The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-01-14
Apnual Report of the chief Engineer OF
the Minnesota aud Pacific Railroad.
To EDMUND RIcE. ESQ,

SIR /: have the honor 70 submit the fol-
lowing Report, exhibiting the progress Of
this "ork, together with the maps accompa-
nying the same:
Ca the llth June last. party was organ
lied, IN charge Of John Dale. E-q,. TO make
the location between saltwater and 81. An
thong AMI another, in charge of W. q, Tur-
pin E,q.. To operate between 81. Anthony
and Grow Wing, A third party for recon
noi>AGcc was placed under the supervision
Of c. II. Allen, Esq, with Instructions 10
cxlniiue and report upon the country lying
between the Mississippi and Bots DIES Sioux
rivers. The western hail of this section
living about midway between the Minnesota
River and the trail from -. Cloud 10 the
mouth Of The Bois des Sioux, was an uubro-
ken WILDERNESS s. and a rapid examination OF
It's geuer tOpogr ply was necessary before
commencing The more elaborate operation Of
an Instrumental survey, y fourth party, in
charge Of Chas. G. Smith Esq, was formed
at this time, and, with that Of Mr.. Allen,
placed upon the location west OF the Missis.
s.ppi River Mr.. Slni Ia taking the eastern,
aud Mr.. Allen the western division. de-
sire, in this connection. 10 acknowledge the
energy and skill by which the operations of
these ~, t'emcn aud their associates have
bean characterized
Ga The 18th July, fiith party, in charge
Of Mr. VIM. Crooks, was placed upon the
surveys between St. Anthony aud St Cloud
the party OF MIR. Turpin, after reaching
Grow Wing, conlinlng It's operations to the
location between that place and 81. Cloud.
The 'abors Of AL these parties have been
completed IN very satisfactory manner
III, examinations have been of the most
minute character; and the location adopted
viii, it Is believed, bear the test Of the Sc
yercs, scrutiny. The maps Of the location
OF that portion Of the main line from Still
water 10 the Bots dcs Sioux River, and Of
the branch from ~. Anthony TO Crow
Wing, were completed aud fled in the office
OF the Gov rnor OF the Territory, Noycn-
Ter 1911, III compliance with the terms If
tie charter, and copies imml dia,ely forward
81 To the Department at Washington. The
measured length Of the main line located Is
222 loo miles, and Of the branch t. Red
Wing III 9G.l00; or a fetal Of $40 400
miles.
A compilation Of the lines surveyed by
the different parties, gives a grand total of
1880 miles OF linear instrumental survey
THIS work was all accomplished between
June llth aud October 25tb, and great
part OF il after July 2jlh. The limited
tine allowed Tor the organization Of parties,
AID the remoteu IS Of u considerable part Of
the fed Of operations, increased, 10 some
extent, the magnitude and difficulty Of the
undertaking; aud its success is due, ia
great measure. TO tbs JEALOUS efforts Of the
members OF the corps, wiiaout exception =
o., well rs the. enlightened policy of the
Board Of Directors. evinced for the liberal
provision made Tor its rapid prosecution.
ToPoGRAPHicAL FRArres of THE ROUTE.
The saiiace OF the district bordering on
the main line, when viewed as a whole, NAV
be considered AZ approXimatng a series Of
long and gentle uudulltions or swells hav-
ing general north and south bearing The
local aud MINOR features Of Tins dislrl { can
be better examined by dividing il into sec.
tons. the fir. OF understanding from
saltwater 20 the south fork Of Grow river,
distance Of 52lS miles distinguished
by succession ol low and Irregular ridges
Or knobs, interpreted with tracts of level
lakes small streams and meadow marshes
The difficulties met with IN this section are
principally IN location; requiring mach IA.
UOr aud skili M adjusting tne line and grades
t. the irregularities Ot surface iGc earth
work viii consist Of short cuts aud Gls, bat
moderately lavy.
Tie saCpGi scc,iCp covering the 24H
u,,os next west ot the south fork of the
Crow. assumes 4 little more leyc! character;
tie ridge bring les IN uumbar aud e.-ya-
ton. ard easily oyercomc wi. h light grades.
larthw0rk considerably lighter tnsn on tne
first sec,0n.
The third section, embracing the next 10
wuts. !, more difficult. Tie ridges arr gb.
rj0' AMI 10 many instances. reach q height
of 10 20 100 feet. but are 50 irregular aud
broken % to admit at a location mostly be-
tween thea ~ along tier SLOPES. with
mod. rate grades and curyatGrs, involving
L4t httic la5s or distance. In Other RS
pets, TIM topography Of th's section is simi.
l.r to tn0-e preceding ! he tarthwofk is
heavy, averaging from G0,000 10 10000
c4pc yards pss Iaio-
o. the fourth section. which include the
ucst t",nfy. three riiesa very marked change
ia tne surface o.curs. The meadows be-
come .ess ifeqgeut and the ridges ,anslda IN.
% gentle SLOPES aa.r5iDg hat s.gh; obstacles
70 l,-at.o0 or construction.
The fin c'i0n. ei.h, mlas in 'eag'h. Or
cspy,ag tae divide between toe waters flow
H., TO toe Vi ,siss ppi and Minnesota rivers,
i sssimi4ted very closely 70 the second SC
t.Ju IN all rspel,s.
The sixth section. which comprehend, The
lss' on hundred AM e'eeeu miles Of the
q ala iiue, consists q a succession # long
p.anes 81 alternate d.scr't and ascent. form.
irg the eastern ARD western slopes Of the
drainage basin, oi tie CaiTpewG- Pomme
D. TrTre and Bos Des SIOUX rivers. With
lie single ,Xcept,on Of tie eastern approach
:, ID Pomme DE- Trr.c Tor the distance o.
a nile neHt the river, which i slightly ab-
NJ afsa krtLa, fitt. ~str., - ..-.ap0..fafa