Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1888-12-28
,ity limits (grade crossing) and soon
descending a little stream


called the Town fork of the south
fork OF North River. After making
a progress of three miles this stream
becomes winding and tortuous, with
rocky bed and prominent rocky
bluffs jutting out in such manner
that they could not be entirely avoid
ed with reasonable alignment. Two
miles further along we crossed the
south fork of North River and at
once commenced ascending to the
divide" between Black Creek and
North River, making use OF tie
O'Brien branch. Ascending l5S
feet we reached the divide, and fol-
lowed it in u northwestern direction
for eight miles, at which point we
descended into the valley of Black
Creek, but did not cross the stream,
passing along in the valley on the
north side of the stream ono mile,
then assembled the divide and to
Shelbyville, the County seat of Shell
by county. Population one thousand.
The country through which the
survey passes between Monroe City
and Shelbyville. is generally in a
high state of Improvement, substant-
ial homes and roomy barns give evil
dence of thrlftiness and moderate
returns from industry-about COY
per cent being in Gu ltivation-twen-
ty (2W per cent being used as wood
pasturage, the remaining ten per
cent being in primitive state. The
map will show that about 2l3 square
miles of territory would be directly
tributary to this route.
Passing through the eastern part
OF Shelbyvllle, we took up nearly 6
due Northwest course upon beau
tiful divide, which we followed fol
Is miles, obtaining here a tangent
or straight line Is miles in length
passing two miles southwest of the
village of Novelty, we pass through
the village of Locust Hill, Kno,
County, and at once commence de.
scending to the valley of Salt River
crossing the stream and valley, VIZ
enter and follow up the valley o
Surratt Greek, passing under tht
Chicago, Santa Fe & California
Railroad one half mile north east o1
the village of Gibbs-soon reachi ne
the divide between the Salt ant
Charlton rivers, which we follow tc
Kirksville.
By referring to the map you vii
observe that we made an additiona
survey-diverging from the line de
scribed near the valley Of Salt River
crossing the ridge into the valley o.
Bear Creek, which we follow to lis
source at Kirksyille. You will alsC
observe another line which diyerges
from the line first described, five
miles east of Kirksville and paral-
lels the Quincy, Omaha &c Kansas
City Railroad to Kirksville.
The county which tho survey
passes between Shelbyville and
Kirksville is in an advance stage o.
improvement, there being actually
90 per cent OF it in cultivation, the
remaining S per cent being used fol
pasturage purposes, splendid resi-
dences, comfortable barns and large
herds of stock, evidence that the
farmers are industrious and prosper.
GUS, therefore happy. The alignment
is first class-being 81 per cent
tangent; 423 square miles of terri
tory would be directly tributary tc
this route.
Passing through the western part
of Kirksville, with the line first de-
scribed, and the northern part with
No. 2. we take north western
course. keeping upon the divide
between Charlton river and Salt river
for about four miles, at which point
we commence descending to the
Charlton river valley, making use OF
Hazel Creek for about one mile, then
cutting through narrow ridge into
Mulberry Creek which we follow to
the notwithstanding 220 feet
which brings us to the crossing of
the Charlton River, about one mile
northeast of the village of Nineveh,
crossing the valley diagonally in a
northwestern direction entering the
valley of Black Bird Creek, we fol
low it up, keeping On the South side
of the stream until we reach, and
pass the Junction of North and
South Black Bird Creeks, then fol