Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-16


To MsjoF A. n. Paxton, Chairman
of Committee III charge Of the
Vicksburg and Canton Railroad
route:
The preliminary survey Of rail-
road route from this city 70 Canton
was begun on the 23d OF November
last the initial point OF the field
work having been established near
the intersection Of the western line
of FARMER street with the bayou,
which bounds the northern limits
of VicEsburg.
The line Of outlet from imme-
diate suburbs OF the city passes
up the valley Of Glass bayou /; the
plan Of " hiCh was deemed the most
favorable for an ultimate connec-
ton with the Mississippi river,
This being, evidently, a desidera-
tum of any railroad which may |
have its terminous at Vicksburg. |
The original line was continued In
n direct course, crossing the pro-
lection Of a spur ridge which points
near TO the confluence of the east
erly head forks of the bayou. The
summit of this ridge was attained
In the distance Of l,69 miles, and
was found 10 be one hundred and
ninety-twO feet above the assumed
datum plans of levels. The valley
at this point Is of very mode
rate width, sinuous in course,
and confined by precipitous
hills. This nccessitates, in the
avoidance Of the ridge, q Sc
ries of reverse curves, This
obstacle being turned, the line con-
tinues by the aid OF hillside sup
ports up TO the head of the valley,
where ne encountered a narrow
ridge dividing the headwaters OF
the above mentioned bayou from
those of the ChiCkasaw. Crossing
this we descend into the valley OF
the Chickasaw bayou and attain the
ridge at Samuel Harris by the use
of q fiity-three feet gradient
Thence to an intersection with the
main Benton road, distant ACC
miles from ViCksburg, where we
obtain a more moderate grade.
Passing through the southern
portion Of the plantation Of I. A.
T Marshall, and about one thousand
feet north Of the residence Uf 5. w
, Cowam, maintaining comparative
ly easy grade, VIC cross to the ridge
Immediately east Of Cowam's, and
: follow it in q direct line to its ter
4 mination near Clear creek. From
this point the preliminary traversl
q was continued up the valley OF tn,
main stream to its middle north
easterly fork. which was fOlloweu
: up TO its heading OF a narrow ridg
+ which divides the headwaters O
q this creek from those of Littl
, Bear creek. A careful examination
! of The ridge which separates thl
sources of these two streams, ind
: Gates the fact that It is more de
l. pressed In elevation and lees /
l. transverse section at the point q
e line crossing, than at any othe
l. within the distance of Ave mile
" nOrthward or southwark. TIL
= point of location Is at McCalls, Il
n Junction Vi the two main nlguWal
~ of travel in that immediate sectiC
= OF country. Subsequent examin
u !, ton of the ridge route TO this pOiI
q has induced the location upon II, q
I. being shorter, having less curw
q ton, and requiring but little add
II tiOnal expense.
Is The ridge crossed, we pass alOn
70 the valley Of Little Bear Creek,
h tributary of the Big Bear; whiC
! latter empties into the Big BlaC
w. river. The bottom lands of th
= stream vary from one quarter
L one half mile In width. They DR.
s. sented evidences of good cultui
'd and productiveness. The blu
er hills which bound the souther
le line, show, in their denudated stat
ID an abundance Of argillaceous san
= stone and traces Of ferruginiol
formation.
~ Reaching the Big Bear Greek an
co H crossing the valley beyond, we o.
W cendcd the dividing ridge betwee
es this stream and Big Black rive
sc Had we continued down the vale
ty with the view Of reaching the rive
" by an easy and inexpensive grad
~ regardless Of locality or lat
n tude, we should have accon
is plished this immediate purposC
70 but 1t must be observed that th
~ location would have apprOache
ne within six miles of the line
W the Vicksburg and Meridian raj
30 road, aud in order to Q crossing
,h the river at a point involving sho
st trestle bridging, the line wouI
10 have been thrown to the mort
wv ward, following up the valley
Tm Birdsong's ferry-three miles.
=. This point is evidently more el
as gible for a railroad crossing, Q,
IT, CeptiDg Bridgeport, than any to
/; found for thirty miles above Il
Fl. bridge of the Vicksburg and NJ
is ridian road. Considerations 10
II. hereinafter noticed, determined Il
in location of the route up the ives
ern bottom of Big Black near
the south western corner of Mat
We isen county.
II. The line was therefore continue
N. from the foot Of the valley of Lift
Of Bear Creek 10 the dividing ridg
- near the river with the view of di
- covering q favorable descent I'M
IL the river bottom. The first prelim
III nary line showed the true Gro
OF section of the ridge, as at a rigI
on angle to lis longitudinal cours
he developing a suddenness of d
no scent which precluded the esta'
er lishment of a grade which wOu
~. fulfil the conditions of reasonab