The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-06-03
Portage Road---Engfn & gfneers' Reports

neer of the road, portion of the proposed route
to avoid the inclined planes upon the Allegheny
Portage railroad. 1t will be perceived that the
report sustains the line recommended by Mr..
FAIRIES and cencurs with him entirely in the
correctness of his estimates as to the cost OF
the work. From the facts presented it would
seem too, that Mr.. FAIRIES, by fair inference, is
also well sustained by the line of the Central
railroad, upon which the tunnel through the
summit is about double the length of that adop-
ted upon the State line, the grade nineteen feet
sleeper to the mile on the eastern slope, whilst
the difference in distance is but about five miles
and the cost of construction of both entire lines
must be considerably in favor of that of the
State. The engineers upon the Central road
stand at the head of the profession, as well as
Messrs. ROBERTS and GAY. Such concurrence
gives the best possible guarantee, that what has
been done by Mr.. FAIRIES, has been well done,
| and that this Indispensable connection in the
main line of our state works will be completed
with reference to utility, permanence and econ
omy, the three cardinal principles that should
ever govern in all such enterprises
On the subject of the avoidance of the planes,
ven our views at length. The state has wisely,
in our humble opinion, undertaken the work
its importance and usefulness q little time will
undoubtedly show to the satisfaction of all who
may now doubt. Without adding anything fur
her at present, We respectfully call attention to
the report
To the Board of Canal Commissioners of
the State of Pennsylvania.
GENTLEMEN In pursuance of the Goth Sec
ton of an act of the Legislature of Pennsylva
MIA, approved May 4th, 1852, the undersigned
have met on the line of the Allegheny Portage
Railroad, and made an examination from the
foot of Plaae No. f. to Hollidaysburg, with a
view to avoid all the planes between said points
or as many as may be deemed practicable, and
for the best interest of the Commonwealth -
upon which we have the honor TO present the
following report:
The mountain region embraced within the linn
its designated, has been subjected to repeated
examinations of experienced engineers, and its
Typographical features are now accurately def
ned and well known. Messrs. Clarke s. Holgate,
Nathan S. Roberts, Col. Long, Moncure Robin
son, Sylvester Welch, Hother Hage, Charles s.
Schlatter, j. Edgar Thomson, Edward Miller,
aud Others have at different periods from 1924
to the present time, made careful instrumental
surveys, and Mr.. FAIRIES, the Engineer of the
New Portage Railroad, has had the advantage
of their experience combined with his own per-
sonal explorations and observations so that the
field for re-examination, originally wide one,
| has, through the Iaborious Investigations Of
these gentlemen, been reduced within compara-
! lively narrow bounds.
| The route traced, and recommended by Mr..
FAIRIES, to avoid the planes from No. to No. 10,
Inclusive, commences short distance below the
foot of plane No 4, (being the continuation of
the new line already located, under contract,
and in process of construction thence to Johns
town, avoiding planes Nos. l, 2, and 81 and
continues along the western slope of the main
range of the Allegheny mountain, parallel with,
and almost touching the Pennsylvania Railroad,
for FIVE miles, to the crossing of a small branch
of the Clearfeld, where the two lines diverge-
The Pennsylvania line inclines to the left, and
passes through the main ridge of the mountain
at Sugar Run Gap, by tunnel $500 feet in
length, and thence descends by the left bank of
Sugar Run, and along the slopes of the eastern
face of the mountain to Altoona, new town
about six miles from the Portage Railroad, with
which it is connected by branch
The line surveyed for the new Portage road,
continues a very drectcourse from this point
| Of divergence to Sugar Run Gap, more to the
south, and passes the mountain ridge by tun-
mel 1900 feet i'll length the grade at the cas-
tern approach of the tunnel being about TWEEN
five feet above that of the Pennsylvania road
Thence it is traced along the right bank Of Su-
gar Run for about three miles, where it curves
around the spnr of the mountain, and passes
over the favorable dividing ground between the
waters of Sugar Run and Fetter's Run it then
crosses the two main branches of Fetters's Run
and cuts through the dividing ridge between the
waters Of Fetters and Blair's Run. 1t passes
thence along very favorable sideling ground
along the left side of the valley of Blair's Run
to point just above the foot of plane No. s.
Here it curves and crosses Blair's Run, and one
of its tributaries, by embankment, and a cut
the right side Of the valley. Thence it is traced
along the side-hiu above the present Portage
road, crossing it above Plane No. 9, and contin-
uing below it until it reaches the plane about
continues along the sloping side-hill above the
present road, gradually approaching it, crossing
it between planes No. 9 and 10, and immediate
ly above the latter plane it cuts through the
I,i1 1oa hrou of Rloir' RIM