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

Spring gap passing through the gap by 4 tunnel &
! of mile long to Bently Camp branch, thence it
/ crosses in succession Bently Camp, Town Site
| Ridge, the main branch of the Yadkin, ridge be-
| tween it and Dennis branch, then Dennis branch,
thence it follows alongthe slopes of Buffalo Ridge
until it ntersects the surveyed line mile above
point known as the narrows. The length fthis line
is IA miles, and the grade will be Ill Al feet per
mile; commencing at the foot of this grade the line
descends for three miles at the rate ofl05 feet and
thence to Patterson at from 60 to % feet per mile
! Theaccompanying map will more particularly define
this line. have great doubts whether this line with
the grade assumed, orwith any uniform grade can be
| obtained l apprehend on many parts it will be ne
cessary TO increase and vary the grade to degree
that will render the line impractcable.
Having now designated a>line from the Eastern
portal of the Blue Ridge tunnel to its junction with
the Swananoa route at Horse Ford-no part of which
however, can be considered as arbitrary fixed,
not even the point of union with the Swananoa line
for upon more full and thorough examination it
may prove to be advisable. should line by the
Yadkin valley be obtained, to cut off the detour of
| Gunpowder creek cross Brushy mountain and unite
with the Swananoa line on Norton ridge-it now
remains for me to notice particularly, that por-
ton of the route between the State line and the
Eastern portal of the Blue Ridge tunnel which will
complete the Watauga Gap route. This portion of
the route lies i'll the valleys of the Watauga and
Boon Fork on the West of the mountain, and opens
on the East into of the head branches of Mats
Cove creek, by tunnel through the Blue Ridge
tain stream In forcing its circuitous passage
through the many ridges which intersected by
it, it is confined within very narrow limits and with
but few exceptions is bounded by steep, rugged and
often precptous cliffs. In Boon Fork, the slopes
of the spurs in places recede from the stream,
and the ground offers greater facility for the
struction of the road. Throughout this whole sec
lion, however, the road will be characterised by
succession of abrupt curves steep grades, heavy
cavations and embankmcnts and tunneling In the
valley of the Watauga, there four tunnels, one
1900, one $50, one 500, and one 200 feet long.
REHABILITATION wATAyGA ROUTE.
SEC. l. From the State line to the Eastern por-
tai of the tunnel through the Blue Ridge p $40
miles (surveyed) cost, $2,UU7,737
2. From the Eastern portal of the Blue
Ridge tunnel to point II miles
East of Patterson II miles (conjcc-
tural line) cost sl,s9o,T5o
8. From a point Al miles East of Pat
terson to the Horse Ford 27 .S7-IUO
miles (surveyed) cost, S1,3s6,ao5
4. From the Horse Ford to Salisbury
81 40 miles (surveyed) cost, sl,o67,341
Total length 12l 77-IOO miles, and cost So 3O4 U33
exclusive of equipments, machine
shops and warehouses, at the ter
mini, the addition of which would
make the entire cost, S7,l53, O34
Comparison Of the Wutougu and .Sacananoa Routes.
l. The summit level of the Blue Ridge on the
Watauga route is siS feet higher than the Swan
anoa route.
2. There are nine SUBMITS or undulations more |
on the Watauga route.
3. The elevation of all the SUBMITS on the Wa |
tausa route amounts to 1880 feet than Oh the |
route.
4. The ascent eastward is $50 feet and ascent |
westward is 1916 feet greater than the Watauga |
route.
3. The grades ascending eastward are o. and
9S 33-100 feet per mile the Watauga, against Us
on the Swananoa route
6. The ascent westward on the Watausa route is
effected on grades of IL 40 feet per mile for IA
continuous miles, Immediately succeeded by a grade
of los #. per mile for a distance of three miles
while on the Swananoa route the ascent does not
exceed 100 feet per mile, occurring at three places
on grades 45-l00 66-1OO and miles in length
with moderate grades intervening.
Z. The curvature is greater i'll amount the
W atauga route.
S. There is a greater length of bridging on the
Watauga route.
8. There are s1I0 feet more tunneing on the
Watauga than on the Swananoa route
10. There is much greater extent of heavy
and embankments the steep noun
ain slopes on the Watauga route.
IL. The Watausa route is 81 90 100 miles short
II, and costs $222, $3.50 less than the Swananoa
-outc.
From these comparisons, it results in every es-
'entia characteristic except in cost and measur, d
distance, that the Swananoa is Supti to the atau
ga route But the advantage ncost is counerhaianced
n the greater expense of working" the Natauga
QUITE and the difference in actual distance Is more
han compensated by the usual computation of
heights equivalent distance applied to the greater
elevation to be overcome on the W atauSa route
therefore, Win the data before feel COnStrain-
I'd to give the preference to the Swanauoa route,
md l have doubt that it will prove to be the
most practicable route for railroad from Salisbury
o the Tennessee line In arriving at this conclu-
ion, have not permitted myself to wander from
trictly professional consideration of the subject
could name other considerations which might i'll
iucnce those whose province it may be to take
wider range, and a more extended view, but will
ontne myself to calling attention to a single fact
nd leave others to weigh and attach whatever inn
'ortance it may he entitled to. | allude to the
aving in transportation which will be effected by
he Swananoa route the East Tennessee and
7irSinia Railroad, looking to the extension of
abroad into Kentucky through the Cumberland
zap The friends of this scheme contemplate as
forming connection with the East
tennessee and Virginia Railroad somewhere in the
iciny of Greenvile, to which point it is most pro-
able the North Carolina and Western Railroad
will be extended Now should this road be carried
" the Swananoa route, the Cumberland Gap road
roud be in the almost direct line of its proonga-
ion; but should the Watauga route be taken, the
rade and travel from the Cumberland Gap road
vould have to make circuit of 70 miles the
last Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, which IN &
he difference in distance between the Swananoa
nd Watauga routes. This statement will be found
communication of one of the engineers of that
oad addressed to the Executive Board of the At
lntic, Tennessee and Ohio Railroad"
1t my intention during the past summer to ,
ave reconnotered route between Asheville and
chattanooga, passing through Henderson, Hay
.ood, jackson, Macon, and Cherokee counties, but