Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-06-10

EsofNnrR's Orrtor, !

BtoosiNoros, Mo-. Jan. 10, '53.
To The President and Directors Of The HanHtbd
and 81 Joseph r. r. COmpany'
GrNrLrMESi Immediately after the compile.
ton Of tho necessary surveys ut Hannibal, the
eastern terminus, tho rcsul, Of which were re.
ported to the Board in November, 1861, pro-
lceeded ~ ST. Joseph, in compliance with your
instructions, and prepared TO execute the SUR
yeys oil the western terminus OF this road.
a corps of Engineers was accordingly organ
lied, and on the 10Th December tho surveys
were commenced and continued through the win.
ter. During this time al the ostcnslblo routes
Ioxlcndng for twenty mica east Of 81. Joseph,
were examined First, the "Northern Route
Nv the way OF "BncksSnake Creek" crossing
i"One Hundred and Two River" Platte River,
| Muddy Creek" the Third Fork OF Platte, and
Ascending by the way Of "Evuns' Branch" "a
the "Coslilc Divide" Next, the middle Route,
by tho way Of "Palies' Branch" crossing Platte
/ River below tito mouth OF zone Hundred aud
| Two" and uniting with the "Northern Route
at the Third Fork of Platte. On the above do
scribed routes, the principal obstacles present
ing themselves, are tho number oil streams cross
my the experimental lines, their proximity &c
each other, And the height Of the Intervening
ridges. These difficulties then endeavOred L
obNiate, as inr as practicable, by seeking mor'
southern location.
Thi. route leaves the Valley Of the Missouri
by tho way OF "Whitehead's Branch" crossing
Platte River nearly opposite the termination O.
the ridge intervening between that stream and III
tributary, the Third Fork - and ascending
flames Branch, 10 the summit OF the "Castil'
Divide" between the head waters OF "Jourdan'
and maiden" Greeks. The objects sxpootc,
TO be attained by this examination, we're etieotCI
Joe fully Us could have been anticipated, Th
i, will DO shown by reference to tho accompanying
maps and prOfilcs, and TO the table " eonpuri
son, marked A. An the above described routes
in rcsuming the preliminary surveys, rs directed
by you on the Goth July last, were taken up ant
extended across CASTLE Creek" 10 distance o
ltwcnty.live miles caat OF ST. Joseph, forming
the first division. IN prosecuting tho survey
of the whole route the original field force, con
sistng Of tho Western Corps, under charge o
! Mr.. Bulliu, Go which was afterwards adde
the Eastern Corpse was small, considering III
amount of field work required tn he performed
, YETI with this force, had there been no derange
. mcnt Of the plan Of operation, and the timo pro
perly economical. all the necessary examine
tons might have been completed at m Garlic
: day. but under the circumstances, Il became nee
i esSary TO organize m additional corps Thi
z corps wNS placed under tho charge Of MI
It Frederick Hawn, both parties being under tn
= supervision Of Mr.. B, H, Mathews, Prineip,
Assistant, TO whose reports you are respectful
referred FOR description Of the operation {
c both tho Western Cops, in the surveys Of II
u Northern Route" Utica Divide and "Sho
o . Creek" routes, and their continuation throug
u the ELK Knobs" to junction with the Norll
0 orn experimental line, ran from Hannibal
c bloomington by Mr., BOyly, whose reports al
u herewith submitted.
70 Ito BE Continuod,)
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Tho J,,erv b,vc .trucL far hioher ,.n,,cs tho