B. F. Booker, Esq.
August, 1886
Dear Sir:
I have already sent to you profiles of the preliminary survey made by me from Keokuk to the
crossing of Spoon River north of Maquon, Knox County, Illinois, and of a location from that point
to a point in Section 6, Steuben Township, Peoria County, east of the crossing of Senachwine
Creek. This location is connected with the preliminary survey, making a continuous line from
Keokuk to this point in Section 6 - Steuben Township.
From Keokuk the line crosses the railroad bridge, runs through the lower part of Hamilton, Ill.
and begins an ascending grade along the slope east of the Mississippi River for about one and one
half miles, where it crosses a spur which separates Cheney Creek from the Mississippi River and
begins the ascent of Cheney Creek by a grade of 0.80' per cent, crossing the creek to the west side
at Station 164, Station 0 being at the west end of the railroad bridge between Hamilton and
Keokuk. After crossing Cheney Creek the ascent is begun again and made with the same rate of
grade up the north branch of Cheney Creek to Station 330 where the summit is reached. A part of
this line I understand has been changed from Hamilton to Station 164 and a new crossing of the
Creek made. The work from Hamilton to Station 330 is generally light hillside work, except from
Station 100 to 175, where there will be some heavy work, rock cuts and embankments.
From the summit at Station 330 to 1060 the line is on the prairie, making a very smooth profile
and light work, except at Station 873 crossing Rock Creek and 974 crossing Deer Creek until
Station 1060 is reached, when the descent to Pilot Grove and Crooked Creeks begins and three
miles of heavy work will be had with a crooked line. This part of the Preliminary line I considered
almost impracticable at that time and I understand has since been changed as it will not admit of a
good location. This crossing of three creeks is about one and one half miles west of La Crosse
Station on the TP&W RR. From La Crosse to La Harpe the line shows a rough profile for prairie
work, crossing a large number of ravines and drains, the best ground being already occupied by the
TP&W RR. To improve this the line should be laid alongside the TP& W RR the whole distance
about 4-1/2 miles and would then cross these ravines where they are smaller and narrower and a
number of them would be avoided altogether.
From La Harpe at Station 1500 to Station 2200 at the head of Swan Creek the line is on the
prairie with very smooth profile and good alignment. After reaching Swan Creek and descending it
for about one mile the "C" line should be used, being shorter than the main line, with lighter work
and more nearly level grade. The line from La Harpe to the end of the "C" line is direct with little
curvature and light work and a location can be made considerably lessening the work shown by the
preliminary profile. This light work continues until the descent into Little Nigger Creek is begun
when there are eight miles of hillside work which will be heavier than that on the prairie and with
crooked line, but the general direction is good and the work not excessively heavy. The profile on
all this eight miles can be much improved and the line straightened by a location.
At present the profile shows much unnecessary heavy work. This eight miles of crooked line
makes the descent of Little Nigger Creek, the crossing of Big Nigger Creek and the ascent from Big
Nigger Creek to the prairie at Station 2900. From Station 2910 to 2960 the line is on smooth
ground when the descent to Cedar Creek is commenced at 2960, crossing Cedar Creek at Station
3170 and making the ascent to the prairie south of Abingdon at Station 3355. This part of the line
has generally a considerable amount of curvature but no excessively heavy work and lies in a good
general direction. The grade line from Station 3270 to 3355 is laid for location and a smooth light
profile can be located with almost no curvature between Stations 3270 and 3350.
After making the ascent from Cedar Creek to Station 3350 a rolling prairie is reached, cut up
by a number of deep ravines running across the direction of the line. The principal of these is the
ravine crossed at Station 3450 known as the Hermon Slough. This ravine runs down near the town
of Hermon in Section 19, Chestnut Township, Knox County, and empties into Brush Creek in
Section 9 of the same township and must be crossed to keep in the best direction.
These cross ravines make a rough profile with undulating grade although the work is not
excessively heavy. At station 3507 an undergrade crossing of the Central Iowa RR is made of
which the "D" line is taken up. At Station "D" 90 the descent into Brush Creek is commenced. A
crossing of Brush Creek is made at Station 120 at an extreme height of 48 feet above the bottoms.
This is the heaviest crossing on this survey and will be 1700 feet long on the grade line. From
Station "D" 110 to 170 the work will be heavy, the line crossing a large number of deep ravines
and having heavy cuts and a large amount of curvature. From the Junction of the "D" and main
lines, for about three quarters of a mile the main line is used and there the "E" line is taken up. All
of this work on the "E" line is quite heavy, being hillside work, with a number of crossings of
small ravines and some rock work.
