The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-07-22

to tho milo. This line would
reach Salt Creek near Adelphi.-
From Adelphi to Hopetown an al
most direct line can be had with
good grades and light work. From
Hopctown to Chillicotho both lines
would occupy the same ground.
A compass line was recently run
between Chillicothe and Adelphi,
by Col. Lewis W. Sifford, of Chill.
licothe, but the level was not used =,
consequently the grades or the
amount of work could not be as.
certained. The distance measur-
ed between the two points was
fifteen miles. The distance be.
tween Lancaster and Chillicothe
will be about thirty-five miles, and
which of these lines would be the
shortest or the most desirable can
only be determined by instrument
tai surveys. The crossing of the
Scioto River would require a
bridge Of about six hundred (600)
feet in length.
In the Paint Greek valley you
would have no difficulty with
grades or curvature; and should
the road be located on the north
side of the creek two bridges only
would be necessary, one across the
North Fork near its mouth and
one across the West Fork near the
present pike bridge. Should you
adopt the south sido of the creek
for your location, it would require
four bridges, three of them across
tho West Fork ; but tho right of
way could probably be more easl-
ly obtained than on the North side.
The grading of the road bed would
bc light; as most of the way the
line could be located on ground
above high water.
About one mile above Bainbridge
your limo would leave the valley
of Paint Creek and follow up Mas
sio's Run about two miles to low
summit, which divides the waters
of Paint from those of Brush creek.
A fifty feet grade, | think, would
be required to gain this summit
without too heavy work. This
will bring you on the head-waters
of Brush creek, and an easy grade
. will take you into the valley prop.
or. After descending this valley
about seven miles, | think il would
be best to leave it and pass through
what is called Buffers Gap, on to
tho head waters of Sunfsh creek,
and directly through another low
gap on to Brush creek again near
Sinking Springs, thereby saving
some three or four miles by not
following the creek, which, a part
of the way, runs through deep gor.
gcs and is very crooked, requiring
heavy excavations in the points of
the hills, and several crossings of
the stream. These gaps, 80 called,
arc low, and would not require
heavy grades to get through them;
and the work, | think, would not
be any moro costly per mile than
tho crock line. The excavations
hero would bo in shell rock, and
not liable to slips.
From Sinking Springs TO Bon.
tonvllle ihore arc some three lines
to be surveyed. One would fol.
low down tho Rushcreek valley,
passing Lowden and Marble Fur.
mace, to Newport, thence up Cher.
ry Fork to North Liberty and via
Hills Fork and Eagle crock to
Bentonville; another limo from
Sinking Springs passing noar 10.
Gust Grove, crossing Brush creek
near Newport and connecting with
tho Lowdon line, and following
that line ur Cherry Folk,to North
Liberty, there leaving it and keep.
ing on table lands, passing around
tho head of Eagle creek and near
West Union to Bentonvillo. This
line would bo somo two and u half
or throe miles longer, but would
save a depression IN the grade of
about one hundred and fifty feet in
nine miles. Tho third line from
Sinking Springs would pass thro'
locality known as Smoky Corn.
err, and on to tho head of Bundles
run, about ono milo east of Jack
sonvllle, thence down this run to
Brush creek, crossing It near the
mouth of Lick Fork with bridge
OF 25O feet span, and following this
stream 20 West Union, going on to
tablo lands to Bcntonville. The
distance on these various lines be,
tween Sinking Springs and Ben.
tonvilIe, as near as could ascor;
tain, are as follows: Via Lowden,
Newport, North Liberty ard Eagle
creek, 3l1 miles; via Locust Grove,
North Liberty and West
Union, 81 miles; via Smoky Cor
ners, Lick Fork and West Union,
% miles. An accurate measure
mont of these limos, however, may
change these figures somewhat,
but | think they are in about tho
relative proportion. Dontonvillc
is situated at tho head OF Three
Mile run, twelve miles from its
junction with tho Ohio River, and
Ihreo hundred and twenty six feet
nbove tho Ohio Rivor Valley at
Aberdeen. This run, going al most
exactly in the right direction and
in as it docs opposite Mays.
vile, there can be no question as
o its being tho proper place for the
ocation of your road.
am satisfied that in no instance
will you have to adopt grade ex,
seeding fifty feet in mile, or cur.
1aturo of loss radius than eleven
hundred and fifty feet and this
would occur but in o few instances.