Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-02

To this add for equipments and depots 2,45O |
dollars per mile.
Gives cost per mile $4,000 fer road in full
working order.
A careful reconnaissance was made of the |
MASSAGE of the Cumberland range of mountains
by the Big Creek Gap. This creek breaks !
through the principal mountain about miles
above Wheelers Gap,and crosses PowelFs val
lev miles above the town of JackSboro, and
empties into Clinch river, miles below the
mouth of Powelrs river. The general bearing
through the mountain is easterly of north; Tor
seven miles to It's source the valley is wide and
remarkably favorable for the construction of
the road. The rise in the creek is very light
and the dividing summit between Its waters
and those of Davis creek, tributary of Clear
forks of Cumberland river, almost impercepti-
BILE. The route examined, however, continues
up Davis creek to the head ofWhite Oak, an
ether tributary of Clear Fork, thence down
White Oak, to low gap leading toward Clear
Fork, more directly, than to follow White Oak
to its mouth. The only difficulty to be appre-
hended is the rapid descent from White Oak to
Clear Fork. If the fall should prove to be
too great, the difficulty can be obvlated by ta
king the route down Davis creek to Hickory,
and down Hickory to Clear Fork, at the mouth
+-sIffcKory, Clear Fork enters a most remark
able gorge, through Pine mountain. The
mountain IS here rent aSSander TO its very bascJ
the river passing completely through With but
sli ght deviation from d straight line, and with
but slight fall The sides of the george tow
err up to height Of 1900 to 1000 feet above the
stream, and occasionally the cliffs arise one
above another almost perpendicularly. presen-
ting grand and imposing appearance. But
nature in this stupendouS freak, took care to
leave ample room, between the cliffs, for the
road as we'll as the river; and the line can be
passed through without difficulty, to the basis
beyond, through which the line from Elk gap
passes The distance from Powels valley to
Williamsburg Will be about miles shorter
than by Elk route, and the passage of tho
mountain summit can he accomplished with
greater ease, and at q much lower level. The
great difficulty upon this line will be in getting
out Of Powel's valley to Clnch river,and thence
to Knoxville. The range Of ridges are higher
and there are nose of them than upon the Ea
Ole Bend line; the distance is also enough
greater from the valley to Knoxville, to fully
couuterbaIance the two mile level between the
valley and Williamsburg. The merits of the
two routes are so nearly counterbalanced, that
ia order to decide between them, thorough
and careful location should be made on both
of them.
The country between Williamsburg and Lex
ington and Paris | have never examined, bu
am informed, that it was reported upon favor
ABLY bv the officers of the Charleston and Gin
cinna.i Company, who made survey of it.
am fully satisfied that range of country farthe
east or northeast than that occupied by thu
Danville survey, would be less cut up by branch
es and small creeks: and that although th'
length of road to build is greater, the cost o
construction would not be greatly enhanced
The great aud all controlling reason for prefer
ring the Lexington Or Paris to the Danvl!it
connection, would be the saving Of some 3
/ miles Of distance to Cincinnati without lncreas
ing the distance TO Louisville, and thus secu
ring o route to which there can never be RI
val. The most serious difficulty to be appre
hended upon this route is, in the crossing @
Kentucky river Oh account OF the extreme dc
preston of its channel; but it is believed tina
by pursuing the policy adopted for the crossing
of Laurel and RockcaStle, of starting at tn
head of one the many tributaries, that flow
in the right direction, and following the STREAM
j toits mouth, the grade can be got down to al
elevation not too great for the construction o
a timber and iron bridge, supported by pier
and abutments, thus avoiding the necessity o
a suspension bridge of great elevation and loni
span.
The distance from Cincinnati to Knoxville
BY either the Elk gap or Big creek route, vii
not exceed 252 miles, and the length of ney
road to build, even taking the Paris connection
will be not over Us miles. The merits Of tn
project of a road from Cincinnati and Louis
Vile to Knoxville have been so fully set tortl
bv engineers, by conventions, and By commit
tees during the last 20 years, that it will b
unnecessary here to repeat them.
Cincinnati by constructing us miles of road
in reality increases her rail road facilities, b
over two thousand miles of road now in oper
alton in the southern and southwestern states
and with two thousand more in process OF con
strnction, and which will be in running orde
before the Knoxville and Kentucky line can b
any possibility be completed. 1t has been con
sidered good policy,by many of the larger cities
to build roads for the sole purpose of attracting tn
local business of the country, through whlc
they pass to their own markets. This roa
will open to Cincinnati an area of country o
100000 square miles, containing population
of several million, that has hitherto been
Sierra incognita'' to her.
Respectfully submitted, NJ. B. PRIcHARr
Engineers office, E. Tenn. and Ga. R. r.
Loudon, Tenn. 29th April, 1854.
Some friend has sent US copy of the Knox
vile Register, with an article marked" whic