The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-11-15

Ohio Railroad, from the East Tenn. d va
Railroad to Morgamton, ~ Z.
GgEESEr1LLE Tenn, Nov sth, 1855
To the President and Directors of the Atlantic, Tennessee
and Ohio Rail Road Company:
Gentlemen-I have the honor submit for your con-
sderation result of the survey over that portion OF
your projected line between the East tennessee anu
Virginia Rail Road and the North Carolina and western
Rail Road at Morganton. .
The deficiency of regularly organized party with
the of approaching winter, necesStahg the
abandonment of a connected instrumental examination,
it deemed advisable to place the instruments on
the most intricate portions of the lne-those mpera-
lively demanding such investigation; while nut
cursory view taken of the remainder involving as
is confidently believed, serious difficulties.
The point of departure from the E. T. u " H. I'd
to the North Carolina connection, VIA wa
tauga Gap-lies 81 miles east of Jonesborough, and
near the ''Camp Ground" Two lines divergng from
this point unite again the valley of the Big Doe River
about 10 miles from the State line, and 70 from the
point of divergence.
Having described succincy the lines through Tennes
see, will now proceed to follow the route deemed
most practicable in North Carolina.
For the miles from the Tennessee line, the to-
biography of the country such as to render essential
a heavy outlay for graduation The Cranberry Gap,
in the ridge, shedding the of Cranberry Creek
the west and those Toe River the east passed
in this distance and presents the only point initiating
against cheapness of construction, or demanding maxi
mum grades between and the Blue Ridge. AS noun
tain ridges with favorable slopes found bearing
Immediately in direction from this pass, upon which
the line may IeaSlDy De IL Is
no insurmountabe objections to the passage of line
strictly practicable. Descending from Cranberry Gap,
the line falls upon the ample OF Toe River and
continues down the same with gentle grades to point
near Joseph Pyatts-l3 miles from the State line
where the to the Blue Ridge will commence.
must pardoned for DEPRESSION that the reader
may be afforded knowledge of the Blue Ridge and
it's intricacies in the vicinity of the adopted line.
Upon reaching the Blue Ridge Immediately proceed
ed make reconnaissance of the several passes whose
claims favorable consideration had been presented,
with view to progressing advsedly in contemplated
instrumental examination. From the superficial obser-
Walton obtained by horseback ride along the top OF
the Ridge, the impression at fixed of the utter
futy of attempting eastern descent therefrom 9TH
than by the western slope of the Linville Mountain
Difficulties of serious character never antcipa-
ted in the western ascent, from the universally great
apprehension of the western over the eastern base
The Linvie Mountain, a spur OF the Blue Ridge, de-
parting right angles early makes detour. and assu-
ming nearly parallel with the mother ridge,
continues the same throughout its entire length From
its point of departure to its termination in the Catawba
valley the misunderstanding its sinuosities-cannot
be less than 25 miles, and really it to have been
presented by Divine economy assistant to the in
genuity of man in its course Wacard and onc0rd Along
its eastern base PUSHES the impetuous current of the
Lnville River, while upon its western flows the more
gentle waters of the North Fork. The rocky strata
out-cropping upon this mountain is almost entirely of
Flexible Sandstone, (Hacolumne) esteemed fact wor
thy of mention the feeble Indignation of its particles
must materially depreciae the labor and cost in
constructing a road upon its slope.
In adopting the western side of the Lnville Mountain
upon which to sustain descending grade to the Ca
tawba valley, was governed by two reasons: first,
from a conviction that the greatest available distance
upon the mountain side would be required to
feasible descent and secondly because the precipous
cliffs and high mural precpices the east, Vita
ting the practicability of the nve Gap route" must
have proved equally preudical to a line descending
from the Blue Ridge at any point might have selected
The result of instrumental examination fully sus
tanned the first snrmse, fixing, beyond doubt the i'm
possibility of working grade down the eastern slope
of Lnville.
Acting in governance with the knowledge gained by
days accommodating, determined examine instru-
mentally point at the southern extremity of the
Hump-back Mountain" whose elevated and camel-lke
back, though forming portion of the Blue Ridge, has
secured for itself this distinctive appeaon. The ele
walton of the Blue Ridge this place above the
in Toe River at its base found to be 437 feet and
above the valley of the North Fork at VIM. Engshs,
2,O57 feet From the eastern side this point appro
prately termed the "Narrows" pointing directly
wards Linve-against which incorrectly in
formed it impnged-a spur of the mountain offered,
apparently suitable elevation for the line after pass
ing through the Ridge to find favorable route along
its side the Ln,ille Mountain. Passing down from
the Narrows it found that this spur failed in
forming the contemplated junction, having been dsrup
tured from the Lnville by of the tributaries of
North Fork This failure in connection vitiating en-
tirey the practicability of the line, it at once
abandoned.
To determine the rate of descent in the North Fork
a line Of levels l24 miles of its length
point James Brown and miles from the foot of
Lnville Mountain where the Fork unites with the Ca
taWba An accurate knowledge OF the fall IN the
ured distance being gained ample allowance made
for the descent in the remainder which places the
of Linville 2,96O feet below the summit of the Blue
Ridge at the Narrows. Returning to the Ridge with
! renewed faith. more eligible point sought for
piercing it. Several passes were nstrumentay
ined, but shall confne myself a description of the
two most feasible. little to the North of the point
where the Linve Mountain leaves the Ridge, lies
Brushy Creek Gap; the most depressed point in the
range for many miles around, being about 1900 feet
above the foot of Linve. To reach this point from
|
of the Ridge for miles would strike the main range
nearly opposite to the point of junction of the Linve
with grade it is believed of 80 feet per mile
long, deep cut, necesstacd by the gradual fall of the
mountain slopes, whose flatness renders unneng i'm
possible, enables the line to fall upon Pine Branch
tributary of the Linville River nd consequently upon
the slope of Lnville Mountain This side of
Linve, before mentioned, affording sufficient
distance for practicable descent becomes necessary
pass the line through to the western slope At a
point about mile from the Ride opposing ravines
narrow the mountain to mere back bone and present
favorable inducements for the location of tunnel
whose length need exceed half a mile to effect the
desired passage.
The length of the Lnville Mountain with its mean
behring's, perfectly safe in assuming be % miles;
and it points down beyond Morganton line along
its western slope would be forced to make detour to
reach that place, which detour could be well made
tawba; therefore, to continue miles 1ongcr around
the foot of Lnve before striking directly for Morgan
ton would not materially lengthen the line. By this
course 80 miles of mountain slope is secured, upon
which line from the Brushy Greek Gap may be traced
descending at the rate of 76 feet per mile interrupted
by mile of level grade midway the distance.
The second line leaving Toe River at Pyatts, would