Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-07-29

After completing the Penns Valley the mouth Of
Spruce Creek Mr. Sheae commenced at BoasburS
make survey throuh Brush Valley to ewsburg, finding
good route all the way within 81 miles of the summit
of Rapid Rum no grade exceeding 33 feet the mile, and
the minimum radius being 1l46 feet From there to the
summit they ascended 800 feet in 3! miles, requiring
grade of nearly SS feet per me but which might be reduced
60 feet by striking the side of the mountain two three
miles back On the summit the route is level for about two
miles, and then dcscends very fast towards Buffalo Valley
falling 175 feet in Ill miles, at the rate OF lO2 2-lO
feet per mile BY following down the side of the mountain
from the summit TO where it out sufficient distance
might be gained before reaching Buffalo Valley to reduce
the grade 80 feet per mile for Ii miles but do not
think any easier grade than that be found From there
Lewisburg the alignement and grades both very
favorable L will be observed that the grades this route
do compare favorab either with those the Penns
Valley route do think a be found through
Brush Valley Lewisbug with favorable grades than
those here reported The distance from Lewsburg to the
summit of Rapid Run is 1S miles, and the height
1900 feet which, if you could ascending
Lewsburg would give grade Of 64 feet per mile for the
whole distance The this route of easier
character than that portions of the Penns Valley
route the minimum radius being LAG feet The proportion
of straight and curved line would be so miles of straight
ne and 23 miles of curved nc making the total distance
between Lewisburg and the mouth Of Spruce Greek III
miles, or half mile shorter than the Penns Valley
The cost of road this route would also be less
Tunnels would be required and the Bridging would be less
will therefore estimate Sl60 900 less making cost
S22, II per mile.
Examinations were also made for middle route between
Penns and Brush alleys but found to be mpactcabe
of the seepness of the gade and abandoned
The following comparison between the Penns Valley and
Brush Valley lines up the leading features both
My opinion that the best route for Railroad
from Lewisburg the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, is
through Penns Valley, l consider the advantages it
possesses the other route easy grades will than
compensate for the extra cost.
THE PENNs VALLEY LINE is IS miles long
Cost per mile, S24,35022
Maximum grade ascending west will be 80 feet mile
east d" 33
Total rise and fall 1G6l feet.
Proportion of straight line, 53i miles.
L" curved " 24i "
The BRUSH VALLEY LINE is al miles long.
Cost per mile, So, ,3l377.
Maximum grade ascending vest, will be 90 feet per mile
east W
Total rise and fall, 23OO feet.
Proportion of straight line, 80 miles
believe the above shows plainly the results OF
the surveys on boE routes.
Mr. Sheafer surveyed Isl miles Of line altogether, and
kept carefuy-taken of the SOIL character of the
country &c. which of course have guided in estimating
the cost of the road. Col JOSEPH PAXTON and also
passed both lines during the progress of the survey and
think that the road not only important one to Unon
Center and Huntington counties, but will be profitable
when built section of country like that eighty miles
wde with railroads running each side of it, not long
remain without outlet those roads, and there is
unoccupe in the country showing good evidence of
furnishing profitable business to road this The
Iron ore Limestone and the large quantities of Grain raised
along the line of this road and in the adjoining Valleys
of n trade
be increased by the erection of Furnaces and Sawm
for there large of good timber land Penns Creek
and Pine Creek, which lies north Of and this road being
link in the shortest line between New York and Pburg
Cincnnat will certainly entite it to large share of the
through travel between those points 1t would
Pottsgove with the Cattawss Williampo Erie Railroad
which has grades exceeding 3 feet per mile to its eastern
terminus and when this road finished it must be portion
of of the main trunk lines between New York and the
West 1t will give the Pennsylvania Central Rairond
great deal of freight and business that
never would 20 near and divert business
from that ad claim to be rival route between
Philadelphia and Pttsburg, but which will open
of business the Central Road give that Road
direct communication with New York, offering unequaled
inducements distance and grades for passengers and freight
comparison of distances between Cincinnati and New
York. will show this be the shortest route between those
two points The distance from Cincinnati to New York,
by the n Y Central r. Cleveland Buffalo is 1913 miles,
=" NY.&Erie q" " Dunkirk s62
Sunbury Erie" 1" &" Erie S25 "
Penn. Central " Harrisburg & Phila. 739
/" Lewisburg, Centre & Spruce Greek r. r.,
| the Catawissa, Williamsport 4 Erie and
the New Jersey Central X. X. 713
It will be seen from the above that this route over 100
miles shorter than the Sunbury Ee and nearly $50 miles
shorter than the New York routes 1t is also 2G miles
shorter than the Pennsylvania Central Railroad and when
we take into consideration the fact that from the mouth of
Spruce Creek New York. distance of 292 miles, there
no ascending grade in the direction Of the trade exceeding
SO feet per me there be doubt Of its advantages