Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-07-29
lEwIsBuae, CENTER e. SPRUCE CREEK ROAD.

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lEWISBuSG, CENTER g. SPRUCE CREEK ROAD.
To JAMES F. LINN, THOMAS HAYES, GEORGE
DREIsBACH, FRANCIS WILSON, JOIN NJ TAYLOR,
JOHN WILT, DAVID DUNCAN, II. S. Gross, JOHN
NEFF, JOHN HAssoN, WIN. BURCHF1EID, and GEO.
BUCHANAN, Esos, Erecutire Committee Of LevtsJury,
Center d Spruce Greet; Railroad
GENTLEMEN: Having completed the preliminary surveys
of the several lines for the Lewisburg Centre Spruce
Creek Railroad, hereby submit the following Report,
showing the comparative grades and distances on the two
routes one by Penns Valley and the other by Brush Valley
The Panns Valley survey commenced at Lewisburg
on the 18th of May, by Mr. JOHN NJ SHEAFER, Assistant
Engineer, who had charge of the surveys Mr. Sheater
commenced the Bridge the Suquehanna River and
followed Buffalo Valley, encouneriug obstacles to the
construction of cheap and durable road, until he reached
Peuns Creek, distance of III miles from Lewsburg
Along Penns Greek for about miles, the route is quite
crcuitous the creek is by stragh and
bluff points of the mountain project both sides to the
waters edge it will be necessary this creek several
times within 10 miles, and by making two tunnels, of
2lOO feet and the other of 500 feet length much curvature
is avoided and the line will be shortened between and
miles will therefore report the cost upon the Tunnel Line
as being the one which would be adopted upon location of
the route.
From the head of the Penns Creek Narrows to Spring
Mills the line good one and the grades favorable to
the construction of road Near Spring Mills, the line
strikes Sinking Creek branch of Penns Greek, and follows
it to near Centre H which is the summit between Penns
Creek and Spring Creek, and the 6rst summit Of any
consequence which encountered from Lewsburg distance
of Al miles The heaviest grades necessary to
this summit will be 81 $40 feet per mile, ascending from
Sinking Creek for about q miles, and 33 feet per mile
descending Ito Spring Creek at Boasburg for miles
From Boalsburg to Pine Grove, which is on the summit
between Spring Creek and Spruce Creek the steepest grade
will be 33 feet per mile and from Pine Grove to the mouth
of Spruce Creek the grades need not exceed 33 feet
mile and for portion of the distance would be less At
one place. by keeping in the valley, Mr. Sheaer made
grade of 80 feet per mile for about miles, but that can
easily be reduced 3 feet and the line be improved The
line Spruce Greek several tines but the bridges would
be SMALL by keeping out of the valley either side these
bridges would be avoided and line somewhat saghter and
with uniform and easy grades could be found but how
the expense would compare with the Valley line am unable
to say until the ground has been surveyed
The present line joins the Pennsy Central Railroad
very avoraby crossing the Junata River very direct
course, and making an easy curve at tho junction.
The curvature the whole route will be light except Tor
about miles along Penns Creek where Of the
NAV require radius of $40 feet Future surveys may make
it more favorable but it where the grades easy
and therefore Objectionable it would otherwise
The total going west from Lewsburg will be 1Ol6
feet and the descent the direction will be 645 feet
The length Of straight line will be 53l miles. The
length of curved line will be 24 miles, making the distance
from Lewsburg to the mouth of Spruce Creek, IS miles,
which distance may be reduced miles by proper location
IF the Tunnels avoided the distance would be increased
.ome miles, and the around the points proposed to
be tunneled would be very short and Objectionable
It will be seen by this statement that neither the grades
nor curvature are serious obstacles to the construction Of
road on this route there is hardly road in either this
State or New York which has favorable grades
favorable
The cost of road difficult to estimate with any degree
of accuracy until after careful location has been made as
the forms of different structures not be planned until
their position fixed but have endeavored make fair
estimate from Mr.. Sheafers survey, having made the
cacu atons with view such alterations in the line
certain to be made from the he took and think the
following estimate will the of road this route.
1t is made for single track with urnouts at such points
would be required for the business of the country
Clearing and grubbng IS miles, at 800 per mile 100000
bsnIiUp. Iu at % cents ''' PAT 10000
,VSV SN ceuts sut' '1''' N' 100000
Extra cost of Tunnels l3OO0OOO
O0O cubic wards of bridge masonry at S5 so 100000
5000 g culyert $50 100000
1000 slope wall 1" l.5O 4,5O0O0
9'00O rip rap so 10000
1900 lineal feet of bridging I" 1000 100000
Fencing rs miles, oU,UUU rods, !.VV oV,VUUUO
Land damages, IS miles, at $500 per mile 100000
Total cost of grading encngand land damages
One mile Of track costs
100 tons of Iron, weighing 60 lbs per
yard, at S75 $500
2,4O0 Cross Ties at 80 cents each 72O
SO kegs of Spike at IS $50
450 Chairs, at 40 cents lSO
Laying track complete 400
81 miles including turnouts, at S9,O5O $733 3O5OV
Depots, Water Stations and Engine House 25,000.O(
sl,799, $500