South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-06-02


impart to those present the conviction that
the proposed road can and MUST BE BUILT.
No such word as fail, IN this matter, should
be entertained by any citizen. The Colonel,
after concluding bis speech, read the follow
ing Report of RICHARD RAHDoLpH and
/ CHARLES DASpRDCE, Engineers, Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road Company
( 70 Col. RoJL White and oLte-s, Commits
sinners Jor tie SouH Brunch Raii,eoy:
GENTLEMEN We have made q prelm-
mary examination Of a route for your pro-
posed railroad from near Green Spring run
on the Baltimore x Ohio Railroad 10 Rom
noy, which We believe to be the most direct
aud the least costly TO construct Of any be
tween those points and that it is the best
way for carrying the trade Of the South
Branch Valley 20 aud from the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, whether for the East or
the West
In company with several gentlemen from
IIompshire county we started at point on
the railroad one mile and quarter west of
Green Spring Iun station on the land of
Gov. JACOB, ard followed a small drain
running parallel with Green Spring run and
leading over a very low summit to the slope
Gifts western fork c.lleG Shorts run, which
We followed 20 its summit where common
ced branch Of the stream along which is
located the Frankfort Turnpike Follow
ing this, we crossed the pike q short dis
lance west Of Springfield where another
branch cf the same stream led ia the same
general course to tie head Of the Sulphur
Spring hollow. This summit will require
q considerable excavation aud the use Of The
maximum grade, and the crossing Of the
Frankfort Turnpike wl. require au embark.
meut or a trestle work 20 feet high. Sui
phur Spring hollow leads in a direct inc
with favourable ground to the abutments
Of the old Suspension Bridge which are To-
Gated exactly TO suit the proposed railroad
After crossing the river we followed the
Romncy Turnpike to G.. |. Blues where
The pike mounts over a spur; here we made
a dctour to the right and passed through
zap in the spur near Blue house aud cury-
ing back to the pike crossed it near c. w.
Blues house and continued a short distance
to the east and parallel until coming to
Mrs Susan Parsons where we crossed over
to Bull-Skin run which we followed to
Romncy.
As this road is designed only as a tribu-
, tary from the South Branch Valley to the
Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad and the means
Of your company will be so limited that the
location and construction should proceed
upon different principles from those which
would govern for a great through line. For
such it might be the best policy to con-
struct upon the light grades which could
be maintained by following the river to its
mouth But this would involve the ex-
Peuso Of cutting through the points which
cause the bends in the river, to avoid that
increase of distance and the necessity of
keeping above high water, which sometimes
rises 30 feet, would cause all the embauk-
mcnts u bridges which crossed the streams
and hOllows coming in, to be Of that heirht :;
and several perpendicular cliffs would re-
quire either heavy rock excavations or the
bridging of the river. In addition the
land required would be mostly Of the most
valuable bottoms. By the use of heavy
grades at a few points and for short distan-
ces the road eau be constructed upon the
route which we examined in more direct
line than the river itself and would occupy
land which is comparatively valucless. be-
( ing mostly a slate formation which furnish
es tie very best material for the road bed
requiring the least quantity Of ballasting
and tho least expense for maintainance.
From all we can learn the trade Of the
South Branch Valley would be fu ly served
by road Of the following dimensions
/ Weight of rail 25 lbs. Estimated cost Of Track
per yard. and Hjllasdng $4,000
/ Gauge. rect. Per milc-For grad
/ Cross ties, ONG, feet uaGon masonry and
long. Bridging includiug
Minimum radius $50 tho River, $1,000 per
feet mile.
Maximum grade feet SO estimate for right
per 100 of way, rolling stock
RICHARD RANDOLPH,
CUAS. g. cambridge.
May 90 1871
The Business Committee rspor,ed. trough
w FmmEyAI. Chairman. the following Prcam-
b'o and Resolutions which were unanimously
adopted
WHEREAS hopoor.aof Hampshire Coun-
ty, 'hc South Branch Valley and valuable
contiguous country have met here to-day
to consider a ,hc construction Of q Roll
way tn a.uuoC. wtH The Baltimore f. Ohio
Ba.l-Rm1 provided for by Act Of the
Wet Virginia Legislature, passed at its
Il.t session.
aP.hR D. Taqt iuasmuch as con
'rae'i.n n th. proposed Road directly enc