Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-06-11
ENGINEERS REPORT.


oonnolssanoe and instrumental examinations, that
The best route through the "Elk Knobs" would
cross The Middle Fork Of Charlton, south Of the
northern line Of township %, and also enter.
tanning = well grounded opinion that better and
shorter route could DO found 10 Palmyra than the
one examined aud reported by Mr.. Bayly, OBJ.
WAITING many Of is Objectionable features, IL.
sued instructions 10 him, "a copy OF which 10
herewith submitted, marked r, J requiring the
examination Of line further south, terminating
on the Northern line, at or near Palmyra. The
greatest obstacles TO be Surmounted on the route
OF the Hannibal and ST, Joseph Railroad, were
ppoSed TO exist in passing tho "Elk Knobs" In
Macon County, between "YellSw Creek" and
Charlton River, distance Of twenty miles, A
favorable location was, however, obtained
through this locality, the peculiar features Of
which consist OF short eonical ridges, formed BY
irregular ravneS, several Of which head In
point common 10 each, and after running In OPP
posite directions, curve abruptly and untej thus
forming what Ia called the "Knobs," some Of
which are 80 regular in contour, that they re.
sembe more the works OF Art than Of Ma.
lure,
The summit Of tho "KnobS" seems to have
been common level, In some instances two
hundred feet above the general surface. A ten.
denoy 10 this conformation IL first observed In
lTswnSkip go, and extends down into Township
CO. but they are seen In all their prominent
characteristics in Townships 90 and 90. They
are drained by the Muscle Fork. The forces
operating in producing these distinctive fea.
lures, must have Ncted differently upon tho sur
face on either side OF this particular locality; for,
while the KNOBS" exhibit the effect Of the nc.
lion Of subsling waters, the former indicate that
OF violent current, producing extensive, well
defined valleys and ravines. Indeed, the whole
surface from the Elk KAObs" west to "Grand
River seems to have undergone the process Of
what is termed by Biologists denudatiOA, by
which all the superior and portion Of the inre.
riVr strata have been carried oil.
The effect VI this denudation has been 10 ex.
pose and render available an immense bed OF BIZ
luminous coal with which greater portion ofthe
country il undCrlOidj it extends a distance Of
seventy miles, varying in thickness from one to
nine foeti the maximum Of which occurs in
the vicinity Of Bloomington, Macon county. IL
Is discovered at frequent intervals. On Grand
River, at u depression Of ninety feet below the
Missouri River, al st. Josephi in the valley Of
Locust Creek" at u depression Of seventy feet;
in the "MuSole Fork" vt a depression Of thirty
feet, and on the Middle Fork OF the Charlton ii
FIVE feet above the Missouri river, at the point
before mentioned, showing uniform rise To-.
wards the east Of Ubout one foot per mile.s III
probably terminates In the dividing ridge be.
tween the Missouri and Mississippi, few miles
east Of BloOmingtOni between this point and the
Mississippi an accurate geological examination
will DO required 10 determine the precise condi.
ton Of this coal measure, as there may have 90.
CURED either dip in the opposite direction, or
fault in its position, The coal formation Al Grand
river is undoubtedly identical with that IT Bloom
lngton and the intermediate points, the overlayinR
strata being the Some--lamenatSd sandstone, oil
fine grit. This stratum Of coal disappears Al
Grand River, in consequence Of It's "dip" west
ward, and the great increase Of the elevation Of
the general surface It is therefore covered 10 a
depth that prevents its appearance on the line
westward, At an elevation Of iittS feet above
this formation, on the west side OF Grand river,
there are no indications Of coal II was sun.
posed that Il might prove to be the margin Of
another Coal Basin, with "dip" eastward, in.
orsasing in thickness westward. This Is proba.
bly, the case but the increase Of thickness IL not
sufficient to render il Of any practical value. Il
was traced west for forty miles. There can be
no doubt Of the presence Of galena or lead ore in
the vicinity Of Grand River; but to what extent
is unknown. Hydraulic limestone occurs on the
route, Crude Copperas (sulphats Of irony Is
found on enc Of the tributaries Of "Nluscle
Fork" Mari, Of a superior quality, also exists
in abundance in the valley Of Charlton.
'TAs true dip is probably Sw.
ITO be COntinued,)