REPORT AND ESTIMATE. 341 
the Bitter Root is crossed. The line follows the west side of the Bitter Root over a broad and 
extensive prairie, partially wooded, when it recrosses the Bitter Root; and continuing on its 
east side for thirty-one miles, crosses it for the third time just above the mouth of the St. Regis 
de Borgia. In the above distance of sixteen miles before making the first crossing of the Bitter 
Root, the work of excavation and embankment will be very light for about six miles, when a 
deep cut must be made through a ridge in rock In three-quarters of a mile there is а deep 
re-entering of the river; a sort of delta formed by two streams three-fourths of a mile apart. 
An embankment forty feet high and two bridges will be required to cross this place, and 
there will be curvature at both extremities of the embankment. Before reaching the crossing 
there will be a considerable rock excavation. The total descent in this distance is 1,465.3 feet, 
giving a grade of 22.5 feet to the mile. To avoid excessive excavations and embankments, 
grades of forty feet should be adjusted to the ground, and considerable curvatures must be 
allowed. 
The point of crossing the river is at a turn where a bridge two hundred feet long can be 
thrown nearly at right angles with the course of the stream without involving excessive curvature. 
The banks are only about fifteen feet high. Suitable building stone can be obtained in the 
immediate vicinity. After crossing, the line follows the next bank over a low plateau under a 
side hill for about one mile and a quarter, when it comes round a point of rocks involving a very 
heavy excavation, almost exclusively in rock, and there will be a very heavy excavation in rock 
for a mile and a half further. Then a marsh has to be crossed, requiring an embankment of 
twenty feet. The remaining four and a half miles before re-crossing the river over the partially 
wooded plateau referred to will also require, in places, large excavations and embankment The 
plateau rises in terraces of from ten to twenty feet in height, and some curvature will be neces- 
sary, and an undulating grade, not, however, exceeding thirty feet to the ей Тһе 
crossing is of the same character as the first. About the same length of bridge and the dum 
direction in reference to the course of the stream. The banks are forty feet high. The — in 
this distance of seven and a half miles is 8.63 feet, and the average grade 1.75 feet. Continuing 
over on the east side of the Bitter Root the line follows for eight miles near to or along the 
' immediate banks of the river, at from forty to eighty feet above the water level; or the same 
point could be reached by the line leaving the river in two and a half miles and crossing in one 
mile a low point in a spur which runs in a northwest and sontheaat direction, involving * "or 
tunnel or deep cut of about five hundred yards. The first mode is preferable. For five eighths 
will run along the water's edge, there being the whole distance a 
t the base and partially up the slope. Trees are, how- 
ever, growing out of the fissures of the rocks. Care must be taken to adjust жылыр: Pa 
distance, and at two places the line must be built in the peter. It will not inier we m e 
water way. For three and one-eighth miles further the line follows the plateau; " о қ tune 
in this distance requiring inconsiderable bridges. This plateau is thirty to seventy feet above 
the river. Then one-eighth of a mile side-hill work; curvature fifteen hundred feet. 
Then comes a beautiful partially wooded prairie for four "nd one-fourth miles, Free 
and embankments moderate. There will be a half a mile of side-hill work daring, the pi Р 
miles. We then cross a fine mountain stream and come to a plateau again for жеме 4 E 
fourth miles, with terraces as described in the plateau on the west bank of the riyeg, s aea 
in a large re-entering. For one-half mile some side cutting, when a eem à — y 
continuing up a plateau about thirty feet above the water level of the river for ' 
of a mile further the line | 
steep ridge of rocks with broken stone a 
