The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-19
Survey Of the Lsavenwsrth, Pavn,s ana W.
Railroad eslefn


The recent survey of the Lesyenvo,.,
Pawnee and Western R. R., has nrov";
the fact beyond doubt that a chssn =;
rect and easy route can be had s,o.
Lesvenworth City to the valley Of ,Iu
Kansas river, ct or near Lawrence. az
making the distance from Three M.
Creek to the Kansas river, opposite NJ
sachusetts street, Lawrence, from 3oi- !.
30I1 miles. There will be but it'll. ~ "
sonry required upon the whole route No,
more than 200 feet in length of bridsino
and the excavation, with but few excse
tions, Of the lightest and cheapest descrip.
ton Any one at all acquainted with II.
topography of the country between M.
city and the Kaw valley, knows that n.
first six miles from the Missouri rya.
will be almost one third of the expersa
of the whole route to Lawrence. In ,b;s
distance will be the largest cuttings and
Filings, and the steepest grades. Tbs
elevation of the highest point upon n.
line, is the dividing ridge between n.
mead waters of Five and Seven NIL
creeks, and of Little Stranger that point
is 800 feet and s inches above low w,,.,
in Missouri river at the mouth Of Tbrss
Mile creek, and at the distance Of 6E
miles from the same point. The max.
mum grade has been placed at 5S fee, n
the mile, and the shortest curve OF SIX de-.
grees of curvatures. OF this, howeys,
there 10 but 100 It. length in all for tbs
81 1-2 miles, the point where the SURVEY
terminated in the Kaw river bottom. Tn,
levels taken from the Missouri river and
carried over to the Kansas river, also show
that the mean height of the Kansas river
bottom is 90 feet higher than the Nilsson.
ri river bottom on the Levee at this place
The probable cost of the tirst 80 miles Of
the L. P. and W. R. R. for grading, ma.
sonry, and bridging, will not exceed Sc.
500 per mile but more than 8 miles Of
the 2714 miles surveyed will cost over
1880 per mile, complete for the ties and
iron.
Excellent stone for masonry is found a,
many points near the line. and in the Re-
serve timber of the best quality for either
the timber work or for cross ties may be
had in abundance.
The line passes the present Lawrence
road in number Of places, but from near
Charts Spring, 1t is almost in an air line
until we reach the Kansas river. Big
Stranger is crossed about Ia miles north
of the present road crossing, and will re-
quire bridge of 100 feet span. Little
Stranger is crossed about ! IL miles
north of Robinson's Hotel, at the old
crossing.
We are indebted to Mr.. Z. L. Berthoud,
the chief engineer of the road, for these
interesting items. Mr.. Berthoud has been
actively engaged for four weeks in the
field, with a full corps Of engineers, in
running the main lines, and will bs occu-
pied for some time longer in shortening
the line in various places. Every foot
shortened saves great deal, and as Mr..
Berthoud thoroughly understands his pro.
fession, there is no doubt but the best,
nearest and cheapest route will be select
ed. Mr.. Berthoud has located, construct
ed and equipped roads in South America,
as we'll as in various parts of the Union.
Although young man, he stands among
the first of his profession, and under his
charge we may expect the Leavenworth,
Pswnee and Western r. R. to be first
class improvement, combining all the
requisites for such enterprises.-Leau
Herald, Nov. 18th.