Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-03

and third depressions was made by the valley o
| Boon Fork of Watauga as common route to both
to point about mile from each depression, whence
the two submits attained by lines branching of
ut an angle of 60 degrees with each other The routes
being thus established from the State line to the
heads Of the three prongs ofJohn's river above men
toned, line of levels next from the head
of Middle Fork following in the direction ofthe coun
try road to Mr.. Carol Moores, distance of seven
miles from the summit. The fall to the foot of the
mountain, four miles from the summit, found
to be 1859 feet, and to Mr.. Moore's 2122 feet The
width of the mountain at the points assumed for
the crossing, asccrained by crest line of Levels to
be the lowest depression is great that the eleva
ton cannot be reduced so as to bring the grades
within the capacity of the locomotive. Assuming
the levels of the tunnels 1922 feet the tunnel at
the head of South prong OF Johns river would be
1O7o0 feet at the head of Middle Fork IL 800 feet,
and to open into the North prong or Mats Cove
Creek the tunnel would be 1928 feet in length. By
following the side of the mountain which is cerrated
by succession Of elevated spurs that would require
frequent short tunnels and render heavy embank-
ments necessary in passing from to the other,
about eight and half miles would be obtained from
the eastern portals of the tunnels to Mr. Moore's,
which would give grade of2O2 feet to the mile, sup
posing it practicable to obtain unfrom grade The
grades therefore being great to render resort to
stationary power necessary. considered the route
by the waters ofJOhnS river heading in the cove be-
tween the Grandfather and the Blowing Rock
mountains, AS npracticable.
table marked (A) in the appendix exhibits the
levels distances, &C., of all the prominent points
from the State line to the valley of Johns river.
Being cut off from approach to the mountain
by the vallies of the tributaries of Johns river,
heading in the Grandfather mountain, high I'd
elevated peak which dcprives the Blue Ridge of its
name in the vicinity and field of operations
my attention was directed to the valley of the Yad
kin, and line run from the eastern portal of
the tunnel at the head of Mats Cove Creek to the
Blowing Rock Ridge, encountering on the way, iii
distance of four miles, four tunnels of aggregate
length of 8, 100 feet and ernbankments ranging
by tunnel 4 100 feet long, 66l feet below the sum-
mt-the line falls into the waters of the Yadkin at
the head of Bently Camp Branch, thence along the
valley OF this stream half mile, thence by very
circuitouS route on the mountain slopes, crossing
several high ridges, two of which will have to be
tunnecG, it strikes the main branch of the Yadkin
near Mr.. Isaac Storys, thence making DETECTION
to the right it desccnds the slopes of the ridge
between The main fadkin branch and Dennis branch,
II miles from Blowing Rock tunnel-on reaching
Dennis branch, the line was found to be 400 feet
above its valley, and the ground falling so fast on
the opposite sidc that although distance might
be gained by making detour around the head of
the creek, yet the grade could not be sustained.
This line therefore abandoned. Attention was
now directed 10 the praclicabity of turning Blowing
Rock Ridge by line on its southern slope, aud
passing through it low gap mcander around the
head branches of Mulberry Creek which makes into
Johns River, thence through Chestnut Mountain at
the Mulberry Gap-paSs over upon the branches OF !
the fadltin, and gain distance for the descent
But finding the drawing fast to close, and
the appropriation for tic survey inadequate to the
organization ofanothcr party, indeed already con-
suncd i'll the elaborate surveys that had been made
on thsr 1uc, it was determined to make the descent
to the Gadkin line, intermediate to the last |
mentioned line, (Which will be again prominently !
adv ertcd to- and the trial line to Dennis branch
above mentioned Returning then to the Blowing
Rock tunnel, line was traced thence down Bcntly |
Camp branch its confluence with the Iadlin-
distance S7loO miles, and fall 800 feet, thence it
follows the low grounds of this stream for mics,
and makes descent of $50 feet thence assuming
grade of105 feet per mile, the line descends atern
ately along the slopes of Fork Mountain and Buffalo
Ridge, until the low grounds of the 1adkin are
reached by this grade in distance of Ill miles,
il this distance the Iadkin river is crossed six times
bridges of 200 feet span each and the excavation
and embnnkment will be very heavy. At the foot
Of the los feet grade, the line again crosses the fad
Kin river, and following close to the turnpike for
snort distance, strikes through the low grounds and
again crosses the river, it then desceads along the
slopes of Rip.Shin Mountain in close proximity to
he river until it arrives at point opposite Patter-
son. The grades in this distance TO and % feet
per miie the course OF the line very direct without
much curvature and the work light The line con-
nucs i'll the valley OF the Yadkn, mile below
to the mouth OF Warrior Branch, thence
up that branch $40 mics, thence passing through
the Warrior Mountain by tunnel |, 100 feet long,
hence ticscends along branch of Long Creek, to
within about mile and half of the village of Lc-
noir, thence it ridge to another prong of
enor creek which it dcscrnds for a short distance;
hence ascends to the summit of the ridge which di-
rides the waters of Lower and Gunpowder Greeks,
md passing through this ridge by tunnel SOU feet
n length, it falls into branch OF Gunpowdcr Creek,
llong which it dcscends 25-IO0 miles, it then
ENDS, passes ridge the main branch of
iunpowder Creek, which it crosses and immediately
another ridge, enters upon the waters
II the Catawba, in the vicinity OF Horse Ford
Jreck where it unitcs with the Swananoa Gap
cute
The road from Patterson to the Catawba will be
oerably direct, but with Objectionable grades and
cry expensive.
Recurring to the portion of the line between
he Blowing Ridge and the Yadkn river it will be
perceived that the fall is S95 feet in a distance of
81-l00 miles, or 81 feet to the mile. l have al
o shown by the line to Dennis branch that this OBJ
feature cannot be overcome by any line
n that direction or north of Bently Camp creek.
line with practicable grades can be obtained
nd whilst l have great doubt whether it can be at
n admissible cost, am not prepared to say that it
annot-we must look to the south of Bcntly Camp
rcek. For reasons heretofore stated, pre-
ented from maxi Ig the surveys full the intri
acy of the country required. Between Johns river
nd the Yadin, where the line just described leaves
he Yadkin portion of the State east of the Blue
.idge is rugged and opposes many difficulties
o the construction of a rail road The whole sur
is diversified with high ridges and spurs dividing
he various branches of the Catawba and Yadkin
o trace the various routes which present them
elves, and to arrive at anything like correct
fusion to the practicability of railroad this
orton of the Watauga route, would require the I'M
emitted labors Of party of engineers for whole
eason. would recommend close examination
nd probably survey, if farther examinations of |
ne Watauga route should be deemed necessary of T,