Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

This is not a history. | The Splinters - Volume 12 | The Splinters - Volume 14 The Splinters - Volume 23

Sends him a distance table from Chicago to Pekin over his existing road.

August 1886
Mr. B. F. Booker,

Sir:

The preliminary survey from Keokuk to Peoria was run by me from a point in Sec. 32, Rock Creek Twp. at Station 536+34 of the main preliminary line run by me last spring from Keokuk to Senachwine Creek near the Illinois River. From this point the line runs due east through Ferris and to a point ½ mile east of Ferris where it turns south to cross the head of Short Creek in Sec. 6 of Carthage Twp.

From this point the line follows nearly parallel with Short Creek, making the descent to Crooked Creek by a short maximum grade, and crossing Rock Creek when the Crooked Creek bottom is reached. The crossing of Crooked Creek bottom is not heavy, the grade line being only high enough to secure safety from high water.

From Crooked Creek to the prairie the line runs up a short ravine called Munn Hollow, which affords a very direct route for the ascent with little curvature, but with two heavy embankments. After making this ascent the line runs in an almost easterly direction, bearing slightly north with a very smooth profile and good alignment for about fourteen miles where Spring Creek is reached, where it will be about three miles of crooked line, but not very heavy work, to make the descent and ascent across this ravine.

The ravine of Spring Creek is about 50 ft. below the general level of the prairie and a crossing could be had about 1/4 of a mile south of the present crossing where the line could be run to the creek on a level and high crossing made, avoiding the ascent if it should be deemed advisable. This would call for a trestle 50 ft. high and 900 ft. from grade to grade. The bottom will be at its greatest depth for a distance of 400 feet. To run this line in this way would require some light curvature, but very light work till the crossing is reached.

After making the crossing of Spring Creek the line keeps an almost east direction through Macomb Township, with generally light work until the east branch of Crooked Creek is reached at the line between Macomb and Mound Township. This creek is crossed on a straight line, there being no chance to support a grade line down to the crossing. The work for about one mile is somewhat heavy but not excessive, being a long embankment across the bottoms.

At this place the general level of the country is much lower than it is further west, leaving a comparatively small descent to make to the creek. One mile east of Crooked Creek, Drowning Fork is crossed with the same kind of work, but much lighter.

One half mile east of Drowning Fork the CB&Q RR is crossed and one mile east of that, the CB&Q and TP&W RRs. are crossed together. After crossing the TP&W RR the western branch of Shaw's Run is reached and the descent to Spoon River is begun. This branch is about 9 miles long and affords a long and easy descent to Spoon River. The bottom is soon reached with the maximum grade of 0.8 per cent, and after that the grade is very light. After reaching the bottom the work is light, but the line is crooked. The course of the creek being very crooked, makes numerous crossings and charges of channel necessary. The work will be light, the grade line being laid only high enough to secure safety from high water.

At a point about 1-1/2 miles west of Spoon River, Mr. Fulton' s survey is met and connected with. The profile on this line is generally quite light but may safely be taken as sufficient for an estimate as it can be considerably reduced by location and in no place will a location make any heavier work than that shown on the preliminary profile.

I would recommend the following changes on this line in case a location were made. At station 223+30 a deflection of 34 R. is made to turn south of Short Creek. This makes a long swing in the line and causes a loss of distance. Instead of making this angle the tangent should be produced straight east until Short Creek is reached and the descent made on the north side of the Creek instead of on the south side. This descent should be commenced soon enough to make the descent before Rock Creek is reached, coming in from the north. After making the descent the present line should be connected with at some suitable point before Crooked Creek is crossed. This change will save considerable distance and about 120 of curvature and give a lighter profile in the descent of Short Creek.

After crossing the CB&Q and TP&W RRs at Station 2154 the descent of Shaw's Run should be begun at once, the object being to avoid some high crossings of various ravines on this descent. Beginning the descent at once will throw the line on a smooth hillside and make the crossings all light as the grade line will be low enough to reduce the height at least 20 feet.

The proposed change of the crossing of Spring Creek would repay investigation. It would save a large amount of curvature and some distance and the extra cost of this high crossing would not probably exceed the cost of the work required on the present line.

This line throughout runs through a good farming country although not nearly as good as that traversed by the line north of it running through La Harpe and Swan Creek to Henry. The country is generally rich and well cultivated, but quite a large number of the farms are in poor condition with small buildings and poor improvements. No towns of any size are touched by the line, the principal points being Blandinsville, Good Hope and Bushnell on the north and Macomb on the south. A large local trade would be built up by the road. The general sentiment of the people is favorable and as on the northern route, they are bitterly hostile to the existing roads and would transfer trade to a new road at the same rates.

In the neighborhood of Spring Creek and in Shaw's Run are large deposits of excellent coal which is at present only worked on a small scale on account of lack of transportation. With railroad facilities, a large number of coal mines would be opened and a good business be built up. Sandstone of good quality is found in these creeks and quarries could be opened sufficient for railroad construction in these places. I have not noticed any place where any good gravel could be found sufficient for ballast, but did not make a very close search for it.

Respectfully
(Signed) C. S. Carpenter 232.92 Miles

Volume 12 Splinters page 79 through 81 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

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