North Carolina standard., 1851-05-21

! OF RaIelgn.
I The middle line descends Poole's branch to its
junction with Walnut creek, and after crossing Wal
nut creek near MT. HutchDgs', it ascends along the
slope OF the ridge between Walnut and Crabtree, to
its summit in the field thence 1t follows nearly
the course OF the rdge passes South of Mr.. Atkin-
sons and through Raleigh by Harge street to its re-
union with the South line at Judge Camerons.
The N orth line is identical with the middle line,
until il reaches point between the race-held ana Mr'
AiKnsons, II then runs little South OF Mr.. AlKln
sons and through Lane street by the Raleigh ahd
CASTOR Depot, back of the Female Seminary and
connects with the middle and Southern line near the
Haywood road on the lands of DR.. Cook;
| 1t appears from a mparson OF these lines as eX-
hibited in the accompanying table, that the South line
is 1875 feet shorte and that the cost OF graduation
and construction is $6.7SS less than on the Middle
line and that in comparison with the Northern line,
the lengt is 2I75 feet and the is $45, ,O29 in Its
favor The maximum grade is the same on all these
lines the grade being rather in favor of the Middle
route ascending westward and about the in both
directions the Northern line. The curvature Is
also in favor of the South line compared with both
Of the other lines.
| A line also uniting the South and North
lines through Harrington street. which increased the
distance over the South line 1850 feet and the cost
$25,5ll.
The cost, distance and degree of curvature being
all in favor of the South line, | am compelled in
professional point of view TO give it my preference.
There other considerations, however, which may
properly influence the Board, such as the proprety,
probably the necessity and obligation Of the Compa-
ny, put depot within the corporate limits of Ra
leigh, which would be attended with serious OBJ
lectiops far the grades of the road
ed the Middle line; while the South line the
road ascends with uniform grade of ~! feet per
mile past Raleigh, upon which the establishment Of
depot would be very Objectionable, on account of
the difficulty of stopping the descending and starting
the ascending trains, and this objection only be
removed by introducing lighter grade, which can in
other way be effected than by increasing the
of ascent from Walnut Creek, which would operate
llnn hufo oho hn f1y-n
of the heavy tonnage, it would still maintain its
perority the middle line.
Recurring again to the commencement of the line
at the w ilmington and Raleigh Rail Road, would
recommend the establishment of the Depot at Colds
boro', instead of at the point of connection OF the
roads-for the reason that the Wilmington and Ra-
leigh Rail Road Company, having warehouses alrea-
dy erected at GoldsboTo, could without additional
pense to them give accommodations that would be a
saving TO the Company.
SECOND DIVISION.
After several trial lines Crabtree creek which
is encountered six miles from the commencement of
this division, line selected crossing Mr. Jere.
Morris; thence it ascends along the sloping ground
drained into Crabtree to MIR. Robt. Witherspoons on
the ridge dividing the waters of New Hope and euse
Rivers thence the line pursnes this ridge, departing
from 1t only at place to maintain the general di-
rection aud at the time avoid the BraseId hills
which passed, leaving them half a mile on the
North al tritlng expense encountered in embank-
ing two small branches of New Hope. At
n,
present themselves pursuing the ridge dividing
the waters Of the Enoe and New Hope rivers, form
ing independent line crossing Haw river at Gil
breaths ford and thence to Providence meeting house,
designated on the map as the Chapel Hill ridge line
The other passes by Hisboroagh, and crossing Haw
river at Troingers bridge, reunites with the other
at Providence meeting house. These routes may be
united by line on the ridge dividing the wa
tiers OF the Eaoe and Haw rivers by DETECTION from
the first line at Gravelly Hill, and thus the various
routes crossing Haw river, which will hereafter be
described may be made part of either line, and a
comparison between the two may be made, adopting
either OF the crossings of the river Suffice it 10 saw
however, that the result by any combination that
could be made would be in favor of the route by
Hillsborough, in all the essentials OF grades, COST
curvature and distance. shall therefore dismiss the
Chapel Hill route as it is designated the map and
confine my observations TO the Hilsborough route,
which after ii became evident that it would be the
preferred route, ected to the most elaborate
explorations and surveys The first important enq
ry the pass of the Valley of the Enoe the result
of which the establishment of crossing al the
upper end of the town OF Hiilsborough, and again
Just below the bridge Browns Mill thence the
line ascends along the side hills of Seven Mile Creek
to the ridge dividing The waters of the Enoe from
those of Back creek, branch of Haw river and along
this ridge 1t is traced to the vicinity Of the Orange
and Alamance county line. From this point to lhe
Haw river thorough reconnaissance of the country
was made and the river examined from the Shallow
Ford TO Rufin's Mills. The result of th6 reconno-
was the selection of four lines crossing Haw
River respectively at Giibrealh's Ford, at the mouth
of Freeand creek Conrad Longs, and near Troliin-
gers bridge, all uniting at rovidence meeting house.
The first line abandoned on account of its in
creased length and COST and the second for the
and in addition thereto in consequence of its
objectionable curves and the heavy rock excavations
between Back Creek and Haw River. This narrow
ed down the choice between the routes crossing
Long and at Tronger's bridge, noted on the map
as the upper and the lower lines. A comparison of
these lines gives the following results, viz The up
per line less by $4,000 and the length is one
mile less than the lower line. The lower line has
less curvature of the minimum radius and the length
of the maximum grades is less, but these favorable
features not being sufficient to counerbaance lis de-
creased length and cost, give the upper line the
preference and recommend its adoption. From Prov
idence meeting house, tie line of this division is
traced very favorable ground along the ridge d-
vidng the waters of Haw and Alamance rivers, to its
termination on the dividing line between Alamance
and Guilford Counties.
| With the view of cutting off the detour, on the
route by Hilsborough, around the head of New Hope
line reconnoitered divergng at Paris Yates
on this division, and half miles from its COIN
mencement, passing around the head of Crabree and
by Mr. Barley Sears, eight miles from Yates, thence
along ridge dividing the waters of North East, New
| Hope and White Oak Swamp to Mr.. Marmaduke
Williams's, where it crosses New Hope; thence on
ridge between Morgans and Bong's Creeks, to a
point about two miles from Chapel Hill, where the
ridge upon which the College is situated, rises very
abruptly ascend the summit of this ridge either
Morgah's Bolling's available having attained
the summit, at Mr.. Arch. Andrews, owing to the
necessity of exceeding maximum grades in the
passage of Cain and Haw Creeks, the line would be
compelled to follow the ridge heading these creeks,
until it intersecs the line heretofore described as the
Chapel Hill Ridge line. near Mr.. Fred. Williams,