After connecting with the main line at Station 3837 the line crosses Hau Creek with a bridge
37 feet above low water and makes the ascent to the prairie up Hau Creek. This is the same
character of work as that just described, hill side work with heavy embankments over cross
ravines and a large amount of curvature. At Station 3958 the summit is reached, being the divide
between Hau Creek and Spoon River.
From Station 3958 to 4015 the line is straight with the lightest description of prairie work.
From the crossing of the Central Iowa RR at Station 3507 to 4015 I would recommend running a
line in an easterly direction, south of the present line, to cross Brush Creek further down stream,
then following Brush Creek to its junction with the Hau Creek in Section l, Chestnut Township,
thence up a ravine to the prairie, connecting with the present line about Station 4015, the object
being to get a lighter crossing of Brush Creek. This line I expected to run before carrying the
location through, and believe it to be well worth investigating.
At Station 4015 the descent to Spoon River is begun down a branch of Red Chalk Creek and
then down Red Chalk Creek to the Spoon River. This is of the same general character as the ascent
of Hau Creek. The work is heavy with considerable curvature and the crossing of the bottoms in
Red Chalk Creek before reaching Spoon River is on an embankment 1200 feet long and 23 feet
greatest height, and a cut 31 feet deep and 600 feet between grace points through a spur dividing
Red Chalk Creek from Spoon River. From this point Station 4143 to 4200, the line is in the Spoon
River bottoms with light work and little curvature.
Spoon River is crossed at Station 4207 of the Preliminary line. The location from Senachwine
Creek covers the crossing. It is a favorable crossing of this stream, the grade line being laid only
high enough to secure safety from high water.
After making the ascent from Spoon River up Miller's Slough the line runs on smooth ground
with ling tangents and light curves to the end of the survey at Senachwine Creek. The only heavy
work is met at Princeville for about one mile and some rather heavy work at Lawn Ridge crossing
the high divide west of the Illinois River. With this exception the line is all on smooth ground with
very little curvature.
This line runs for the whole distance through a rich farming country, one of the richest parts of
the State. The farms are in a high state of cultivation with fine houses and outbuildings well kept up.
The soil is rich, producing heavy crops and all who own the farms are in good circumstances.
A large amount of fine stock is raised. The road if built on this line would have a large local trade
and would be used by all who could reach it, as they are very hostile to the roads at present in
operation and would readily transfer their trade to a new road on account of extortionate charges
by the existing roads.
At the same time, all with scarcely any exception whose farms are run through by this line are
much opposed to it and some trouble will be experienced in securing right of way. At a few places
as Lawn Ridge and Princeville, right of way and depot grounds may be secured for nothing, but
generally it will cost the full value of the land, with as much more as the owners may be able to collect.
Land is valued on this route at from $60.00 to $75.00 per acre for the best farming land and
from $25.00 to $35.00 for brush and timber land. Good timber for ties is to be found at Crooked
Creek, but none of much account at any other point. There are deposits of coal in Hau Creek. They
are very little worked, the veins being small, about 30 inches thick. At the crossing of Senachwine
Creek a large amount of very fine building rock can be obtained. It extends from the line down
stream for more than a quarter of a mile and is from 6" to 18" thick, of the finest quality and is
easily obtained. Sufficient first class rock could be had at this place to build all the masonry
required on this survey. A fair quality of stone can be had at Spoon River also. On the line east of
Spoon River running up Miller Slough are fine beds of excellent gravel which would supply a
large amount of ballast. There are other deposits of gravel near the crossing of Hau Creek, but not
of a good quality.
I have already sent in profiles of this line which you now have, and which have some notes and
memoranda of points to be used on location. One of these places is on the descent of Little Nigger
Creek from Station 2560 to 2610. Another is from Station 3270 to 3355 where a very light profile
can be had. In running the preliminary line for purposes of location, I did not take the time to re-run
these places to make a lighter profile , considering that this profile would serve the purpose, to
locate by, although it does not show what be after location was made. I had not expected to
estimate on the preliminary line or these points would have been run over again to show what the
line would be. As a general thing, the profile can be lightened and work reduced by a location.
Respectfully submitted
(Signed) C. S. Carpenter
Locating Engineer
Volume 12 Splinters page 75 through page 78 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.
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