The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-04-29
F5r tie Bedford G.l.s,ts.
For tie Bedford Gl53tte.
NEW RAIL ROAD ROUTE OVER THE
Allegheny.
L. MEYERS. ESQ.

-" 4AElEtNS7 IIoG.
Detr iSa:-On the 9TH August, 1853, /
had communication pablished in the Bedford
Gazette, relative to the then proposed Cham
bersburg aud Allegheny Railroad lave been
called upon, by Il number of Railroad friends OF
Bslford and Somerset counties to have the said
communication republished. | have, therefore.
revised and corrected the same, and added such
information as have since acquired, and respect
fully ask you to republish it in the Bedford Ga
zette.
am well acquainted with all the proposed
! Railroad routes in Bedford and Somerset Coun
lies, but more particularly with the western part
extending from the Borough of Bedford. TO the
summit of the Allegheny Mountain.
! In the year 1888, Hother Hago, Esq, made
survey OF the contemplated Railroad route
! from Chambersburg tc Pittsburg, with an esti-
male OF the probable costs of construction. III
his report read IN the House of Representatives
On The BIB .IA":ary, e., a. ne estimated the eosf
81 grating double track Railroad from the Bor.
ongh Of Bedford to the SUNNI. Of The AlIeghe-
ny Mountain, distance Of 33 miles, at 81 ALB
089 "a, which would average $42,820 255
| per mile.
In iiagss preliminary report read in the house
| Of Representatives the 27th December, 1888. he
Nf'NtshtilT1 St'tlCNStttS uit Sstitt IOutCJ
The extent of the survey, and desire to prove
the prartieabiliry Of the route for an unntcr-
rupted Railroad communication, before the iiad
/ operations should be closed by the severity IF
| the approaching season, prevented, IN several
! instances, their examination the most import
ant OF these would change the entire location,
q distance Of about twenty miles" Two por-
tions Of tie line ofer'opportunities of this char
| acter and are too important to b. neglected"
The first would leave the present route about
four miles west Of Bedford aud ascend tAe val
| ley of Dceter's run, on the opposite side pass
ing in the vicinity of Schelsburg, it would then
| by shorter route. reach the main ridge Of fllo
! Allegheny, aud attain a depression in the noun
tain about ! miles TO the north of the present
tunnel, and found to be 35S 64 feet lower than
the summit OF the mountain over the tunnel
here perhaps the necessity of tunnel might be
| avoided, and this pass appears to be the lowest
attainable, its examination is strongly rccom-
rnended. And again. Mr. Hage in his second
report says: During the operations of arrang-
| ing the date OF the survey into "a proper system
| upon which to base the necessary calculations,
for an estimate Of its cost, two alterations of
the line became expedent, that require 10 be ex-
| panea here, as they differ from the prelimina-
| ry report :.lready made, was deemed neces-
| sary wnere the line leaves Batfllo Mountain in
! orjer 10 attain the slope of the Dry Ridge where
a high briiga will be required over the valley Of
! Buffalo Greek; Immediately after q deep cut,
| through the spur Of this ridge, was conlempla-
| ted, it was afterwards found expedicnt to reduce
The height of the bridge, SO much that a tunnel
had II be adopted, where the deep cut original
| y was designedi there viii be, therefore, three
tunnels III this line instead of two, as stated in
my former report. Yet il must be Observed that
| it is probable chat both ihis and the tunnel on
| the Allegheny Mountains may be eventually a
yoided by pursuing the opposite side of the val
ley Of Deeter's Run, as already suggested in tie
| first report"
| The above quotations show that the tunnel on
| tte Allegheny and Dry Ridge, the bridge across
Buffalo Run, AMI Of course the high bridges at
| Casper Statlel's (now Adam GeileT's) and at
Imhoffs, now Jacob HillcgaS car be avoided
These five items are estimated in said report
as follows, viz:
Bridge across Buffalo Run, $12O, $50 90
Dry Ridge Tunnel, l35, OH 81
Bridge across hollow at CASPER
Statler's (now A. Geller) rs, ,433 80
Bridge at Imhoff's (now Jacob
IiHlegas) $3.50 %
Tunnel on Allegheny Mountain 6,25l 90
4 miles distance saved by adopt
ing the opposite Of Deeter's
Run G6,307 A.
Amount saved by the opposite ---
side of Deeter's Run 1882, 1873 %
Amount required to grade the
route on the opposite side of
Deeters Run, as per Hayes
report, $3.50. .7IO OF
IIage's estimate of Dry Ridge -
route, $l,4I3. .08S "a
NOW, after examining the above statement,
1t plainly appears that the route Mr. Hage's
calculations are based upon are made upon the
first through survey fer a railroad, without hay-
ing the opportunity of making a thorough sur
vey and examination ] have no doubt on my
mind that if Mr.. Hage would have had time to |
make more thorough examination, his report I
would have been much more favorable Atthe I
time this survey was progressing it was no se-
cret that the whole engineering force under Mr.. /
Schlater was opposed TO the southern route up
on which Mr.. Hage was employed, and by Mr..
Schlater directed 10 report without giving him
time to perfect his surveys 5es
From levels taken by myself, am willing to
risk my reputation an engineer, that from the
borough of Bedford to The summit of the Ale {
gheny mountain, | can point out the ground
' N''i DS 81 duer uPoh HoI eAceedlilg
forty-fve feet TO the mile, in less distance than
twenty miles, at an average cost Of $1,000 I,
per mile
The course pursued by some of the promi-
nent men of Bedford county, whilst Mr. Hage
was making his surveys, is further reason why I
the Central railroad does not pass through Bed
ford So long as prominent and influential men
will hang around and influence engineers, for