The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-09-13
From the Junction City Union, Aug. 81
DOWN THE NE0SH0!
Route of the o. P. R. w, S. B.
DESCRIPTION OF THE LINE.

i
Union Pacific Railway, Southern Branch.
composed on the part of the company Of
Messrs. Thaddeus II. Walker, of Topeka;
Robert McBratuey and Hiram F. Hale, of
Junction City; and on the part of the con
tractors Of Major A. G. Beach. of Balls
ton Spa. New York; George w Beach,
Esq. of London, Eng; aud F. P Baker,
ESq., of Topeka, left junction City on
the morning of the 18Th OF August, &C
mpanied By John Sanderson, as guide
10 the crossing of Clark's Greek, at the
mouth Of Davis Greek The route exam
ined. crosses the Smoky Hill river near
the upper highway bridge: the crossing
will require a bridge of 1870 feet span
thence II follows the Jones ravine to It's
head. then crosses a divide, to the head
of another ravine, bv which it finds its
way to the valley of Clark's Greek, at the
mouth of Davis Greek. The distance
from junction City to the hea of the ra-
vine is about FIVE miles. nearly level in
appearance, but with slightly ascending
grade; the distance through the divide to
Clark Geek valley is less than two miles,
ard in these two miles is found tie most
difficult part of the entire route. The
grade will reach about eighty feet to the
mile, for short distance, but by side cut
ting OF the ravines, an easy road bed, with
slight curvatures, Gao be made. Across
Cark's Greek valley to the mouth OF
Davis Greek, about one mile, the ground
Is smooth and level. CIaik's Greek can
be crossed with an 80 feet span bridge
From CIark's Greek the route follows tie
valley of Davis Greek to its head. The
ground is excellent for a road bed, but
will require considerable masonry for cul
verts. The ascent from Davis Creek TO
the prairie can be made with a grade not
exceeding fifty feet to the mile. Across
the prairie 10 the head OF Lard Creek, the
prairie is beautifully undularing-pr =
senting no difficulties to the building of
the road. The road follows Davis Greek
about eight miles, the distance across the
prairie is about six miles. The descent
into Lard Greek the central branch of the
NeOsho, is gradual, aud will be made on a
grade of less than forty feet to the mile
The route follows Lard Creek to its con
nectiou with the Western branch, a dis
tsnce OF eight miles, and down the Neo-
sho Valley to Council Grove, eight miles,
crossing on the way, Slough Greek and
East Neosho, streams which will require
fifty leel span bridges. From the head OF
Lard Creek to Council Grove. the road
will be upon bottom land. requiring bat
little masonry and but slight curves.
From here to Council Grove has always
be regarded as, and is, the most diff
cult division of the road How formida
BILE he obstacles are may be inferred from
this brief description. To the practical
eye of Maj. Beach, they did not appear al
all appalling. Even the Dry Creek route.
examined on the return OF the party, and
which would bring the road irto town on
the Dortheast instead of the south, was
not regarded by HIM as impracticable.
But The route first examined would make
a road which would not vary half mile
from a straight line between Junction City
and Council Grove. The defiance is
about thirty-fve miles.
At Council Grove, the party were cor
daily received. Since the compilation Of
the Z. d. R. R, to Junction City, the
travel which formerly passed through the
place. has left it, and as consequence.
the village presents by no means the lively
appearance it did few years ago. The
people hail with pleasure the prospect of
railroad communication with the rest OF
the world. For long time they were
reluctant TO look towards The Kansas riV-
er for an outlet, but for two years past,
they have recognized the Southern Branch
as their surest hope, aud have worked cor
daily for ils success.
To the weil.timed and well-directed
efforts of Judges Akin aud HutfAker, VIM.
Downing, Mr. Harald aud MI. Sharp, the
Is much indebted tor its present
status. May their zeal be rewarded by
the foal contamination of their hopes.
The Santa Fe trail was marked out by
the Government in 1895. aud for forty
years it was the great highway of com
msrce between the Missouri river and the
West. From the marking out of this
trail, ST. Louis dates the begirDing of her
astonishing growth aud prosperity. Il
has also contributed to the growth of ev
cry other city aud town on the Missouri
to LeavenWorth. A few years ago the
freighting wagons and oxen passing
through Council Grove were counted bv
the value q merchandise by
millions but the shrek of the iron horse
has siieuced the lowing o! the paning OK,
and the old trail looks desolate. The track
of The commerce OF the plains has chang
ed. and with the change il destined TO
come other changes, better and more
blessed.
From Council Grove. the route of the
road follows the valley of the NeoshO TO
Americas, and thence TO Enporia; in a
straight line over broad, beautiful. and
fertile valley. with an abundant supply OF
oak timber, magnetism limestone and ex
celleut gravel, all essential elements 10 rail
road building. In its course It passes
through the diminished reservation of the
Kansas Indians, nine by fourteen miles
in extent. A treaty is now pending be
fore the Senate for the sale OF this Ieser
walton to the Government, and the re
movai of the Indians to the Indian Terri
tory, south of the Arkansas river. When
the treaty is ratified. oue-half the land be
comes the property of the railroad com
pany. together with one-half the trust lane
remaining unsold. The Indians are anx
ious to remove, aud the treaty will be rat
fled.
The party made halt at the Agenc,
and shook bands with few of the KaV
braves asse m hlad AZ thu tradiuO nnsE n