Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-01-14

THK LIE CLAIRE AND DAvENroEi
RAuRoAp,-TL.s project which has long
been q pet Of the people Of L. Claire al !
! Davenport. has Leen at last brough. to a
tangible form 40 far az cost ard construc-
ton is concerned. 1t ai pears that to build
the road-that is to grade t, and make il
ready for he ties will cost tiife over
100000 and the ties about sl6,0 900 more.
The appropriation already made will be
nearly sufficient to grade and bridge the
| road, and we think it would not be found
difficult to raise sufficient amount to tie
the same by individual subscriptions. This
then, will form the last link Of com ec n
of another route between this city and Chi
| cago.
The question which now arises is, when
are we to get the county bonds which have
been voted for this purpose This is not
an unimportant question, but We presume
the proper persons are pushing the matter
ahead as fast as practicable. At least, they
ought to be doing 80.
But the report of Mr. Brayton:
Mr.. BraytoD's Report.
ADRIAN Ii. DAVENPORT, ROBERT II. ROGERS,
Thomas c. EADs, and JAMES 1noRIsGroN
Gemtlemem - In accordance with your
instruction, have made all instrumental
survey for the LIE Claire and Davenport
Railroad The survey we commenced on
| 4 ko W., .e fia,, I,
south east corner Of the Swan Mills and fol
lows the shore to u point opposite Silas
Lancasters, where the line crosses Second
street; thence it proceeds westerly, nearly
parallel with the river, and from two to
three hundred feet from 1t, until it strikes
the shore near the head of Fulton's Island
Thence it follows the shore to the foot OF
the island, when the line again strnes the
bottom lands, keeping near the foot of the
bluff, until it reaches Spencer's Creek,
which is crossed with bridge of one hun
dred and fifty feet span. At Valley City,
the line is about four hundred feet sonth Of
Spencer's Mill. From this point to the fish
ing grounds, near Alfred Curchill, the line
is generally about 1000 feet from the river,
and over very favorable ground
Between the fishing ground and the de-
pot Of the NJ. 4 NJ Road the most expen-
sive part of the line occurs. Some rock
cutting is encountered just above and below
East Davenport, and a heavy bank will be
required in order to keep above the high
est floods, and in consequence Of keeping
the line out in the river to avoid the bull
dings. A heavy bank will also be required
to reach the depot of the N. 4 NJ Road
BY reference to the table of grades 1t will
be seen that the grades are very light, eX-
cept the one by which depot of the NJ. d
N. is reached. A great Improvement may
be made in the linear arrangement of the
line by adopting the dotted lines marked
and on the map. | am inclined to be-
ieve that on careful survey of those lines,
it will be found that the road can be built
for about the same as on the line estimated
upon, and with q saving OF about e-sixth
Of a mile in distance and 1873 9 in curvatura
The survey was continued down through
Front street in the City of Davenport, ard
past Cannon Il French's Saw Mill thence
northwardly and connecting with the NJ. 4
N. Road at their proposed western depot
The estimates are based upon work of
permanent character. Arched culverts
have been estimated, for all the small
streams, and first class masonry for the
abutments OF the large bridges, with Howes
Trusses for the bridge superstructure. The
total length of the l,ne from lie Claire to
the Depot of the NJ. & NJ. Road is l3 IS 100
miles; to the western depot of the same
road via levee is l6 miles. Maps and pro-
files of the line are herewith respectfully
submitted, together with detailed est
mate Of the cost Of the road. Sections and
q b.1 uA
Main street and Section 9 at the Western
Depot of the NJ. 4 NJ. Road. Should it be
deemed unadvsable to run the line down
the levee, a great saving in reaching the
main Depot Of the NJ. d NJ. Road by adopt
ing the line mark ed G as showL on the map
can be made In the surveys was very
ably assisted by Messrs. G. B. Farnsworth,
II. Lambach, II. Smith and W. Churchill,
who generously volunteered their service.
The above is respectfully submitted.
r r RRANTON Eo-inoar