Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-08-26
For the Lewisbr-g Chronicle.
Mr.. EDIToR: We have been anxious

| MR.. EDITOR: we nave pcen anXlousiy
awaiting the Engineers Report of the
Railroad survey from Lewisburg via Center
county to Spruce Greek, which has come to
hand as published in the Lewisburg Chro-
nicle. We confess we were not little
surprised at some of the statements it con-
tains, and some of the features it exhibited.
In that report, M Emmit has given the
distances, both straight and curved, with
the grades on each route surveyed, which,
according to said report and his opinion,
gives the Penns Valley route decided
preference-and perhaps it has in reality.
But, in order to judge rishteously in this
or any other case, it is necessary to be gov
erned by facts indisputable; and sometimes
it is necessary, in order to arrive at just
conclusions, to have those facts stated on
the faith of figures, which it is said wont lie
Let us see. Mr.. Emmit says, after get
ting to the summit of Rapid Run, the route
is level for about two miles, and then
descends very fast towards BuiTalo Valley,
falling 1175 feet in III miles, or at the
rate of l02 2-l0 feet per mile; but admits
that, by following down the side Of the
mountain from the summit to where it
runs out, sufficient distance might be
gained before reaching Buffaloc Valley to
reduce the grade to 80 feet for 13 miles.
The distance from Lewisburg to the
summit of Rapid Run, is lo} miles, and
the height to overcome is l2Jo feet. Now
the difference between 1900 and 1l75 feet
which is said to be the faH in / miles
is % feet; and the difference between
1Si aud IL miles, is Il, which gives a
fall of 25 feet in = miles. We have not
surveyed the Buffaloe Creek from its
mouth to the Brush Valley Narrows but
let any person traverse said stream and
carefully note down the obstacles he will
encounter in shape Of mill-dams, ripples,
&c, and he will be forced to the conclusion
that instead of % feet, as Mr.. Emmit's
report would have it, he has assembled at
least 200 feet. The truth is, the whole
fall from the summit to Lewisburg has
been crowded into the Narr0ws, with the
small exception of % feet. l think it
will be found upon survey that there
will be at least 200 feet fall from the Mar
rows to Lcwisburg, which, deducted from
200, would leave 1000 feet in the Mar.
rows, instead of 1l15, which, with Mr..
Emmlts ADMISSION that the tall mIgnu bo
reduced from 102 2-10 feet to 90, would
make the descent not to exceed y feet per
mile, and am strongly inclined to believe
that upon re-survey, if such survey should
ever be made, that the grade will be found
easier than y feet per mile.
We have not the means yet in our pow
er to criticise the report west of Rapid
Run, but feel pretty certain that it will be
about as near correct as the southern fall.
One thing more, and We are done for
the present Mr.. Emmit, speaking of the
advantages deriyable from the local trade
growing cut of an increase of furnaces,
limestone, and sawmills to manufacture
the timber aboundipg on those large tracts
along Penns Creek and Pine Greek, which
lie north of it, has failed to notice, what
l believe is generally admitted, that the
prospect of lumber is much greater on the
Brush Valley route, and Sugar Valley, no
farther north than Pine Greek is north of
Penns Valley. BRUSH VALLEY:
NWe, of course, do not take sides
between the Penns Greek and Brush Val
ley railroad routes, for that is question
to be finally settled by the stockholders
and their engineers; but we readily give
u Brush Valley" (who is one OF Its most
respected farmers hearing on the subject
of his grievances-though We must add
that - or even GO feet to the mile is far
from being generally considered a favorable
grade. We have been over the ground
from Lewisburg to the Brush Valley mar
rows-without instruments, howeyer-and
from some considerable experience in run
ming "lcvel," and judging Of grades by
the eye, we are persuaded that the report
Of the engineer is substantially correct on
that point; and that if our correspondent
will carefully follow the creek and the run
to near the end Of the mountain, without
reference to the ups and downs of the road
which are calculate to deceive an up-
practised cye-he VIII find his estimate
wide Of the mark, and that 20 feet is
much nearer the truth than 200. We do
not believe the engineer is five feet out OF
the way. The rise in the Susquehanna
river, from Harrisburg to Williamsport, is
only two feet to the mile, while the Engi-
ncers' report gives full three feet to the
mile from Lewisburg to the Brush Valley
Narrows, although the rise would not seem
to be any greater than along the river. d,
Editor Ctron.