The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-11
and Rutland Railroad
SURVEYORS REPORT.
MONTPELIER, VT, June 80, 1873.

W.. JuilV cVf 100.
To tile Commissioners Of tie 4Nontpelier and
IemeIana hofIyooa.'
GENTLEMEN :-Haying at your request
made preliminary examination of some
portions of the proposed line for the Mont
pelier and Rutland railroad, | herewith sub
nit the following report.
My investigations were confined mainly
to such localities as were thought to be diff
ficult to overcome with practicable grades,
and a reasonable cost of construction. The
examination commenced at Warren village
in the Mad River Valley, and extended to
the summit or dividing ridge in Granville,
where the White and Mad Rivers find their
sources, and flow to the east and west.
Levels were taken along Mad River from
Warren village to Austins saw MILL four
miles above, and the fall of the stream be-
tween these two points was found to be
1855. % feet, or equal TO 81 80 feet per mile;
but as the line would run at an elevation of
about forty feet above the starting point at
the river in Warren. this grade could be
reduced to about eighty feet per mile,
average, for this section. The stream be-
tween the two points mentioned is said to
be the most rapid of any portion of it be-
tween the summit and its junction with the
Winoosk. This section will, in my opin-
ion, be the most expensive to construct of
.any one on the line of equal length between
Montpelier and the summit of the Green
Mountains.
From Austin's Mill to the summit in
Granville, one mile, the grade will not, |
think, exceed seventy feet per mile, and
is easy of construction.
From the summit to Granville Center,
4 4 Al. c.n "a IL a. l.,
equal to 96,77 feet per mile; but as an
earth cutting of fifteen feet at the summit
would be practicable, and the line at Gran
vile Centre would be raised at least ten
feet above the stream the grade could be
reduced to about ninety feet per mile av-
erage.
From Granville to Rochester, seven
miles, comparatively cheap and feasible
line could be located, with grade not eX-
ceeding fifty feet per mile.
From Rochester to the summit of the
Green Mountains, two routes were exam
ined. One ria West Rochester and Chit
tenden, and the other ria Stockbridge and
Pittsfield. intersecting the survey of the
Rutland Il Woodstock railroad in North
Sherburne, and crossing the mountain il
Mendon. 1t being the desire of the Com
missioners TO find the shortest and mos
direct line from Rochester to Rutland thai
would be feasible as to grades and cost OF
construction, careful examination of the
country in the vicinity of West Roches
ester and Chittenden was made, will
a view to carry the line over the noun
tain, at some point in Chittenden thai
would be the most direct to reacl
its objective point in Rutland. This line
as proposed, would follow the river down
one-half mile below Rochester to the
| junction of the West Rochester brancl
with the river; thence turning to the soutl
and west, follow up the branch to poinI
one and one-half miles above West Roches
ter thence DETECTING TO the east, and eros
the mountain to Chittenden at a poin
which | shall designate here as the "Web-
Der Pass" thence turning to the west, ant
following the mountain side around abou
| four miles, to what is known as tn
"Whitmore" or "Morrill Gap" in the mail
range, which point should judge to b'
somewhat lower than the Weber Pass
though no measurements were made to as
certain the comparative elevations.
The Webber Pass is distant from Rooh
ester about eight miles, and its elevation
above Rochester is about $40 feet, diyid
ed as follows The elevation OF Yves
Rochester above Rochester is estimated a
1870 feet the elevation of Stanley's, abov
West Rochester, is estimated at 100 feet
the elevation of the Weber Pass aboy
Stanley's, as measured, is 1858 feet
Total elevation of the Webber Pass aboy
Rochester, 1,545. 10 feet. 1t would there
fore require length of line from Roches
ter to the Weber summit of eighteen mile
to overcome the elevation, with an averag
grade of eighty-fve feet per mile But III
nature of the ground between these point
is very favorable for the prolongation @
the line, and could be constructed at COS
per mile not exceeding the average eA
pense for the other sections which l eN
amined.
The country between the Weber Pas
and the Whitmore Gap presents no seriou
obstacles, as il follows the mountain sid
around TO the Whitmore Notch, thong
for a short distance north of the latter poir
the mountain presents ragged and precip