Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

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Comments on preliminary survey Peoria to Spoon River.

Keokuk, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1886

B.F. Booker, Esq.,
Chief Engineer.

I herewith submit the following report on a Preliminary Survey of a railroad line from Peoria, Illinois to a point near the Spoon River where a junction was made with a preliminary line run by Mr. C. S. Carpenter.

The starting point of this survey is about two miles southwesterly from the T.P. & W. RR. bridge in Peoria, at a point where a yard could be established at probably a minimum expense. The neighborhood is practically covered with frame dwelling houses, worth perhaps five hundred dollars a piece, which could be easily moved off. From about Station 35 to Station 60 the line bears to the right in order to get high ground for a portion of the overhead crossing of the CB&Q and the Central Iowa RR. tracks. The line here is longer and has more curvature than a line nearly parallel with the TP&W RR at this point and the right of way will cost more.

On location it would be well to run both lines and compare cost.

From Station 61 to Station 510 at Mapleton the line is approximately one hundred feet to the right of the T. P. & W. RR. The work is light and the classification earth.

At Station 530 the line makes an overhead crossing of the T P & W RR and instead of following that line to the prairie at Classford continues along the Illinois River bottom to Utica in Banner Twp. of Fulton Co., and encounters only light earthwork. The located line should be a trifle to the left of the preliminary and would lie on even smoother ground than it does.

In the neighborhood of Station 900 the location should be about one thousand feet to the left of the preliminary. This would save several feet of distance as a considerable bend to the left is made here.

From Peoria to Mapleton several coal mines are in operation shipping all their product by the T. P. & W.

From Mapleton to Utica is good coal land without convenient railroad shipping facilities.

From Hollis to Utica is an old roadbed for a railroad practically graded. W. P. Parlin of Canton, Illinois is one of the parties controlling it, and says that if this or any other company will complete and operate it, the ownership of it can be acquired very easily. At Utica the preliminary line begins the ascent out of the Illinois River bottom, involves a considerable amount of curvature and loss of distance but is on the only ground that will fit an 8/10 grade. It reaches the prairie a little south of Monterey and runs thence nearly due west, getting the only possible under-crossing of the C B & Q RR. two miles south of Canton, but getting also a very heavy crossing of Duck Creek and Big Creek and reaching the prairie again near Civer Station on the T.P. & W. RR.

From Monterey another line keeping about a mile north of the present one would give lighter work and not much increase of length.

From Civer to Cuba the line shows the lightest kind of prairie work and should cross the narrow Gauge RR. and the T.P. & W. RR. tracks at Cuba either at grade or on an overhead crossing of pile trestle work.

From Canton the line continues close to the north of the T P & W for about two miles, then runs west on an east and west road with the lightest kind of work. The located line could be anywhere in the neighborhood of this road without much affecting the profile.

Near Smithfield begins the descent to Spoon River. The line involves some rough work mostly earth at the summit and some solid rock near the river.

A heavy embankment and trestlework will be required in getting to the river and the crossing though apparently high, is not more than six feet higher than necessary to keep above known high water. The descent continues to the second bottom land of Spoon River and thence with light prairie work continues to Station 2474+88 where a junction with Mr. Carpenter's line from the west was made.

The Pekin connection was run in an easterly direction from Station 390 on the Peoria line and involves a long heavy embankment across the Illinois River bottom to the present bridge of the P & P U RR. crossing the Illinois River at Pekin. This bridge consists of six fixed spans of Howe Truss about 155' each and one combination draw span about 300' long. The superstructure of the fixed spans is worth but little more than enough to take it down, though the masonry is in good condition.

Respectfully submitted
(Signed) Jno. A. Fulton
Locating Engineer

Volume 12 Splinters page 96 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

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