The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-09-16
LOCAL AFFAIRS.

Rail- ROAD SURVEYS. Joseph 5. INIT, Est
Civil Engineer, under Cate Of New Oxford
Pa, September Q, writes
In accordance with your desire and that o
your readers, ! will give you a sketch of sur
yeys m do in Maryland, for the extension o
the Bachman Valley Rail Road TO eonnec
with tho Western Maryland Railroad at o.
near Emory Grove Camp Ground, as directed
by Capt A. W. Eichelberger.
Before beginning instrumental exanina
tons of the co untry th ough which the roat
should pass, thorough reconnaissance should
/ be made. In this | did not have an opportu
nifty, bat ~ once started out on the survey,
commencing at the Black Rock Station, on
the Bachman Valley Railroad, near the State
line; thence running to Kroh's dam, where q
branch Of the Falls Creek breaks through Dug
Hill; thence ap small branch until we reach
ed highland, and following the ridge to the
town Of Manchester, in Carroll county, ter
minating at the York Road, with grade Of
so feet per mile Distance a miles. Other
lines were run TO Manchester so as to deter
mine the best terminus for the road. The
last and best line formed for Manchester was
starting from point on the Falls route, near
| VENTS mill, and up branch North of the
ridge in which Manchester stands, crossing
the York road in Manchester, and thegce
down branch Of Georges run that heads at
Manchester at the College, TO Appolds tan
nary, II miles from Manchester, connecting
the Falls route near Maple Swamp, Mt Calf.
riders, "a miles from Manchester. This line
gives us grade into and out from Manches-
ter of 60 feet per mile, with a cut in the town
Of 2S feet.
Manchester is 900 feet above tidewater, and
is the highest elevated town in the State, with
but one exception. This town is peculiarly
situated; from the centre of II the ground rises
rapidly in the direction of Westminster and
York, and falls in like manner toward Han
over and Baltimore. When we come to CON
slider the proximity of this country to the
Atlantic coast its rapid rise and great cleYa'
ton at Manchester are not q little to be won
dered at. The land on which this town is
built constitutes the great watershed Of
North. eastern MARYLAND. The streams on
one side running Eastward to the falls of the
Great Gunpowder, while those on the other
flow Westward by Pipe Creek Valley to the
Monocacy and Potomac. The waters to the
Northward find their way to the Susquehanna,
while those to the South fall into the Pataps'
co. Westminster, 10 miles distant, is 100
feet lower; Hagerstown, 60 miles Westward,
465 feet lower; Harper Ferry, 69Si feet lower,
and Cumberland, Nd, l7S miles from the
Chesapeake, is 33l feet lower. Near Cum.
berland is the water shed from which the wa
tiers flow Eastward to the Atlantic and West
to the Gulf of Mexico. The pass in the
mountains at Harper's Ferry is visible from
Manchester.
also run line from Maple Swamp, ~
miles from Manchester, on the ridge to Hamp'
stead, with n grade not exceeding 60 feet per
mile. Elevation at Hampstead SS5 f. above
Underwater. The line then passed through
Hampstead to the West side of the town, and
also one to East side then following the Hauo-
yer pike, crossing it twice before reaching
the Western Maryland Railroad. The dis
lance from Maple Swamp TO where we con.
meet with the Western Maryland Railroad Mt
Emory Grove Camp Ground is ~ miles, with
light grades and easy work.
On my return, | run line from Maple
Swamp by Hohacker's and Shatfer's to the
Falls, and following it to Groves extensive
Lime Quarries, and by VENTS Mill to the
Bachman Valley Railroad, distance miles
making the total distance from the Bachman
Valley Railroad TO the Western Maryland
Railroad 10 miles. No grades over 60 feet
per mile nor curve Of a less radius than 955 f.
There are several other routes | surveyed,
known generally as the Black Rock and the
Dover route, both Of which have received
hasty preliminary survey. | also made in
strumental examinations Of line by Trenton
and tributaries leading into Big Piney Run,
but the country lying between the termini Of
the road and place desired to reach, is so
much broken that any Railroad between
them must follow the water courses, except
in few instances. The valleys are generally |
narrow, while the ridges rise to an unusual
elevation above them, when we consider their |
to the coast. The general direction |
Of ridges is North West and South. East, and |
the rise of the streams from forty TO eighty |
feet to the mile. The Western Run Valley |
has an ascent less than this, while the upper |
portion ofthe Piney Run rises even more ra.
pidly. The streams generally head abruptly |
against high ridges, as in mountainous dis. |
tricts-the gaps being difficult to overcome, |
and often not TO be passed without tunnels
The best line-except the Fails route, was |
from Millender mill by Fowbles' and crossing
the Black Rock road near Fowbles lime kiln;
thence near Trenton, which was not compile |
ted. There was not so much objection 10 the |
grades, but encountered some heavy work.
As expect to make other surveys, shall
not trespass more upon your columns Mt |
present. The surveys being only ''prelmi-
actually necessary. They are from 80 to 50 |
feet per mile, and some even more | shall
notice the Worthington Valley and other
points in my next
In closing this hasty report or article, |
desire to express my thanks to the gentlemen |
composing the Engineer Corps, and more
particularly Manchester, who so kindly aided |
me upon all occasions, aud provided us |
transportation and provisions. i. p. Flynn, |
was solicited to take charge of the level; C. |
MeCosh, rodman; DR.. II. NJ Drach, POLICEMAN |
and the following men assisted as chainmen, |
axemen, and in various other ways viz - |
George Il. Shower, L. S. Everhart, John II. |
Lammott, George Krantz, William Shower,
Charles Campbell, Greenbury Eyerhart, Jas.
Greenholtz, George a. Shower, Lewis C.
Myerly, Levi Dubbs, Whitefeid Murray,
Adam Shower, Andrew Pfeifer, Adam Shat |
fer, Jesse Bixler, Jacob Turner, VIM. A.
Burke, !. L. Caples, J. II. Millender, Isaac
n. Wheeler, 4. Gill, NJ. G. Cockey. Mr..
Martin, and others, who aided us in the sur.
veys. ltender my thanks for the cheerfulness
with which they labored, and the willingness
with which they at all times complied. Nv
best wishes for the success of the enterprise.
SrnNp Ran NJ. uf