Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-01-02
a.-vs~ ofa 1sass fsr . Railroad frsm
Ccv3nr1on - the 0hle River.-ss@Bnry
r~Isrf "a Charles -. shaw Engineer.
To the President and Directors ef the
Board of Public Works.

To the President and Directors ef the
Board of Public Works.
GENTLEMEN: Preparatory to more
extended report on the progress Of the
surveys between Covington and the
Ohio River, | have the honor to submit
a sketch of the operations thus far' and
few words in regard to the PracncaOh-
ity of routes.
SURVEYS have been made from Gov
ington, up Dunlap's creek, crossing
Allegheny at the Grow summit. descer-
ding Howard's creek to Greenbrier river
and pursuing the latter to its mouth;
and also through Monroe county, as
cending Dunlap's cove and Back creeks;
thence by the waters of Indian creek
and New river to the same point at the
mouth of Greenbrier.
The first named route passes the
Allegheny with grade of 105 feet per
mile for five miles on the east side, and
the same grade for | mile on the vest,
with tunnel 5000 fee; long. The tun-
mel line shows two depressions, at which
working shafts of $50 or $50 feet could
be sunk, this giving facility for driving
six headings simultaneously, none of
which would exceed six hundred feet in
length. Few situations for tunneling
could be more favorable.
The Monroe route will not require a
tunnel, nor any grade exceeding go feet
10 the mile on the east side. On the
west side, with exception of the single
one mile grading before mentioned on
the Greeubrier route, the grade will be
less favorable; to what extent is not yet
ascertained. q,
! Each of these routes possesses ad-
vantages which it will be the business ol
. the more detailed report to discuss
, They are at present so equally balanced
as to make opinion in regard to theil
relative merits very difficult until they
can be compared bv strict estimates.
Itis perfectly safe, however, 10 asser
that both routes are entirely practicable
and possesses important advantages II
, grad over the Baltimore and Ohio rail
: road. These advantages, combined
5 with the facility for striking the Ohio a
: a point navigable in low water, and TO
connections with Ohio, and Kentucky
i improvements, will give TO the Virgini'
r Central road pre-eminent advantages, il
commanding all the travelling and
large share of the Western states ant
territories.
Several subsidiary lines have beel
run in connection with the two aboY'
: named, and routes have been reconDoi
,, tired for various surveys YET to be made
e which will be the subjects of future re
: ports.
: Lines remain to be surveyed, troH
a the mouth Of Greenbrier, down NeV
river and Kanawha river, 10 Poin
;. Pleasant; from Charleston TO the mout
4 of Sandy; from the head of Dunlap
: creek, by way of Peterstown, Fast rive
and Bluestone, to the head waters G
u Sandy river. and thence TO its mouth
{ and from some convenient point o.
e New river TO the head of Coal river
y following the latter nearly to its mout
o and connecting with the survey iron
Charleston to the mouth of Sandy.
All these surveys are indispensable
'f with the view to determine the mos
practicable route for a railway. The
cannot, however, be made in the cours
'i of next season by single party. On
r or more additional parties will be neces
J. sary.
T. Il we're needless to anticipate the cor
,e cIusion Of the report in PREPARATION
: The object of the present outline
> only to encourage the friends Of III
. scheme, and TO convey the assuranC
. = that every thing is being done in wa
u 10 afford the desired information in tn
'e most satisfactory shape. The result I
X nv own reconnaissance, and OF info
Ip nation derived from reliable sources
sr have effected in my mind the convictio
Ie that no communication now in agitatio
,r can surpass this in commercial facilitit
,e or in its suitability for maturing Ii
ofI great agricultural, mineral and manufn'
90 turing resources Of this highly favore
n region.
- - shall speak of these hereafter. er
le hope that the imperfect views which
Y shall be able to exhibit will but lead d
y way for those whose opportunities Il
N exact information will enable them
d. command more attention.
g, With the highest respect,
S. remain, your ob't servant,
ar CHAS. B. SHAW.
A Richmond, ESD October, 1850.