New-York tribune., 1869-06-28
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
ANOTHER OFFICIAL REPORT.

Commissioners appointed last March TO examine the
unaccepted portion Of the Union Pacific Railroad,
has submitted long and severe report to President
Grant and we publish herewith all the important
| parts of it which differ from accounts heretofore
made public. Mr. Morriss associates in the survey
were Gen. Warren and the Hon. James +. Wilson /;
but owing to misunderstanding of the time set for
the examination he did not accompany those gentle
men, and his survey and report therefore made
separately.
| GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OF TIE ROAD.
That part of the road which the present Commissioners
were directed to examine extends em what is called the
"thousand.me tree" short distance west Of Echo
the Wasatch range the eastern summit Of the Promon
tory Range distance OF SO miles, For descriptive pur
three parts First From the thousandno tree to where
1t enters the Valley OF Salt Lake distance Of % mies
niles to the base of the Promoatofy Mountain Third;
From the base OF the PromonoTy Range to the summit
From PrOmontory summit 70 the Foot q Promontory
Motai-Ihe road from Prom9ntoTy summit 10 the
except the tunnels, of any part examined measured
in compliance with the standard Of construction,
that they may be so regarded. The banks on either
descending curve running the side of the mountain,
two des or ravnes are crossed on trestewok one rs
latitude that distance is very deceptive to one not
accustomed to abou 100 feet long and about 80 1eet
deep other long and from 20 to so feet deep
These trestes-structures unknown the law, but IA
mar to the line of road-and Blue Creek not
The Road in the Valley Of SAT- LGke-There is so much
in this portion Of the work that 1t Is hard TO
It passes over uniform valley with the exception Of
small clay cutting east of Taylors MIL, with sur.
face as even as will generally be found on what
we call a level plain; examined q piece OF the the
road,bed constructed in this valley by t6e Cehtrai t
OF IA feet, and nearly hnished Hhe Union Pacho
nS 6G especy Where It Should be the
widest II any difference existed s only the width OF tho
tie eight feet sometimes little over and sometimes
little under In several places the ends Of the
ties projecting over the embankment -
There about l6 cuverts In the valley, These cul-
verts with two exceptions. which have sandstone abnt,
ments, are constructed OF pine timber. buDStan tal
stone should be substituted as soon as possible.
the eastern termination OF the Valley the road passes
so"nd mountain spur the track cutting at It's base first
through sondbank then stone imbedment and passes
up Weber River for mile where the waters OF the stream
with great force down the chasm This spot so gloomy
and dangerous that it has received n the s06rgsstt t6d o
Weber crossed at point 10 miles from where empes
but no % Visible stoneWork is being done The bridge is to
ia crossed on tFesework rs feet high and what may
DO termed double trestle one resting on the other.
DANGEROUS BRIDGES.
On my return the cars were detained q hours to hayo
the tresles better secured by OF additional braces
They much safer but far from being secure. An
iron bridge at this point seems to me indispensable.
From Devils Gate to the lOOOmle tree IL ca miles In
round numbers. Weber River Is crossed five times In
this distance and some eulvers also found. In
the mountains adjacent to TINS locality red sandstone
This sandstone be had in large blocks or slabs at
slight cost. whether they VIII stand the action OF water.
frost and The atmosphere, Is questionable Those from
the same quarry have somewhat different solldty but
evidently composed OF the same elements oalcaTe
four specimens ranging from the hardest 20 the sotes
which transmit with my report Tor your ETcehegcys
examined the abutmentS OF two euyerts at M1renn CITY,
Others lying on tno EfOunu were
crnmbns peCes-seemed, ,v i9dsed o,ed5sa nl0 d@
the beds during last Winter. 1t Will require time TO de-
ternne whether any Of them viii answer the purposes
for which they are used saw another stone at Green
River mot within tho line OF the road charged with
the duty Of examining, yet cannot refrain from men
tong the facp OF graysh color which appeared 70 be
and IS indeed very hard aud can be obtained In large
blocks THIS stone was nsed do 20 HI Hp inc ueaenerors
bridge so called rested. IL has been ascortanod how
ever as was informed by gentleman IN charge OF that
division Of the road that u contained soda or 0ther
aka substance, and tho water dlsntegtates ~ Ihcy
have proven entirely worthless that they Will have TO
be abandoned Whether such will prove 10 be the
with all the rock Ia the mountain ranges remains TO be
eastern abumcn had given way and the tram cond 80
no further Passengers crossed tho socaed bridge on
foot and took another train There s green sandstone
saw used for culveTts evidently like the balance IL
is clear to my mind thai the mountain sandstone Is
Engineers. until they tosied, can ten little any
thing more about their durability, than any one else
They are a cheap and convenient material. easily OBJ
tanned and worked am Poi, 81 me oPhSn P ht n2| Det1fe
serious attention OF the Government and rail.
u
10 direct your ENCellencys notice especially 10 tho sub
ioct Including bridge at Devs Gate. which should
y all means be iron, have before stated and desire
again impress sx are necessary over the Weber alone
One cuiycrt having sandstone nbutmcnts west OF Nor
gan CITY, had given way, aud as further evidence OF tho
unreaby OF such stone nsed upon inc r9aa ior they
report as curmane an extract from letter received
from IalS %h IN hs f % G s es GnS bear. dso
Ann 2 1902 and while was intended for my eye alone
think the Government Is emitted to Ito Dcleh"
lhifheil
awe bad two naucv s,p,, tss usan Paess Railroad
The u Drspahs il' ssgn, 'stasf a.a car so
fg.1 S or beam Of bs bridge estHE the Log
pssdsd sbou The brink We had - en.l oSi u. beat
. Ssd The conductor engineer both Prai,aty .ssd
Is two Others n had bssa srAHissd %. day gsea.
uasnsous opinion criminal 10 aHP''o ere The Se't
err portion Of ths ro,d Is daH5croui"
TO- s the worst ever Travelled over, aud decidedly
dangerous 1t is well 70 state In this connection AS
Sib the Road and who passes IL daily In the dis
charge OF his duty stated that lie never rode over the
ing long one OF relief after he got oyor that he con
| sidered them, especially tho ono at the Devils
| AZ ail but TO give confidence 70 passengers.
Two tunnels passed through $50 and 2o feet
through sandstone fornatOn and only Wide enough
for single tracknOt double One as the standard Of
construction requires. with this exception think them
safe While may be possibly Omewhat at fault In the
details have gwen. feel satisfied am substantially
details NAV bc they affect the great truths shall
now state Frsis Tho road is not the law requires
1rs class road" Scro,f: II is not supplied with the
Necessary buildings Thud II has not safe and substan
tial bridges IOirn Tho tunnels arc not wide enough
for double tack. Fgit: The road bed 1T tho grade
line Ia u0t " IAf0r width OF IA feet nor has been
properly cyclcd the rails lined, SiIh II would bo
extremely dangerous for heavy trains 10 pass the
western portion Of the road Ssreph The ties In many
Instances haye sunkcn, sometime at one end and some
the embankments. Niles upon miles Of them laid
haNa 1YoNC In