The Portland daily press., 1868-11-30

SACo RIVER TO PORTLAND.
From Cornishville, or the mouth OF the
Ossipee, to Portland there are several routes
suggested, none OF which oppose any serious
obst acle to the building OF the road, but the
surveys have not as yet been sufficiently ex-
tended to determine their relative merits. 1t
is evident, however, that a line may be la id
equally favorable in respect to gradients and
curvature, and not exceeding in cost of con-
struction the Ossipee portion oil the route.
This Eastern or .Saco Division OF the route
from 2S to 80 miles, will be an important
trunk, common to three extended lines, and
should therefore be located with view to
large amount OF business. The "Portland and
Ogdensbargn, "Portlandand Montpelier aud
he"Portland and Rutland, Twill all bring their
business seaward over this portion OF the
road."
| have made use of survey, which was
made by myself, tor the Portland and Ogdens-
burg road, connecting the lines in Baldwin,
by way OF Steep Falls and Standish Village,
to the Portland and Rochester road in Cor
ham SO miles making the whole distance
from the New Hampshire State line to Port
land about 40 miles.
Upon the west side OF Saco river connec-
tion was also made with survey intending
TO cross in the vicinity of Steep Falls. The
distance by this line varies but little from the
one above described, and on further exami-
nation may prove to be the best ground upon
which to locate the road.
As amoditicatiOn OF this last line, with a
view to saving distance, trial should be made
Tor a route passing west Of Horne Pond, near
North Limington, and crossing the Saco
river some two or three miles below Steep
70 toS IL
village and would apparently save from one
fourth TO one half mile.
Another route, still the line being at or
near Steep Falls, is TO bear easterly and run
by the shore OF Sebago Lake, coming upon
the line first described, near its intersection
with Portland and Rochester road. This
would likely increase the distance over the
route by Standish village, but would without
doubt give lower summit and pei haps easier
grades, and there might be advantages in
having position upon the Lake, more than
compensating for the increased length of
line.
These lines all terminate on the Portland
and Rochester road at point about halt way
between Gorham village and Saccarappa, pre-
Stunning for time TO make junction with that
road-thou9h ultimately when ii shall have
Beer completed through or the business de-
mands-the Portland & Rutland road will re-
quire an independent line and a terminus up
on the seaboard.
ALIGNMENT.
The Ossipee valley, from the New Hamp-
shire line to its junction with the Saco is
due east, and in the survey of this eleven
miles but little deviation is made from
straight line. Upon the line as described
above there will be piles of tangent, miles
ofcurvature OF radius OF not less than $50
loot 4
mile OF degrees, 3 degrees, and 4 degrees
curves. The line upon the north side OF the
Ossippce will have even greater proportion
OF straight line. From the crossing Of the
Saco river to Gorham the general direction is
about south east,
GRADIENTS.
The Ossipee River at the State line is
about 400 feet above tide water and has fall
of some 115 feet to the Saco, IL miles below.
The best arranged gradient would be to have
no descending plains in running West, OF up
the valley but this is impossible from the pc
culiar topography inasmuch as ii is made up
OF succession OF table lands or level stretch
es and benches or spurs putting down from
the neghboring hills, pushing close into the
bends of the river, the bluffs or second banks
being in some places from 40 to rs feet high.
As shown by the accompanying profile
there will be some
u miles OF level gradc
u miles less than 20 ieet the nila
between 20 IT < 4Oft Z" ="
less than2 " of SO S0-100 feet the mile
or rise of 1 foot in loo teet
The characteristics of this road will COM
pare very favOrably with other roads in the
State.
ESTIMATE OF COST.
Mr.. Wadsworth estimates the cost per
mile from the State line 10 the mouth of the
Osspee at little over 900. His estimate
is based upon calculation OF the extent apt
character OF the excavations, and includes
the whole superstructure, engineering. lant
damages dc.
THE ROAD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The line keeps the north side of the Ossi-
pee river through the town of Freedom, pass
ing south OF Freedom village and Swasey
Pond, not far from the Iron Works Falls, and
north OF the Ossipee Pond, and crossing the
broad pine pla ms, comes into the valley OF
the Bear Camp river near the tewn line oil
Tamworth, not far from the hotel OF ii. j
Banks, Esq. OF this portion Of the route Mr.
c. III. Latham, Civil Engineer, says, land
agree with him from my own ObservatiOn) "A
cursory examination is sufficient to show its
remarkable adaptation to the cheap construc.
ton aud easy maintenance and operation ol
| a railroad, and in these respects il challenges
comparison with any equal extent OF eontm-
| nous territory in New England, where any
railroad has been or may be constructed
Through the towns of TamwOrth, Sandwich
| Moultonboro Centre Harbor to point on
the Boston. Concord and Montreal road al
Meredith village, the line is as far as Centre
Horhor substantially the line of location
made by George Leonard, Jr., Civil Engineer
in 1s47 for the Conway and Meredith rail
| l5I per mile, and Mr.. Latham at the present
scale of prices puts 1t from $4,000 TO S25,OOO
exclusive OF furniture. A maximum grade O
30 feet the mile and the line favorable in al
other respects.
Mr.. Latham has made during the presen