Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-02-20
The Contendine Routes

We alluded last week 10 tie Reyiew or NJ
Fisk's report lha, was being published In N.
h'ehmond Enquirer. Not being immediately
interested III The de cision on the applying ,oo,...
we cannot b, said 10 favor either one, exceps ~.
lar as The States interest will be promoted IN
the decision. We think, however. aft, care.
FULLY examining all the phases the question has
assumed the Chief Engineer has not. to ,ur
m'nd' given u ffici' nj reasons fol his preference
Tor the Greenbrier route Indicated in his Rrpor,
HIS objections 10 Mo- roe route are ON accoon,
of The "grades" and curves. The maximum
grade on the Monroe route, from east 10 west. is
stated 70 be 10 feet per mile on the Glen.
brier 50 eel per mile. From west 10 east on
the Monroe, The maximum grade is so feet per
mile; on the Greenbrier, 35 feet per mile. On
The Baltimore and Ohio road there is one con.
'inuous grade Of about IL miles, at The rate of
llo feet per mile and on the Virginia and
tennessee load the maximum grades are Is
ieet per mile. On the Monroe route there are
eleven miles Of level grade, three fourths more
III an one fJ1h Of The ahole, Is | 6 miles, uhile
upon the Greenbrier route the level is bu, two
miles. The "Review" pertinentIy asks. in
reference to the "leyel," why was not this i'm.
poftant element in favor of the Monroe route
worthy OF the chiefs notice in drawing com
Parsons? Here is The 'recapiiulalioni OF tn,
arguments Of the "Rey:ew:''
"Ihe Monroe route is q miles the SHORTEST
This saves The interest upon a capital of 81.
29l,ooo over that which The Greenbrier rone
would require. The Monroe route costs less by
Mr. FIsk's report BY $l49,025
"1he Monroe route has but $3.50 feet If
tunnclng, whilst there are 1910 fee, on the
G!eenbrer route
'.Ihe longest tunnel ON the Monroe ron,e /.
out BIO ietl lie longest on The sGreenb,ier
route is o,eo0 leet, and there are lw5 very long
ones on that route
The whole lunnelIing upon the Mo"ros
iou'e, according to Mi Fisk, can be completed
IN two years; that OIL the Geenbrer rnnlr.
according TO MIR. Fisk, will require iouq years,
although the probability is, lhat nearer do,hI..
that period would be required.
oh me Monroe roule, if second track b.,
ever required, the tunnels need not he made
Miae': as oelhg shoIi, no collision need be an.
'c'fa'ed. On the Greenbrier rpue the long
ones should be widened, else DELAYS IN rpr ~,
me road VIII occur, and collisions NAV ,ohaa
place. lhey b. ing 100 Iong 70 see ,Lr1.h IN
''mt to pr veil, meeiin.. ih,rein e" ~
Tho VII ' me noif's route the grade Of so feet to
m ne '''ie, in"nsh IS fe,, mere than those on Nh.
~ e"o''e' .,e, nevertheless, working grades,
" &c icand throughout cur country eyeryw here.
ana therefore no such sac Iitice as Mr. Fisk se,s
ao"n should be made 10 avoid them. Beside =.
W, FISK does nat say, nor dces he give any
ua.a ~ Which others nifty determine. whether,
WIN 'ee ~ Cot. and The Sl49 OPS, ihe ea.
Cess Of earl al ,cqai,e,l 10 build he (;,eeub,ier
road, the so feel grades upfn the Monroe ronI,.
might mol be Gu, down 10 35 feet; ami hns tn.
grades be equal, and every other slemeu, ts il.
lavor Of the Monroe route, u
Not desing to be considered the patron as
either route, we merely submit, the Above sy-
nnpsis, without further remarks.