Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-16
Engineers Report.
ENGINEIR's OrFIcE,

ENGINEER S OFFIcE,
BLooMINGToN, Mo-, Jan. 10, '53.
To Ms President and Directors of the Hannibal
and 81. Joseph R. r. Company:
GENrLEMEN: Immediately after the compile
ton Of the necessary surveys at Hannibal, the
eastern terminus, the results Of which were re-
ported to the Board in November, 1851, pro-
ceeded to St. Joseph, in compliance with your
instructions, and prepared 10 execute the sur
veys of the western terminus of this road.
A corps of Engineers was accordingly organ
lied, and on the 10Th December the surveys
were commenced and cOntnued through the win
ter. During this time all the ostensible routes
extending for twenty miles east Of ST. Joseph,
were examined. First, the Northern Route
by the way Of "Back.Snake Creek" crossing
I"One Hundred and Two River" Platte River,
"Muddy Creek" the Third Fork OF Platte, and
ascending by the way of Evans Branch" tC
the "Castile Divide" Next, the middle Route,
by the way of "Paties' Branch" crossing Platte
River below the mouth Of Zone Hundred and
Two" and uniting with the Northern Route
at the Third Fork of Platte. On the above de-
scribed routes, the principal obstacles present.
ing themselves, are the number of streams cross
ing the experimental lines, their proximity tC
each other, and the height of the Intervening
ridges. These difficulties then endeavefcd L
obviate, as far as practicable, by seeking mor'
southern location.
This route leaves the Valley OF the Mssour
by the way OF "WhiteheaGs Branch" crossing
Platte River nearly opposite the termination o
the ridge intervening between that stream and il
tributary, the Third Fork - and ascending
james Branch, to the summit Of the "Castil
Divide" between the head waters of "Jourdan
and "Malden" Creeks. The objects expec;e
to be attained by this examination, were eiiecte
! as fully as could have been anticipated. Thi
/ will be shown by reference to the accOmpanyin
maps and prsiiles, and TO the table Of compari
son, marked A. All the above described route.
in resuming the preliminary surveys, as directe
by yoH on the 26th July last, were taken up an
: .extended across "Castile Greek" TO distance
twenty five miles east Of ST. Joseph, formin
the first division. In prosecuting the survey
Of the whole route, the original field force, col
sisting of the Western Corps, under charge {
d Mr.. Bullitt Ito which was afterwards adde
the Eastern Corps,) was small, considering ii
amount of field work required TO be peIforme
a yet, with this force, had there been no derang
c ment Of the plan Of operation, and the time pr
perly economical, all the necessary eNamin
tions might have been completed at an eari
l, day; but under the circumstances, il became ne
- esSary 10 organize an auul.oh"t co'Ps'
y corps was placed under the charge of II
d Frederick Hawn; both parties being under Il
l. supervision Of Mr.. b. ii. Msthews, PrineiT
Assistant, to whose reports you are respectful
re referred for a description of the operation
nj both the Western Coz in the surveys Of
to "Northern Route" Utica Divide and Ssh
III Creek" routes, and their continuation throu
TO the "Elk Knobs" 70 a junction with the Nor
re ern sxperiaenial line, ran from Hannibal
Vn Bloomington by Mr., Bayly, whose reports
&C herewith submitted.
ITO Be Con.inned.)