42 RAILROAD REPORT ROl TE EAST OF CASCADE RANGE. 



Appendix F. In constructing the latter profile, I have generally included the windings of the 

 trail in the estimate of distances between stations. This has been done, partly because it would 

 be impossible, in much of the region traversed, to speak with certainty of any of the country 

 not actually passed over ; and partly, because the winding necessary to obtain uniformly easy 

 grades, would generally render it impossible to materially diminish the travelled distances, 

 although the general direction of the line might be more direct. 



The first obstacle encountered after leaving Fort Beading, was the western chain of the Sierra 

 Nevada. As Lieutenant E. G-. Beckwith, 3d artillery, had surveyed in 1854, and reported 

 favorably upon the Pit river pass, or, as he terms it, the Upper Sacramento river pass, through 

 this chain, Lieutenant Williamson deemed it unnecessary to make any re-examination of it. He, 

 therefore, took the more direct route by Noble s Pass to the plateau east of the mountains. Our 

 profile of this pass does not differ very materially from that of Lieutenant Beckwith, who also 

 examined the route ; but our barometric observations show the altitude of the summit to be 186 

 feet greater, and the altitude of Fort Beading to be 157 feet less, than was stated in his report. 

 These discrepancies may be easily explained, aa Lieutenant Beckwith was unable to obtain any 

 correction for the abnormal oscillation of the barometric column, a correction which sometimes 

 exceeds these differences in amount. Noble s Pass is certainly very unfavorable for a railroad, 

 and I think that Lieutenant Williamson considered it impracticable, without a tunnel. The line 

 down Canoe creek valley to Pit river, would also involve some very expensive work and heavy 

 grades ; as will be seen by reference to the profile of our travelled route. In constructing the 

 profile of the proposed railroad line, I have, therefore, adopted the route surveyed by Lieutenant 

 Beckwith, from Fort Beading through the Pit river pass to the mouth of Canoe creek. Lieu 

 tenant Beckwith considers this route practicable, although it involves some very heavy work. 

 A detailed description of it will be found in his report, which is contained in Vol. 2 of this series. 



A short distance above the mouth of Canoe creek, the river passes through a canon, 4.5 miles 

 in length. The sides are so steep and so near the water, that Lieutenant Williamson was unable 

 to enter on foot, at its mouth. His description of it will be found in Chapter III, under the 

 date August 5. He considered it impracticable to construct a railroad through it, at any reason 

 able expense, on account of the vast amount of rock cutting and tunneling, which would be 

 required. The distance between Camps 19 and 20, which were situated near the water level at 

 the lower and upper ends of this canon, was, by the course of the stream^ 7.5 miles. The dif 

 ference in their elevation was 520 feet. Hence the descent of the stream, and consequently the 

 grade in the canon, must be at least 69 feet per mile. 



Although the pass which I examined through Stoneman s ridge, was unfavorable for a 

 railroad, it is considered preferable to the canon. By side location, the road could pass from 

 Camp 19 to the foot of the main ridge, a distance of 3.5 miles, with an ascending grade of 168 

 feet per mile. It would then follow up the ravine for 2.3 miles, with a grade of about 200 feet 

 per mile. A tunnel, half a mile in length, through trap rock would then be advisable; 

 although, by very heavy grades, and winding to increase distance, it might probably be avoided. 

 A descent of 89 feet would be required in the tunnel, which would pass 303 feet below the 

 summit of the ridge. From the eastern entrance, the road, by side location, could reach Camp 

 20, with descending grades of 200 feet per mile for 0.8 of a mile, and 63 feet per mile for 4.4 

 miles. 



The route examined between the two canons, traversed a slightly undulating plain, and no 



