AR, SS 10/1/1862 Sur

Annual Report of the South Side RR
as of October 1, 1862,
Survey
  
H. D. Bird, Esq.
Gen'l Sup't of the South-side R. R. Co.
 
Sir,
   In conformity with your request, I proceeded on the 16th of April last, to make a survey for a Railroad from the town of Farmville to Rice's Station, and submit the accompanying map and following remarks:
   The survey to avoid the High Bridge on the South-side Railroad, commences at the water station in the town of Farmville, and continues for two miles nearly on a level, along the slopes of the rising ground near the Appomattox river, and ascends to the division between the Appomattox and Bush rivers, (not far from Venable's Mill,) thence it descends to Bush river, through the plantation of Dr. Carrington, which stream it crosses at a right angle, and ascends again to the summit of a ridge dividing Bush and Sandy rivers, a short distance to the south of Mrs. Chamber's house, where it again descends, and crosses Sandy river on the lands of Mrs. Ligon, and then ascends at a rise of 50 feet per mile through her lands and those of Mr. Edward Clarke, and Mr. Bradshaw, to the switch on the Southside Railroad north of Rice's Station.
   The distance, by the survey, is 6 miles and 1500 feet, while the distance in a direct line is 5 miles and 4300 feet, showing a difference between the survey and a direct line of only 2800 feet, and I have no hesitation in saying that a shorter connection cannot be obtained for the interest of the Company.
   It is evident that less embankment is required by crossing the water course as high up as possible than by crossing them at a lower point. To cross Bush river below its junction with Sandy, would require a very lengthy and high embankment, hauled a great distance; and to connect the opposite rising grounds by this line the embankment would be 80 feet in height while the distance would be less, and only three-fourths of a mile between that and the course now surveyed. According to survey, the embankments across the low lands of Bush and Sandy rivers would be of much less height, and the point for the material nearer. By widening the cut at the ridge it would yield the embankment for crossing the bottoms bordering the river, which is almost the only borrowed material required. High embankments, when as in this case of decomposed rock, are a serious objection, being so liable to disturbance from rains.
Respectfully submitted,
John Couty
Engineer

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