippi, at 40
miles 400 feet, at 90 miles 30 feet, at 10
miles 900 feet a, the Gasconode river 100 feet,
tho Usage river 10 lcet, at 30 miles 5O5 feet,
at 200 miles 100 feet, at 2GO miles 400 feet,
and at The State line III Cass County COG feet
above high water oi the Mississippi at ST. Louis.
Your attention Is drawn to this comparison be
tween 'hc general elevation Of this section of
the Missouri country, and that Of the Illinois
country, because 1t is TO certain exten! explain
htory OF the greater cost per mile OF a railroad
through tins division o: Missouri when com
pared with one through the less elevated plane
OF Illinois.
The hrs, hundred miles from st. Louis, OF
this original plane, is reduced 10 narrow ridge
by the action Of the waters OF tho Merrimac
horo rnr n,rral,"I ~ sach o,hnr ,ho G a' ~
the southern side this ridge, mud he second
on the northern side, narrowing tho ridge at
tunes to eight ana ten miles IN Width On this
po, H VI wv .". w. "i' '','e'oro presence"
,hc u,ner cou,,,rv ono IN ihe ,ou,hern s;ds ~
this ridge BY the Merrimac valley, one follow
irg the top VI the ridge along tho divide" and
one following the northern side Of the ridge up
n "e a'n;nn 'n' IVA '""sy' III Vi ""'" h''e
Twill now Jescribc tho reneral di,cc,;or Of
tie several lines surveyed to Jefferson CITY, be
ginning with the line up tho Merrimac valley
ina a. h'nro'n'e riIgs' -,
'r,ha :" w. ,',' Ts,, .,.aa, &, w. '''
seven feet six inches below the hiph water
mark on that monumen. of tho lreshet of June,