Atlanta, Macon County, Missouri.
June 8th, 1886
B. F. Booker, Esq.
Dear Sir:
I beg leave to report concerning preliminary surveys under my direction from Keokuk, Iowa, southwest as follows:-
Beginning at the crossing of the St.L.K.& N.W. track 1-1/2 miles north of Alexandria - (Station 240) a tangent can be laid to Station 509 then curve to left to miss bend in Sugar Creek, laying tangent from curve to strike Hazelett Branch where it leaves the hills and crosses the highway near the residence of Mr. Dawson. A line should be run up Hazlett branch for say 1/2 mile thence taking side draw to left making up same to divide between Hazlett Branch and Honey Creek, thence down a draw leading in favorable direction to Honey Creek, cross same to south side on which support line over into Kennedy branch connecting with preliminary line about Station 917 if present summit between Honey Creek and Wyanconda River (Station 943) is decided to be the best place to cross this divide. Should this line be impracticable then try one beginning on Hazlett Branch, near Highway above referred to, deflecting to left and passing in rear of Mr. Willett's house and supporting on maximum grade on north side of Honey Creek.
This enables us to begin ascending Honey Creek on our maximum grade much sooner than on the present line and it is thought that by the time the bayou of Honey Creek (Station 726) is reached the line will be on the side hill and to right of the Bayou or High Water Channel. This line, shown dotted on map, would avoid much of, if not wholly the limestone along Honey Creek which does not show at an elevation higher than 25 feet above the stream. There is plenty of good limestone here for bridge and culvert purposes and can be quarried without any great expense. Ledges vary in thickness from 4" to 15". I will mention here that nowhere on the route of the survey is solid rock apparent except at crossings of some of the main rivers and then it is invariably below the grade line.
Stone for Bridge abutments is convenient at the crossings of North Fabius and also at crossing of the Middle Fabius Rivers. At South Fabius crossing no rock fit for bridge abutments is visible. Bed of stream however, is of solid rock. I am informed that good building rock can be secured from quarries below the Highway crossing (Bishop's Bridge) of this stream. Samples of this rock can be seen at residence of S. K. Fowlers. It is not first quality rock and I think probably it is not the best that can be had from the quarries in question. The proposed line up Hazlett Branch and thence into Honey Creek is shown approximately by dotted line on Map. In seeking for a low pass in divide between Honey Creek drainage and the Wyanconda River, I was unable to find one where the ground ascended rapidly to the east affording a short but necessarily a deep cut. There is a ravine heading near the residence of Mr. Hullback and draining into the Wyanconda River near what is locally known as the "Clay Bluff". A line should be tried down this ravine and I would suggest with a cut at summit of not less than 35 ft.
I would also suggest that line be ran as direct as possible with little curvature so that crossing of Wyanconda River can be made without an extremely heavy embankment, such as I have on the present preliminary.
On this line 16 feet of fall was lost by curvature with but a slight gain in distance. If thought desirable, after crossing the Wyanconda River, a line might be tried by deflecting to left and up a ravine leading by the residence of Mr. Walter White.
A Railroad survey was made several years ago up this ravine but I have no data relating to it. The distance between Wyanconda crossing and Summit S.E. from Williamstown (Station 1430) might be shortened, but heavier work on Sugar Creek and tributaries would be encountered. The location should after crossing the Wyanconda follow the preliminary pretty closely, taking "A" line and summit cut on "A" line at Station 1300.
From Station 1150 to 1173, line can be supported nearer to grade if no angles to right are made. By laying tangent to left from 1230 to 1245 on lower ground, work can be reduced between those points. Returning to line at Kennedy's Branch will remark that with the exception of crossing of Honey Creek Branch (Station 886) and side ravines (909 and 928) line can be supported to grade. From summit "A" on line (1300) make less deflection to right and cross Sugar Creek (1360) 1/4 mile to left. This would give better direction for line between 1300 "A" line and summit S.E. of Williamstown (1430) and improve the work between Stations 1335 and 1360.
It is a question whether in the descent to the north Fabius river it is best to locate on Main preliminary or on the "B" line which was run in my absence by Mr. Sankel and which I have not had opportunity to look over, crossing of North Fabius should be where present line crosses but as the located line will come from a more easterly direction, the work from 1570 to 1580 will be reduced by line being farther to left and a better angle with stream will be made.
I have examined this stream for a crossing 1/2 mile above and 1 mile below the present site and found no point as good. On "B" line except at crossings of ravines, line can be held to grade. From Crossing of the North Fabius the location should follow main preliminary pretty closely to Station 1660, thence deflect to left, cross Downing branch and follow "D" line closely to the Leavingood Summit (Station 1732).
