Selections From The Splinters - Volume 12

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

Comments on Henry-Wyoming-Victoria line

Galesburg, Ill. Dec. 13, 1886

B. F. Booker. Esq.,
Keokuk, Iowa.


Dear Sir:

I today send you by express profile of my location - Abingdon to Maquon - as run over Mr. Carpenter's preliminary line also the profile of that line furnished me from your office.

I have recently sent you a map of the various lines run between Abingdon and Maquon as well as profiles of a portion of my Wyoming preliminary and of lines "P" and "Q" of the Abingdon and Maquon surveys.

In reporting on these various surveys I have but few points other than those already touched upon in the preliminary reports to which your attention need be called.

The Henry - Wyoming - Victoria, etc. line so far as it was run by me proved to be a comparatively heavy one. The profile showing a broken country which cannot be much improved on a final location. The country is similar to that traversed by other lines. The high prairie being occupied by productive farms valued at from $60.00 to $75.00 per A. and the breaks of such streams as Spoon River, Indian and Walnut Creeks being pasture and second growth timber valued at from $20.00 to $35.00.

There appears to be no gravel or stone available for construction purposes but coal of varying quality underlies all the territory between Wyoming and Victoria.

The upper vein has an average depth of 60 feet. At Wyoming, coal has been mined to a considerable extent but the product is not of superior quality.

I was informed, however, that between West Jersey and Victoria, there was a bed of coal that could not be excelled in the State. It is 4 feet thick, about 80 feet deep and of such purity that it is hauled to such places as Galva, Toulen and Wyoming for smithing purposes.

I have sent you profiles showing a low as well as a high crossing of Spoon River. The low crossing can be easily connected with the line as it stands at present, if it should be thought to have any special advantage.

I have no doubt that the citizens of Wyoming would do all in their power to aid the road if it should go through the town.

With reference to the Abingdon - Maquon line I have already sent you a comparative statement showing distance saved over the various routes.

A location over the Brush Creek preliminary could undoubtedly prove to be the cheapest to construct. It would also offer a possible chance to get an undergrade crossing of the C B & Q, Peoria Branch, which cannot be obtained on the other line.

As usual we saw many indications of coal along this route. The vein nearest the surface and which crops out in the bluffs of the larger water courses is 20" to 22" thick and not extra good coal. This vein lies about 80 feet below the general level of the prairies. The second vein is 80 ft. deeper. This is the vein mined at Farmington, Canton, etc. and averages 5 ft. thick of excellent coal. Borings at Canton show 5 veins in 300 feet, the 4^th vein from the surface being 8 ft. thick. While no borings have been made in the neighborhood of Maquon, it is the general impression that the formation is the same as that of the coal districts from which Peoria draws its supply.

Along Brush Creek there are some outcrops of sandstone, but the stripping is so heavy that but a very limited amount of it could be obtained for construction purposes. Our lines have been run with care and with the intention of having them about right, still the side hills are so steep that there are doubtless some places where another party could "make wages" shifting some of the line a few feet up or down.

Yours very respectfully,
(Signed) Horace Ropes
Loc. Engr.

Volume 12 Splinters page 116 transcribed in altered form for the web by Matt Lee.

Previous page, Next page

The Splinters - Volume 7 | The Splinters - Volume 12 | The Splinters - Volume 14 | The Splinters - Volume 19 | The Splinters - Volume 23