The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-08-26

remarkable direct and economical route
for the construction of railroad.
With short cut, so feet deep at the
summit, the passage is effected from the
head of Talona to a branch running into
Elijay River, with but little deviation
from due North course. Caossing the
river about hree-fourths of mile below
Eliiay, the route passed through that vii
lage, and continued up the valley three
miles. Up to this point the valley is
wide, and direct location can be obtain
ed; but above, the river is crooked, and
the valley very narrow, to avoid which
the line was run up branch, which
emptes near Mrs. Kells' This branch
was followed to its head in a North
course, thence deep cut leads into Deals
Branch, and down that branch to Moore's
Creek, up that creek to another sum
nit, which separates it from Paterson's
Creek. Here another severe cut will be
necessary, from which Paterson's Creek
can be followed to its junction with
Board Town Creek, which is the name
given to Ellijay River above the mouth
of Cherry Log. The valley of Board
Town is straight and wide enough to af
ford good location. The spurs of the
Blue Ridge tower upon both sides, and
here commences that formidable barrier.
1t can be reached with continuous gra-
dent of 80 feet per mile for distance
of six miles.
At the summit we crossed the line be-
tween Gilmcr and Fannin counties.
FANNIN COUNTY.
At the head of the Board Town, a
very favorable gap in the Blue Ridge al
most opens the way to the waters of
Fighting Town Creek, and to the valley
of Tennessee. The great elevation OF
this creek, (only 80 feet below the gap,
and but thousand feet from it, will de-
fine the tepth of the excavation at the
Blue Ridge summit. The experimental
line followed down Fighting Town
creek about two miles, below which it
winds too suddenly for railroad route
but in leaving the creek very broken
country is encountered, through which
the survey was directed. A lateral re-
connoisance, however, indicated that a
great improvement can be made by NOV
ing the line back from the creek, where
the recession Of the hills will afford an
easier profile. The survey passes
through the property of the Mobile Min
ing Company, and thence in direction
somewhat East of North to the boundary
line of Tennessee. The broken charac-
ter of the country at the mouth of Fight
ing, Town creek forbids near approach
to that point, as named in the charter.
TENNESSEE.
At the instance of committee Of gem
tlemen interested in the Duck Town
Copper Mines, the survey was continued
d miles into Tennessee. Near the
State line it crossed the dividing ridge
between Fighting Town creek and the
Ocoee River. The descent to the Ococc
was effected by following Barkcr's Mill
creek to its mouth with grade of 80
feet to the mile, thence running up the
river one half mile brought us oppo-
site the mouth of Potato creek, here we
crossed the Ocoee and assembled Potato
creek with an easy grade to the Smelter
of the Eureka Company.
| have thus hastily skctchcd the route
Of our survey for the information of all
concerned; it should be understood
however, that this line, experimental in
its character, by no means defines the
ultimate location Of Road. On the con
trary many of its developments show
that the location in several places should
avoid the course taken by this survey
Limited in time and cramped in means,
it was not possible to revise instrumen-
tally the most uLfavorable portions of
the route, but some lateral observations
were made which proved that it is suscep-
tible of much amendment. Some of the
more prominent bends can probably be
Strengthened The whole length of the
line surveyed was 953 miles, which, by
cutting off angles, can be reduced to Sc
miles, the distance upon which the sub
Joined estimates are made. An air line
between Marietta and the Eureka mine
is 753 miles long, and it is believed that
a Road can be located between those
points which will not exceed so miles
in length. The estimates are full and
calculated tie cover the whole cost of
constructing a first class Rail Road, and
when it is considered that through it's
entire length the line penetrates noun
famous region, traverses many dividing
ridges and surmounts the great barrier
which defines the valley of the Mississip-
pi, the figures will not appear excessive.
A reference TO other Roads through sim
lar regions will show that $4,000 per
mile is much below an average. The
country affords many facilities for build
ing good Road labor and provisions