The weekly Butte record., 1867-08-10

SURVEY OF THE OREGoS RArLRoAp.-The pro
ject Of railroad from Marysvile, California TO
Portland. Oregon, has latteriy taken more prac-
teal shape than il ever assumed before. The hbe-
raj land grant by Congress-the most favorable ev-
er obtained BY any company in this State-and the
local necessities for the road have attracted the
attention and stimulated the zeal of responsible
men in both States. The Oregon company has ac-
tnaIly let contract for the construction of one
hundred and fifty miles of the road. from Portland
southwark and the contract is said to be into the
handS of Eastern railroad capitalists, who are able
TO put it through. The California corporstors
have been engaged for some time in reconcihng
conflicting interests and securing needed copoera-
tion and have recently taken the first step toward
beginning work on the line between Marysyille and
Shasta. The services of William J. Lewis and I.
j. Arnold have been retained as engineers, and the
latter has Just completed survey of that portion
of the road between Marysve and point opposite
to and about three miles from Red Bluf-a distance
Of eighty miles. full report of the survey has not
been submitted but We understand that it will full
ly confirm the favorable views and estimates here
tofore advanced on the strength Of preliminary
reconnaissance by the first engineer of the company,
s. G.. Elliott. who is now connected with the Ore
gon end of the road. The line surveyed runs the
entire distance through the Sacramento Valley.
er an uEbroken plain, presenting it is believed,
fewer natural obstacles to the construction OF
railroad than any line of the same length in the
State. Leaving Marysvlle it follows the fertile
bottoms Of Feather river, crossing that stream three
miles below Oroville, and making that point in
straight line bat for one curve in a distance
of 2li miles. Thence the route proceeds by
straight line to Meals Ranch, at the Big Butte.
and after one curve reaches Chico in another
straight line, distance from Oroville % miles. The
survey continues in an air line along the Sacra-
mento bottoms to Tehama, and striking the river
follows it closely to point east of Red Bluff short
distance. This point is eighty miles from Marysvile.
Beyond it, the road will follow the Sacramento to
Big Bend, a miles below Readings Ranch and
thence proceed on the western side TO Shasta.
The entire route described is not only level and
open. but above floods, and pierces of the most
fertile regions in the State. The first eighty miles
to Red Bluff is largely under cultivation, and would
Immediately furnish great deal of business. The
~ miles between Marysve and Chico from almost
a continuous harvest field. great breadth of
wheat is under cultivation, and with railroad facil
ties the quantity would he increased while variety
OF products to which the soil is adapted would soon
be added to this staple. Chico is Using town.
having already 800 or 20oa Inhabitants, and
would become busy forwarding place for a rail
road connecting the northern grain fields with tide
water. The favorable nature Of the railroad build
ing may be learaed from the estimates of the eng
neer, which, FOR the first eighty miles, are as fol-
lows: