Plainfield, Ill. Aug. 2, 1886
B. F. Booker, Esq.,
Engineer in Charge of Surveys -
Chicago to Kansas City.
Dear Sir:
In accordance with instructions received from you while at Henry, I made a personal
examination of Mr. Randall's survey up Clear Creek on the line from Henry to Ottawa and I now
report to you the results of this examination.
The line which was run by Mr. Randall was evidently a very hurried preliminary and is
capable of considerable improvement. Had Mr. Randall located on this line, he would certainly
have avoided the repeated crossings of the creek and adopted the quite possible plan of keeping
the line back from the creek where it would be safe from the effects of high water and avoid the
sharp bends and loops of the creek channel.
The Clear Creek bottom is very similar to that of Sandy Creek which you have seen. It being a
bottom averaging a half mile in width, bordered to the north and south by steep earth bluffs 60 to
80 feet high and the main creek being fed by a number of large branches.
The slopes are so steep that flood water gathers with great rapidity and sudden and heavy
floods are a sure consequence. In my opinion the bridge openings and the ditches for change of
channel are small, but with the changes I suggest in the following notes I believe that the
preliminary estimate obtained from this profile will be abundantly large to cover the cost of a line
as finally located.
On the profile (copy) I have, there seems to be a chance to save considerable work at the
Illinois River by an alteration in the grades.
A heavy cut (should it not be possible to find a ravine to follow) on the west side, will allow
of lowering the bridge 15 or 20 feet and taking a corresponding amount from the long stretch of
iron viaduct, across the lake on the east side besides saving in masonry and reducing the long
embankment (Station 120 to 150) more than one half.
For the purposes of estimating distance and cost via Clear Creek - Station 0 to Station 505 of
my line from Henry to Streator should be used. The Station 505 = Station 0 of Mr. Randall's Line.
Right of Way Randall's Line
Sta. 0 to 30 worth $500 per A.
" 30 " 90 " 200 " "
" 120 " 170 " 10 " "
" 170 " 250 " 50 " "
" 250 " 420 " 70 " "
" 420 " 470 " 30 " " and estimate G and Clearing
" 470 " Illinois River at Ottawa - Land will average 75.00 per A.
Mr. L. B. Jackson informed that in the construction of the Aurora, Joliet and Northern RR. they
paid at the rate of from $125.00 to $250.00 per A. for the right of way across the farms of this
section, which are no better than those crossed by our line.
He says that he has found it a safe rule to take the current or neighborhood price and double it
when estimating per right of way.
Material-
On the west gravel would probably be found coming close to the surface while in the deep cuts
up Clear Creek the material would be earth of a clay nature.
Bridges-
Station 273 - 100 ft. Howe Truss with 45' pile approaches on each end.
" 350 - 90 " " "
" 367 - 90 " " "
" 378 - 90 " " "
" 387 - 90 " " "
" 397 - 90 " " "
" 449 - 80 " " "
I simply send you these notes as I presume they will be enough and reserve my copy of Mr.
Randall's profile on which they are also noted for future reference.
I am Sir
Yours most respectfully
(Signed) Horace Ropes
Volume 12 Splinters page 73 & 74 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.
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