The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-10-17


the corporate limits of Easiey, and crosses
the Atlanta and Charlotte Air Line Rail-
road one-half milo beyond. This point
of crossing is distant 26s miles from Bel.
ton, and is the end of the first Division.
The general character of the ridgein
this Division is such that it presents even
to the casual observer It's peculiar adap-
liability for Railroad construction It is
almost perfectly level, and is not broken
by single water course, or by G depres-
sion or hill of any magnitv 10. Only one
email culvert is necessary on its entire
length. The maximum grade on this
Division is 35 feet to the mile, and the
deepest cut and heaviest gil will not ex-
ceed feet; /; milea of It's length is heav-
lily timbered, balance cleared and under
cultivation. This feature renders the
expense of clearing and grubbing aluioat
nominal. .
Two miles beyond the Air Line cross
ing Rices Creek, one of the tributaries
of Seneca Hiver, is passed on trestling l8
feet high and 400 feet in length. Three
miles beyond this Creek CLASSY Mountain,
an isolated cove, presents itself and me-
cessitates slight DETECTION to the left.
On this DETECTION, Wolf Greek is passed
on o trestle IL feet in height and 200 feet
in length. Town Creek on trestling 81
feet in height and 60 feet in span, and
Twelve Mile Creek on treatling 81 feet in
height and 400 feet in length. These
creeks, oil tributaries of the Seneca River,
and its branches are shallow streams of
10 to IL feet span, but are bordered by
low bottom lands sometimes overhowed,
which fact necessitates the use of trest-
ling to certain extont. From tile point
of crossing Town Creek, Pickens G. III. is
distant l mile. Ascending one of the
branches of Twelve Mile Creek, with
easy grades for a distance of 81 miles,
the Line reaches ppint on the ridge
overlooking the Valley of the Oolenoe,
one of the branches OF Saluda River,
and 200 feet above its waters. This point
| Is / ] miles from the foot of one OF the
large spurs of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
and rniles from the Sassefras Gap in an
air limo. Testing by leveling the height
of Sassafras Gap, found 1t 1h4o feet
above my position. Taking advantage Of
every deviation in order to increase dis
tance, only II miles could be obtained.
This fact rendered the passage Of Sassa-
fras Gap impracticabie for broad gauge
| railroad. 1t became necessary to seek
another end lower outlet. Securing the
services Of experienced guides, made q
| thorough examination Of the Blue Ridge
range for many miles west of my posi-
ton, and chose as the most eligible point
Of crossing, huge gorge which literally
divided the Mountain chain, formed by
Estatoe Creek on one eide, and the mid
die fork of the French Broad on tho
other. The heads Of these streams are
but 800 feet apart, and Q cut of II feet
will bring their waters together Testing
again by levelipg, found this Gap 660
feet lower than Sassafras Gap, and $50
feet above my position. This gorge lies
4 miles west Of Sassafras Gap. Starting
again from the halting point, the Line
follows the ridge which turns slightly to
the left, and four miles from hating
point. passes with slight cut, :Ae Rioh
Mountain Saddle, which ends the second
Division, 90 miles from the c.ossing Of
the Air Line Railroad. This Saddle Is q
short and sharp spur which connects the
main ridge with Rich Mountain, and
marks the head of the Oolcnoe. Rich
Mountain is the Southern point of four
large Mountains, which together make
one of the largest spurs of the Blue Ridge
and constitute the Eastern boundary Of
Estatoe Valley.
The general ciarlcter of the country
in this Division is rolling and broken by
occasional streams. The passage of the
streams necessitate the use Of sleeper
grades, but for distances not exceeding
one mile. Fihy-two feet to the mile is
the maximum grade in this Division.
Nine, miles of this Division is we'll tim
beEed. About 1900 running feet Of trest-
| ling is necessary. Earthwork on the last
| miles is heavy. The ridge being higher,
| the Line is laid upon its Northern ssope.
which is scanned by numerous gorges.
A considerable depression, 1900 feet in
width and II miles from terminal point
OF this Division necessitates q run Of 81
| miles level. At the Rich Mountain Sad
die therefore, the Line is 8 miles in an
air line from the Gap, and 820 feet below
1t. 1t becomes necessary to increase dis
tance, and this is done by one or more
horse shoe curUes made in heading the
branches of the Estatoe.
Leaving the main. ridge at the end of
the second Division and following the
slope OF Rich Mountain the Line turns
gradually north and % miles from start
ing point, turns TO the west and crosses
Cove Creek on bridge 65 feet in height
and 27O feet span. Thencegit follows the
southern slope of high ridge until it
strikes the valley of Rocky Creek, an
other branch OF the Estatoe. At this
point the first horse shoe curve COM
| mences. The Line turns to the north
and east and following mountain slopes
which overlook the valley of Rocky
Creek for 2 miles. crosses the head
branches of re Creek, and turning west
again heads for the Estatoe. Il comes
out on the valley of the Estatoe for up
on the slopes of Chimney Top Mountain,
at point 81 miles from the Gap and $40
feet below it. Following the general
| course of the Estatoe on the sides of this
Mountain for l. miles, the Line touches
the Valley Of Folly Creek, the third
Eastern branch of the Estaooe. At this
poind the second horse shoe curve COM
! mences Running mp the Valley er Fc!s
y rreek sca c-c=ss::... c-cc=ss:..s ..ss,T it5 i,u1, tile
Line turns west again and strikes the
Estatce II miles from the Gap and iI20
feet below it. Turning once more Moth.
! ward, it heads straight for the Gan and
passes the Blue Ridge Mountains with !,
cut 81 feet in depth, 122 miles from Rich
Mountain Saddle.
The earth work on this Division IS
heavy. The Valley ofthe Estatoe throuGh
which the Line is laid, is rugged I'D
broken. Deep ard narrow eorges are
/ numerous c.: Mountain sla,eas 1'ha Ag4
pense of grading is lighter, however. on
account of the facility with which'the
| earth Is wasted, the shovel only being
| necessary In removing 80 per cent. Of the
whole. Granite, in anv otiayStikv ;s MAT