Work can be reduced at Station 1713 by extending tangent (1722-20-1742) over Leavingood Summit farther to the north before curving to the east. A slight improvement in work in summit cut can be effected by laying tangent across same to follow more closely the bottom of ravine on south side of summit (1735 to 1745). The location should follow ravine (1745) some distance thence curving to right and from 600 to 800 ft. left of Station 1852 reducing cut at that point to an extreme depth of 10 or 12 feet.
I am unable to suggest any way of reducing the work at crossing of Middle Fabius River unless it be by lowering grade at Leavingood summit and taking heavier work there. By swinging line 600' Rt. (1860 to 1880) the cut at Station 1868 can be reduced to 15 ft. extreme depth.
Ravines at 1873 and 1879 make embankments for cuts at Stations 1868 and 1885. Length of cut (1880-1890) can be reduced by locating line over divide near house on north side of highway 500' Rt. of line, and summit possibly lowered. By making intersection of tangents 400 ft. left of Station 1966 summit at this point can be lowered 4 feet and by taking some curvature about Station 1950 line can be better supported to grade from Stations 1930 to 1945. At Station 1965-90 make less angle to left and run up West Fork of Ravine (Station 2110) crossing Q.M.& P. track at head of this fork west of Andersons house. This will make the best undergrade crossing in this vicinity.
From this point the location should follow approximately the dotted line shown on Map to the crossing of Troublesome Creek. From 2320 to 2370 line should be to right on lower ground reducing excavation materially between these stations. Beginning between the house and barn of J.M. Smith, where I think the summit can be lowered a trifle and a little better direction had; a line should be run N.E. on left hand side of draw passing north of W. Cottey's house, crossing Troublesome Creek 1000 ft. farther up stream and connecting with dotted line shown on map about Station 2280.
At Station 2430 a line should be tried in southerly direction down this draw thence swinging to
right in westerly direction, supporting on ground if it can be found, thence, S.W. back on to
preliminary line making same crossing of South Fabius River (Station 2512) shown by dotted line
on map.
One and one fourth miles S.E. from Station 2560 is a ravine heading between the house and barn of J. Mitchell and leading N.E. to south Fabius River to what is known as the Blanchard Ford. The ford can be readily found as it is at the first Clay Bluff and limestone bottom in Creek 1/2 mile up stream from the Bishop Bridge. I should have run the line up this ravine, but the party had in my absence progressed far beyond so that I decided to try what appeared to me then as favorable as the route just spoken of. If line is practicable up the draw or ravine from Blanchard Ford distance may be saved but heavier work will be met with at crossing of Long Branch (2591).
No improvement of importance can be made in the work or alignment from Station 2561 to crossing of Little Fabius River (2812) except as shown by dotted line on map. This change will better the alignment but does not affect the work. From Station 2735 to 2770 can get higher ground to right and support to grade except at Ravine crossings. Dotted profile may be had from Stations 2780 to 2790 by keeping 200 to 300 ft. to the left, but fill at Station 2774 will be slightly increased. I would suggest that the location be made on the main preliminary across North River and through the village of Novelty improving alignment about Station 2920. In getting down to Salt River (3174) from Station 3100 the same difficulties present themselves as at the crossings of the Wyanconda, Middle and South Fabius rivers, viz. A rapid fall with but short distance and light grade to overcome them with. Other lines should be tried here or the location made with a heavier cutting at summit and about on present preliminary.
By locating 200 to 250 feet left from Station 3215 "F" Line to 3234 Main Line dotted profile
may be had. By throwing out angle at Station 3235 and reducing angle at 3230-505 work at Station
3250 can be reduced. From 3330 to 3340 much cutting will be avoided if line is 200 feet right.
From Station 3230 to 3736-30 no improvement in line or work can be suggested other than what
has already been mentioned and the location should follow preliminary quite closely. From
Station 3736-30 = 3739-25.7 "G" Line location should be made on "G" line to Station 3831 which
point is 600 feet east from crossing of W. St.L P RR. No changes are advised on this line ("G")
unless it be that a slight curve to left be made about Station 3780 in order to throw line out of
cutting at 3810-3820 or what would be still better lay south end of tangent (3757-80-3831) 300
feet or so to east and north end of tangent to west but allowing line to cross ridge at Station 3781 in
same place as at present.
Very respectfully
Volume 12 pages 50 - 53 Splinters transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.
ATSFRY.com |
Junction Records |
Plans & Plats |
Oral history |
Train Orders |
Photo |
Clicbooks |
Available |
The |
Meades |