42 
RAILROAD REPORT—ROUTE 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 
he 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 Reading, was the western chain of the Sierra 
Nevada. As Lieutenant E. Gf. 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 ; hut our barometric observations show the altitude of the summit to be 186 
feet greater, and the altitude of Fort Reading to be 15.7 feet less, than was stated in his report. 
These discrepancies may be easily explained, as 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 Reading 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 Yol. 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. Ilis 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 
