Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-07-09
New Series---Vo III, No. 34-5.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
LEWISTOWN & BELDEFONTE RAIL
ROAD.
REPORT OF ENGINEER.

10 j. Edgar Thompson, President of the
PeHnsytcaajo RaUroad CompQnq.
In accordance with your instructions on tho
18th of April last, | repaired to Lewistown
to take command Of the Corps Of Engineers
raised by the citizens Of Mifiiin and Centre
counties, to examine a line of railroad be-
tween Lewistown and Bellefonte Although
my instructions were Of the most general
character, embracing solely the task of find
ing, II possible, route as above described.
with unlimited discretion as to the mode of
carrying them out, there were yet many cir
cumstanceS connected with the undertaking
which conspired to limit the range of opera
tiOns.
The country to be passed over was intricate
aud difficult and had never been but partial
ly explored. Many routes were suggested,
and many conflicting opinions advanced in
/ regard to the unsettled country lying on the
border Of the two counties There were
many interests to be consulted and, if posi-
ble, harmonized; and besides this, the means
IN the hands Of the Financial Committee were
OF limited amount.
10 examine all routes and decide upon
/ their respective merits. was clearly imp0ssi-
/ Dle without great expense and unreasonable
! delay-besides the danger of alternating in
/ the very beginning Of the enterprise the
| trends OF all routes except the one decided
on.
Alter considering all these matters, con.
cluded that nay proper course was to endeav-
or to lind as speedily as possible one practi-
cable route between the two places, without
stopping to solve the more difficult question
whether this route was the best one which tho
country would afford.
1t seemed important also that the route Sc
lected should fulfill if possible the following
conditions, viz:
That 1t should be cheaply graded, and that
this quality was more to be desired than di-
rectness Of route, low grades or absence of
curvature.
That it should unite as far as practicable
all the different interests represented in the
Committee OF Finance, by accommodating as
large an extent OF country as could be reach
ed without adding needlessly to its length.
That the maximum grade should not ey-
ceed the highest which had been successfully
worked oh other roads, and the same in re-
gard t. curvature.
l am happy to say that the route SURVEYED,
and which | shall presently describe, fulflls
to very great extent the above conditions
have heard Of no expressions of dissent
from Its being at least the second choice Of
all concerned, while the great majority of
tue citizens regard it as being the very best
which could be selected for the trade of the
two counties
Beginning at the Lewistown Depot on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, the line crosses d.
rectly over the Juniata into Front street at
the canal bridge, thence along Front street
to the east end Of the Borough Of Lewistown,
and thence by gentle curve across level
ground to the kishacoquillas creek at Swartz's
Mineral Spring, and along the west bank of
the creek to Jacobs mill The first mile ends
at the borough line and the second at Jacobs
mill
From Jacobs mill tc the narrows of Jacks
mountain the line follows the meadows which
skirt the creek and are very level and never
overhowed. The fourth mile passes close to
Freedom Iron Works, Immediately after
which the line crosses to the east side of the
creek, and again crosses to the west side Just
as 1t enters the narrows at the old Axe Fac
tory. The fifth mile terminates at this point
The line again follows the west bank of the
creek, winding easily through the narrows,
with maximum curvature Of % per 100 feet,
without encountering any very heavy excava-
ton or embankment. The sixth mile termi-
mates at the forks of the Kshacoquillas, Just
north of the narrows, and near the village of
Reedsville. At Reedsville the line crosses
the west branch of Kishaeoquillas and fol-
lows the north side Of the eastern branch
known rs Honey creek.
The seventh mile crosses Honey creek half
mile east of Reedsvillc, and the line then
follows the foot of the ridge along the mar
gin of the stream as far as McFarland's mill,
at the enc of the ninth mile, where it crosses
to the north or rather northwest. The tenth
mile is laid on the northwest side of Honey
creek, from McFarland's mill to the bridge at
kyle'S, where it crosses to the east, soon at
ter which Honey Greek disappears in lime
stone ridge, and It's place is supplied by
small stream frequently destitute of water
and known as Dry creek, along the valley of
which the line is laid throughout the remain
der of the tenth mile, crossing twice on the
! last quarter, owing to the creokedness of the
channel.
At Nageny's farm, in the middle of the
eleventh mile, the line leaves the valley of
Dry creek to the east and enters what may
be termed the valley of Milroy, or Laurel
run; although from the peculiar nature of the
soil that stream does not reach so far down,
but sinks at the village of Milroy, about q
mile and half further north.
The twelfth mile terminates at the village
of Mllroy, about a quarter of Il mile east of
the Presbyterian church, and near what is
called the back mountain road Thus far the
line has been ever unusually favorable ground
consisting mainly of meadows andlevel fields,
with but little rock or deep cutting Of any
kind, and excepting the crossing of the Juni-
| alta, no heavy embankments or costly bridges.
! This favorable state Of the ground extends
| one mile further, and then the high ground
which seemed to lead so inyitingly up to the
/ base of the mountain, suddenly falls off, and
a long heavy embankment is necessary TO
maintain eur elevation up to the foot of the
/ Seven mountains.
The table of estimates will exhibit the et-
feet Of this change of character, in the great
! difference between the cost of any OF the first
thirteen miles and those which succeed them.