The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-23
WHEELING AND TOLEDO.

WHEELING AND lOLEDO.
Report Of the Civil Engineer on the
: Preliminary Survey OF the Indian
wheeling Creek Route.
Messrs. j. NJ. Mclean, j. Diekerson, ST.;
and Vim. Campbell, Committee:
GENrs-In pursuance Of your request
/ have examined aud surveyed a line
for a railway from Wheeling, W. Va,
by the valleys of Indian Wheeling
creek, Crab-apple, Brushy Fork and
Big Saltwater, to Dennison, Ohio, and
now submit a report of its principal
characteristics and probable cost.
The survey was commenced at
Wheeling Island, at the west end of the
wire suspension bridge, thence crossing
the west channel of the Ohio river and
passing through the village of Kirk
wood or South Bridgeport. continue up
Indian Wheeling creek to the mouth Of
Crab-apple, which is followed to its
source, about two miles northwest OF
the village of New Athens. Here the
line passes over the ridge dividing the
waters flowing into the Ohio and Tus-
caravans rivers, and thence follows down
the Brushy Fork branch Of the Still
water to its confluence with the main
stream near Tippecanoe, from whence
the valley of Big Saltwater is followed
TO a point about three miles from Den
nison, on the farm Of job Gatchell,
when q low pass in the hills affords the
means of leaving the valley Of Still
water, and getting into the ravine Of
Brooks run, by which the line is
brought directly to Dennisep.
The distance from the initial point Of
the survey to the crest Of the dividing
ridge of Webbs summit, near New
Athens, is twenty-four and one-tenth
miles, and the total rise from high
water mark in the Ohio river at Bridge
port 6l3 feet. From this point to Den
nison the distance is overweight and
eighteenth miles, and the descent 4OS
feet. The ascent in the valley of
Wheeling creek to the mouth Of Crab
apple averages seventeen feet per mile.
and is overcome by grades in no case
exceeding twenty-six and four-tenths feet
per mile. From the mouth Of Crab-ap-
pie to the summit, distance Of six and
one-tenth miles, the average is greater,
but the grades in no case exceed thirty.
nine and six-tenths feet per mile, and
this rate OF ascent occurs only on about
three miles next the summit A tun-
mel, 1000 feet in length is necessary at
the summit, piercing the ridge at an
elevation of 492 feet above high water
mark at Bridgeport, and III feet below
the crest of the hill. The tunnel is
located at such an elevation that coal
vein of four and a half feet in thick.
ness traverses the entire eastern ap
proach and about two-thirds Of the
length of the tunnel, so that much Of
the heading can be made in
the coal. The length of the east
ern approach is POO feet and of
the western approach 900 feet
From the tunnel westward there is a
continually descending grade of 81 $40
feet per mile, sustained on the sides Of
the valley for 81 miles, until the bottom
is reached, after which the descent is
remarkably easy, and no grade exceed
ing Is feet per mile is necessary until
the line. reaches the gap at Gatchelrs,
about three miles from Dennison. At
this point it becomes necessary to, resort
to an ascending grade of 50 $40 feet per
mile for about one mile in rising from
the VALLEY of Big Saltwater to the sum-
NIT of this gap which is passed by a cut
loo feet long and 4S feet extreme
depth, and then a descending grade Of
80 6-l0 feet per mile Of about one mile
in length, brings the line into Brooks
run, after which no grade exceeding Is
feet per mile is necessary to reach Den:
nison. The survey terminated at a
point on the track of the Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati IL st. Louis railway opposite
the eating house in Dennison, 81 9lO
miles from the west end of the suspen-
sion bridge on Wheeling Island. The
passage from the valley of Saltwater
into Brooks run at Gatchelrs compels
the introduction at that point Of the
maximum grades used over the sum-
NIT between Wheeling creek and Still
water, at Webbs. 1t would be ex-
ceedingly desirable to avoid this, and to
confine the high grades to one locality,
but if to reach the town plat Of Denni-
son be sine qua non Of this route, see
no other way IN which it can be secured.
1t is true the descent from GatchelPs
summit to Dennison may be made at
moderate outlay with grades not ex-
ceeding 26 40 feet per mile, but fhe
ascent from Saltwater is substantially
impracticable without resorting ia
grades as high as those at Webbs.
In the valley of Wheeling creek,
owing to its confined and tortuous char.
acter, the curvature is considerable, and
in order to obtain q proper alignment
it is necessary frequently to cross the
stream; but after careful examina-
ton am satisfied no curve of less than
955 feet radius will be required either
in the valley of this stream or at any
other point between Wheeling and
Deuuison. The most difficult points on
Wheeling creek occur at Hardesty's. at
Grimes and at Dickey's, eight, ten and
fourteen miles from Wheeling respect
lively. At these places, points from the
opposite side of the valley interlock in
such manner that no line with curves
admissible on railways can be obtain
ed without cutting through them, and
deep cuts or short tunnels will be neces-
sary under any circumstances, and a
fioal location only can decide which
would be most proper. my impression
is that four short tunnels, rom 2oo TO
$50 feet in length, would be most ad-
visable on the line l have surveyed