Nebraska advertiser., 1868-05-28
BRownvILLE. May 2Olh, 1868.

Financial AGENT
BRownv1LLE. May 2Oth, 1868
Pursuant to q call a number of the cit
liens of Nemaha county met ST McPheT.
sons Hall to hear the report Of Engineer
Smith on the probable cOst and practica.
bility of a railroad from Brownville to
Big Sandy, and the report of the Finan-
cial Agent Of the Bro~nvilIe, Fl. Kear-
ney and Pacific Railroad Co., 10 regard
to the prospect of raising funds for max
ing q permanent survey of the anne.
r. +. Barrett, Esq, was called 10 the
Chair. DR.. Mcpherson stated the OBJ
ject Of the meeting, and called upon Mr..
Smith for a report, who made the fol-
flowing:
BRowHTILLE, NEB., May 2fst, 1858.
To the President and Directors Of the BrOwnUiHe,
r. KedTng q Pacific r. r
SIRs: Respectfully submit the following report Of
a reconnaissance Of the Southern Route Of the proposed
Railroad from Brownville TO Big Sandy on the Little
Blue river. rhe proposed route passes through the
following ounties-Nemah Johnson, Gage and JEFF
ferson-tOuching the county seats Tecumseh and Beat
rice, and as nearly as is practicable through the centre
north and south. also near the principal settlements
and cultivated portions thereof.
Tie distance will be Approximately about ninety-hve
miles The country for the first t~hirty-hye miles is
wateTed BY the Little Nemaha, Muddy and Big Nemaha
with their numerous branches. Although the streams
are from eight 20 ten miles apart, yet the intermedi-
ate space is badly cut up with ravines running in a
~souiherly direction, all Of which would have to be
crossed at a heavy expense for 6 aiding and waterways
but by following some Of the branches or creeks lead
ing nearly 10 the right direction, a tolerably fair route
can be found without heavy grades or very expensive
work, but the route will be necessarily c%ircuitous.
The divide west Of the Big Nemaha Is drained by
Yankee Greek, with its numerous tributaries running
nearly to all points Of the oOmpass-by Turkey creek
cunning southeast, and By Muddy, Cedar and Bear
creeks on the west, emptying into the Big Blue
This divide is, however, not SO badly cut up as the
above mentioned ones
From Beatrice westward the divide is drained by
Cub. Greek, on the west by many branches Of Little
Sandy and by Rock creek, the two latter empiying into
the Little Blue. This divide is more level than any
portion heretofore passed over, extending from a half
10 two miles in width. and about twenty-five miles in
length. The divide north Of Oub creek Is also very large
and level, and either Of them offers a good route.
The population OF the counties west Of Hemaha Is
small. but rapidly increasing IN numbers. The princi-
pal settlements are found along the streams. By the
time your road would reach them. they will have more
than doubled, and will be better abe to bear their
share in pushing forward this much needed road.
or the soil I need hardly speak. You all know its
rich qualities and capabilities, when cultivated, Of
yielding heavy crops u srain Of all kinds.
Timber along the route, suitable for bridging purpos-
es, is hard 10 find; and a further development OF coal
for fuel for locomotives will be found necessary, OF else
fuel will have 70 be transported from the river for use
along the line Of the road. l am at present Of opinion
that it VIII be found cheaper to obtain bridge material
from the Mississippi river and transport II here, than
to build the necessary bridges OF the timber Of the
stone is found in large quantities. on ali the principal
streams, principally maguesis lime stone. il makes
good lime, and well adapted Tor bridge abutments ard
culverts. 1 should ~cOmfnend the use Of stone for
waterways 10 preference to importing timber for tTustle
worn, besides the further advantage OF then having a
maintaining a~rOad-bed hereafter.
GENERAL REVIEW OF ROUTES Examined.
In order to find the most practicable route to leave
the Missouri river, I have examined the principal RAJ
vines in the neighborhOod, both north nd south Of the
toxin. Theravine leading through South BrOwnviile is
the only practicable one to reach the divide between the
Missouri and Little Eemaha rivers; but to ascend by
that will render necessary a heavy grade and q deep
summit cut, although not Q long one. The rGvine into
which IL leads opens into the Little Eemaha bottom a
considerable distance south Of Br,wnville.
The route down the bottom TO Eemaha City offers no
heavy grade. no heavy work, but viii be some four or
i've miles longer to LOng's Branch 10y which the most
favourable route across the Nemaha divide is found
quite q serious item as FAR as iron and ties and main
tenance Of roadway Is concerned, but less power would
be required 20 move heavy heght or passenger trains
by this route than by the South Brownvilie or Honey
creek routes.
