Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-11-25
REPORT.

lar attention.
REPORT.
HARDINs, Blount county Tenr., Nov Z, 1853.
VIM. @. SWAN, President Charleston and K7toc-
0die Rail Road.
Sir: Having in compliance with the drec-
tons of the Chief Engineer Of the Blue Ridge
Rail Road Company, made a survey of the
portion Of the line situated in the State of
Tennessee, I now agreeably to my promise
made to YOU in Knoxville, submit report on
the survey, together with map and profile
and approximate climates of the costs of con-
struction OF the contemplated rail road.
Commencing at the point of meeting of the
East Tennessee and Georgia and East Tennes-
see Virginia Rail roads, | run several lines
through and around the town Of Knoxville, all
Of which interesecled about two miles from Hol-
ston river. 1t will be necessary to make other
SURVEYS before the definite location, for / am
not satisfied that | have the best and cheapest
route-though any line out of Knoxville will
be very costly on account of the high hills i'm
mediately overhanging the river, and the law
requiring US to put the bridge sufficiently high
for stamboats to pass under.
The line passes up the small creek that empt-
les into the river below the lower ferry, and
thence down Knob creek to q small branch
1t then turns up the branch and passes through
the ridge between Knob and Stock creeks into
a tunnel of eight hundred feet in length, into
Mingas branch of Stock creek, ,and thence down
Stock creek which it crosses and Immediately
passes the mountain dividing Stock and Devils
creek through Hoods gap-the most favorable
mountain gap for rail road | have ever seen.
1t runs in almost direct line to Rock ford
where it crosses Little river. Any line that
may be adopted up to the point will necessarily
De very costly-the country being rough and
mountainous.
| examined another route from Knoxville to
Rock ford which runs very nearl y With stage
road. This route should be surveyed before the
locations My time being limited, l could not
run more than one line at this time.
From Rock ford the line runs in almost di-
rect line to Maryvile, over a very favorable
country, crossing Pistol, creek near Wears
bridge, and passing to the left ofthe town near
the Presbyterian Campground and through Mr..
Coiiin'S lot. l surveyed two other lines running
to the right Of the town. Neither of which are
so favorable as the one to the left The gradua-
ton from Rock ford to Maryvile will average
about six thousand dollars per mile.
From Maryyille the line Immediately crosses
the Middle fork Of Pistol creek, and runs up
the right side thereof, crossing McGhee's ferry
stage road near the three mile post and then
crosses the ridge between Little river and Little
Tennessee river through low gap. 1t then
falls upou the knobs Of Bakers creek, down
which it runs and passes through the deviding
ridge between Bakers creek and Nine Mile
near Mr. Spencer lIenry's 1t then runs down
Nine Mile creek which it crosses at Geo. Best's
mill. The country from MaryiLe, to Bests
mill, like the country from Rock ford to Mary
vile IS very favorable, but it does not continue
so anv longer For it then becomes necessary
to pass through the knobs Of the Short noun
tain from Nine Mile creek to the tennessee r.
yer neat Chilhowee mountain.
This part of the line viii be very costly though
it has the advantage of several favorble noun
tain raps. The line falls upon the Tennessee
river about half mile from the Chilhowee
mountain. upon which it passes to the North
Carolina line. The hills in many places run
Immediately into the river, leaving the engin-
ecr no choice of grounds From Harry Brights
to Mr.. Harden's about seven miles, the country
is much more favorable. But at Harden's it
Immediately changes again, and from there to
the North Carolina line, about nine miles, IS
very rough and rocky. The river is very cir
cuitous, running almost to every point OF the
compass. The graduation of this portion of
road will cost largely more than the same dis
tance on any other part of the line.
On looking on the map at the point marked as
the narrows, You will discover that great
saving of distance can be gained by making
a tunnel at that point and running down Mil
lers creek. | made survey Of this line and
am inclined to think it is practicable, which
can only be determined by a survey. | do not
IL. - lo 70 l-n Of
more than quarter of mile in length.
have ascertained that two and half miles can
be gained in distance by thi route.
also made reconnaissance of the route by
Montvale, with view Of tunnelhng the Chill
howee mountain. The country from Maryville
to the foot of the mountain is very favorable
A tunnel of perhaps two miles in length will
have to be made. From the foot the noun
tains on this side down the valleys OF Abrams
creek and Chilogita creek to the Tennessee IL
yer the country is very rough, more so than any
part of the line surveyed. l think this route
well worth an instant survey, as seven miles viii
be gained. BY the construction of the two
tunnels at Montvale and at the narrows, the
gain in distance would Justify the company in
making a large expenditure over and above the
mere cost of the route. The length of the line
surveyed is fifty four miles and three quarters
(542l on which have estimated as the cost OF
the graduation one million five hundred and
seventy thousand dollars-averaging twenty-sev-
en- thousand dollars per mile. Ihe whole cost
of the road will be about two million four hun
dred thousand dolars-averaging about forty
three thousand and eight hundred dollars All
of which is especially submitted.
VIM. HENRY GRIFFIN.
approximate Estimate Of the cost Of cOnstruc-
ton and equipment Of the Knorrilte and
CdrleSton Rail Road.
Graduation. 300
Pr;dr;no ....... 24700
Bridge Masonry, oE'oOO
Culyert MaSonry,..... Eoo'ooo
DepOtS, Gc..... ..''.''
Wood and water Stations, Iron Rail superstrues-
ture, Track laying, chairs, spikes DC. 05Z,OOO
ortsl ''''''' $4,000
Total: s2,4Ol,5OO
'Did he not make several visits after the pa
tient was out of dariger?n was the question OF
n