Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-16
Engineers Report.
ESerNEER's OrrIeE, }
BLooNiseToN, Me-, Jan.il0, '53. !
TContinued from lst page. |


would cross TIC Middle Forl, of Charlton, south
Of Me northern line Of Township 81, and also !,
entertaining -grouhded opinion that better
and shorter route could be found TO Palmyra,
than the one ezanuled md reported by Mr..
lBiyly, obviating many OF IFS Objectionable fea-
lures, issued instructions 10 him, Ca copy Of \
which is herewith submitted, marked II, requi-
ring the examination Of line further south,
Terminating on the Northern line, at or near
Palmyra. The greatest obstacles TO be sur
mounted on the route ofthe Hannibal and st.
Joseph Railroad, were supposed TO exist in I
passing the ''Ell; Knobs III Macon County, be-
Tween ''Yellow Creek" aud Charlton River, .
4 distance Of twenty niles A favorable location
Twas however, Obtained through this locality; the |
peculiar features Of which consist Of short con-
lical ridges, formed by irregular ravines, several
OF which head in q point common to each, and
latter running In opposite directions, curve alb I
lrupily and unite: thus forming what is called
the "Knobs," some Of which are SO regular I
in contour, that they resemble more the works
lof Art than Of Nature.
The summit Of the " Knobs seems to have
been common level, in some instances two
hundred Feet above the general surface. A ten
dency 10 this conformation is first observed in
Township GO, and extends down into Township
E6; but they are seen in all their prominent
characteristics in Townships 90 and 80. They
i are drained by the Muscle Fork The forces
operating in producing these distinctive fea-
lures, must have acted differently upon the sur
fce on either side Of particular locality; for,
while the KNOBS" exhibit the effect of the ac-
don Of subsilng waters, the former indicate that
OF violent current, producing extensive, well
defined valleys and rayines. Indeed, the whole
surface from the ELK Knobs" west to "Grand
River" seems TO have undergone the process Of
.,,+ tar,,o1 la, lpVistS 1pDtilufinn Inv
which all the superior and portion Of the infe-
ripr strata have been carried of.
The elect Of this dcnudaton has been TO ex-
pose and render available an immense bed Of BIZ
luminous coal, with whicha greater portion ofthe
country is undertake; IL extends distance OF
seventy miles, varying in thickness from one to
y nine feet; the maximum of which occurs in
pr the vicinity of Bloomington, Macon county. 1t
is discovered at frequent intervals. On Grand
Ii River, at a depression OF ninety feet below the
no, Missouri River, at st. Joseph; in the valley of
all ''Locust Creek" at depression Of seventy feet
foe in the Muscle Fork" at a depression Of thirty
afeet, and on the Middle Fork OF the Charlton at
siive feet above the Missouri river, at the point
10 sbefore mentioned showing a uniform rise to-
WARDS the east Of about one foot per miles 1t
probably terminates in the dividing ridge be-
tween the Missouri and Mississippi, a few miles
rs east Of Bloomngton; between this point and the
L Mississippi an accurate geological examination
Re elwill be required to determine the precise condi-
We ton of this coal measure, there may have &C.
Focurred either dip in the opposite direction or
= fault in its position. The coal formation at Grand
river is undoubtedly identical with that at Bloom.
ington and the intermediate points the OVERLAPPING
strata being the sarle-lamenated sandstone, of
fine grit. This stratum of coal disappears at
Grand River, in consequence of its dip" west
te ward, aud the great increase OF the elevation Of