The Honey Greek route leaves the Missouri bottom
about three mile above the town. It offers a very far
route SO far as I have examined It but would also rem
der necessary an ascending ana decending gra1e, with a
summit cut to cross the divide to the Little Nemsha.
IL is however, 1 think. the best route 70 60 to the Little
Nemaha 70 connect with Longs Branch, and cross the
divide TO Muddy creek.
The general direction to Longs Branch rs for the first
mile west. It then bears around TO southwest, and f.
uaIy reaches the divide at the lowest point in a south
erly direction about six miles from its mouth. The
corresponding draw on the west side leads southwest
to the Muddy creek, striking it at a point where the
river takes q gsneraldirectiOn south. Following up
MUDDY creek the main fork is crossed near Steinman's,
and the south fork Incorrectly so called Is followed in
. north westerly direction 10 its head.
The route by Nemaha City would ascend Pa rick's
bTanch to its head, then would have to cross the heads
Of a plumber Of ravines between it and 8 point suitable
70 descend 70 Muddy creek. IL would probably be two
or three miles shorter. Surveys alone can determine
which Of the two 7 utes would be best 10 adopt. Al
though more expansive, IL would be more direct, with
inst as fav0uTrbfn gradass and Il am inclined 10 favor /
this Southern route. Thedividc between Muddy creek 1
and the north fork Of the Great Nemahat Is badly cut up !
By Tavines Of Long Branch running sOuth-easteTly, and /
Spring creek waters running north but a very fair
route can be found across 70 Baty's branch leading TO
T~ecumseh, the couuty-seat Of Johnson county.
From Tecumseh vest two routes offer. The south
route ascends by a branch directly west Of Tecumseh |
crossing the divide 70 thehead waters Of Turkey creek,
which ts followed 20 the real main-dtvide some y miles
southwest Of Tecumseh. But In order 70 head The
south fork Of Yankee creek the line would have TO fol-
low The divide some six miles south, and INFO the lower
tier Of sections Of the township south OF Tecumseh. It
thea bears north 70 the head waters Of Cedar creek,
descending which for two or three miles the nature Of
the country easily allows us to cross over on 20 Bear
creek, and thus reach the Blue at Beatrice, the county
seat Of Gage comfy.
kee creek in a nortb-westerly direction about three
miles, then follows Yankee creek some four OF Ave
miles 70 q point from which the divide on the north
could be reached following 1t 10 the head waters Of
Bear creek 20 descend 70 Beatrice on the Big Blne.
Both Of these routes have their advantages and dis
advantages Yankee creek bottoms are crooked and
very narrow, the creek in many cases washing the foot
Of high points, rendering necessary heavy work or else
bridges TO cross the creek several times On the south
eTn route the work would be probable Less expensive
but longer, and the divide at some points is crooked
with short elbows.
/ AFRO examined two routes west Of the Blue, between
Big Sandy on the Little Blue, at which point we shall
connect with the AtchisOn and Fl Kearney railroad
surveys now being made. The northern route, after
reaching the divide from Cub creek is very level and
broad, having but one or two slOughs Of any account 70
cross, II forms . great circle Of which Cub creek is
the chord, and bears north nearly 70 Swan City. An
easy descent can be eOt by a branch Of the Little Sandy
70 the Little Blue. The route south Of Cub creek I think
Will be found more direct and shorter, with easy grades 1
and light work.
Surveys alone can decide which Of the many routes |
will be found the best, most direct, cheapest 70 build, |
and best suited 10 meet the vans Of the community.
Ihata possible route can be. found across Southern Ne
braska lhavenot the least doubt An approximate es-
innate Is ~subjoined Of the probsbiR cost to grade and
bridge the road for ninety-dve miles. Bridges will be
required over the two Nemahas, Muddy creek. and
some on Hsnke creek az that route be adopted also on
CEDAR and Bear creeks, and over the Big Blue and
the Sandys.
IS miles at Sc 575 per mile say $685., 900.
As an estimate Of the probable cust Of q permanent
survey, and the time required to make the same, to-
gether with maps. probes and stimates. I submit the
Following: Tine required from seven to eight months;
cost about $1,000.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH s. SMITH, Civil Engineer.
DR.. J. w. Blackburn, Financial Agent,
made the following report:
SURVEYING FUND.
Nemahs county Appropriated, $looo