The Butte inter mountain., 1902-04-30
ENGINEERS SUBMIT REPORT TO
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. :
FOUNDRY GULCH is FAVORED
Would Entail Great Expense to Make
the Change - Distance Would Be
Shortened Less Than Two Miles
Matter Up Today.
Especial to Inter Mountain.)


the borad of county commissioners. held,
yesterday afternoon, County Surveyor
Pinnegar and City I1ns,nccr MGcDen-
aid submitted their report of invest!-
cations made relative to change OF the
Mill Creek road to run through either
Sheep Guch or Foundry Gulch.
The board failed to take any decided
action in the matter until today in order
that some OF the petitioners might be
present to advance their side of the
case and explain further reason why
the road should be changed.
Messrs. Pnnegar and Macdonald
thought that If either of the routes Is
chosen. the one through Foundry Guch
is the more preferable. But they sug-
gested a roadway through that noun
tain pass would not be practicable mas
much as IL would entail an expenditure of
about $4,000, and according to their fig
ures would shorten the distance OF the
present road around the Washoe smelters
only about 1h miles.
Report to the Board.
The report submitted to the board
contains the following statements:
THE route up Sheep gulch wa the
first one examined, and we find 1t to be
very steep grade, the ground rising
some 1,500 feet in elevation in distance
of about four miles, the greater part
of said elevation being the last half OF
the distance. The topography of the
country Is such that but little chance
Is given for the development of ditance.
the route lying wholly within n steep
narrow canyon, whose slopes are com
posed of slide rock. broken shale and
earth, and that quite a number OF
hrtdpas would ba necessary. In our
opinion this route has nothing to recomE
mend as n practicable route for y
public highway. Z
Found in Gulch Route. z
"The next and other only route that was
| examined which might prove piactica-
| BILE was the one leading UP Foundry
| gulch, to the summit, then supporting
along the side hill to American bar, and
in a southwesterly direction to a connec-
| tion with the present road at a point
! about three-quarters of mile beyond
| American bar. The shortest distance
| from the city of Anacodan to the sum
| nit would be about three and 81 half
| miles, and the difference in elevation
! about 800 feet. The distance would be
| likely to be increased upon survey being
| made, in order to develop a practical
| grade, as the grades met with on the
route now Travelled, would permit Of no
| heavy loads being hauled southwark
| some of the grades on the present trail
| are as heavy as 20 feet in 100-about
double the highest grade considered
| practicable.
Most Direct.
"The route from the summit southwark
| lies over much better country, for theh
| greater part of the way, and with the
1 n IL 81
struction would be of earth, no blasting
of any Importance being necessary. The
route from the summit southwark would
be comparatively direct making connec-
tion the present road at a point about
three-quarters of a mile southwesterly
| from the old American bar placer dig
gings. =
| THE distance from the summit to
| the point of connection would be about
| four and a quarter miles, and the differ
| ence in the elevation about $50 feet.
| Summarizing the distances and eleva-
| tions given above we find that we have
seven and three-quarter miles of road
| to build, with total rise and fall of
| 1.150 feet. In comparing the proposed
| route with the one already established,
| we find that the old road has a distance
| of nine and quarter miles from a COM
mon point at East Anaconda to the
point of connection, and a total rise OF
| $50 feet.
Saving in Distance.
Therefore we have for the new route
| saving In distance of one and half
| miles, as against an increase in rise and
| fall of 700 feet.
| also, there should be considered the
| difference in time taken to travel each
| of the routes, and the comparative loads
| that could be hauled over each of them.
The grades of the old route do not
exceed four and one-half feet in 100,
| with few exceptions; while the maxi
| mum grade that could be used upon the
| new road would be about II feet In l00
| and 1t would be necessary TO use the
maximum grade for portion of the
| way, going from Anaconda to the sum-
| nit.
| while the Foundry gulch route might
| be developed into a passabe road upon
making proper survey to determine the
route exactly and the proper grades to
be used upon the different portions of
the same), yet we hesitate to recommend
| 1t as such; therefore, having stated the
| conditions as we have found them. we
| desire to submit to your honorable
body the foregoing report for your fur
| ther consideration and action"
HATCHET FALLS AT STATION