Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-11

MoNDAY MoRNTNe, M n. ~.


Inc EGGAHG HALLWAY.
The following report Of the present con-
dition and future prospects Of the great
inter oceanic railroad We quote from .
Washington correspondent Of the Cincin-
natl Gazette:
Notwithstanding the internal dissen-
sions in u country during the past two
years, it is gratifying to know that work
upon the great Pacific Railroad has been
carried on from both ends Of the route.
The road is divided into three portions
the Eastern, Central and Western-to be
constructed by three different companies.
The eastern Notwithstanding the terri
tory from the junction Of the Missouri and
Kansas rivers through Kansas to the one
hundredth meridian of longitude west of
Greenwich, q distance Of about three hun
bred and fifty miles-is to be constructed
BY The Leavenworth, Pawnee & Western
Railroad Company Of Kansas. This por-
ton we learn, is nearly completed. The
central division-throUgh Nebraska, Utah,
and Nevada, to the eastern boundary Of
California, a distance Of about thirteen
hundred miles, by the Union Pacific Rail-
road Company, a corporation created by
act Of Congress. The residents Of Utah
have signifed their willingness to con
strGot about three hundred miles through
their territory, in order TO have the road
diverted toward and by Salt Lake City.
The western MISUNDERSTANDING from the
eastern boundary Of California 10 the nav
igable waters Of the Savannah river or to
San Francisco, by the Central Pacific Rail
road Company Of California.
This portion of the route crosses the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, and is the most
difficult portion of the whole line. The
Objectionable features, which render these
mountains formidable for railroad opera.
tions, are the great elevation to be over
come in crossing their snmmits and the
want of uniformity in their western slopes,
and the impracticability Of river crossings
in the mountains. The elevation neces-
sary to be attained in crossing is 1000 feet
above Sacramento, which by iudicious Sc
laaI~-vf-rUUr6 IS reached by a maximum
grade of one hundred and five feet per
mile, or but ten feet more than the grade
Of the Philadelphia route, and (%eleven) IL
feet less than the grade Of the Baltimore s
Ohio Road and fourteen feet less h
that of the Santiago Railroad. The west
ern slope Of the Sierras Is intersecteG by
q some dozen rivers, running through gorges
az aanans- r4ovv7 frJm- 1000 tC
1000 feetin depth, with slide slope vary
ing from perpendicular 20 an angle Of 45o
The line Of road must Of course avoid these
rivers and, as surveyed, followed an IN
broken ridge from base to summit Of the
Sierre Nevada, crossing but one river, the
Little Bear, at an elevation Of 80 feet and
49, - nk1~A AZ - aF E.rN
The road crosses the Sierras in Summit
Valley at IN elevation Of 1927 feet above
the top Of levee at Sacramento. The east.
ern descent is accomplished with less diff.
Guilty, andreaches the State line at TruckeC
river The survey carries the road about
Is miles beyond, making d distance Of 155
miles in all, which distance 1t is estimated
can be accomplished in 81 hours, or about
20 miles per hour. Rather than 20 round
the sharp points Of ridges, these obstrue.
tions are to be overcome by tunneliDg-
There will thus be Is tunnels on this pOr-
ton Of the route, the shortest being 500
feet, and the longest 1870 feet. These
tunnels can be worked from both ends,
and do not require any shafting. The es-
timated cost Of these l55 miles is Sl3,27Q,-
900, or S8,612.90 per mile. The total cost
Of the entire route from Council Bluffs to
Sacramento City, a distance of 1858 miles,
is es timsted at S99, 100000.
The receipts af the Western or Califor-
MIA portion of the route are estimated at
S4654240; the total expense in round
numbers at a million dollars, leaving n
net profit of 25 percent on an investment
Of $l5,000,000. The route lays through
extensive forests Of pitch and sugar pine,
FIR, cedar and tamarac, the latter in large
quantities, and serviceable as railroad
ties. In addition, this road opens up an
extensive mining region, and affords a
market for the shipment Of a low class Of
silver ore now thrownawayin consequence
Of the expense Of transportation.
About sixty miles have been completed
Of the Sacramento end Of the route, and
the work is now delayed, temporarily,
awaiting the receipts of railroad iron from
Europe.