48 
RAILROAD REPORT-ROUTE WEST OF CASCADE RANGE. 
sheet No. 2, and those upon the proposed railroad line, on profile No. 2, sheet No. 2, and in 
Appendix F, they will not, as a general thing, he repeated in this report. 
For about 150 miles after leaving the Columbia river, the route lies in the Willamette valley. 
This region is admirably adapted to the construction of a railroad. The surface is level, or 
gently undulating, the streams, although numerous, are small, and the settled character of the 
country would render it easy to obtain supplies of every kind for the working parties. An 
average grade of about ten feet per mile would be required, and it is thought that the maximum 
grade would not exceed fifty feet per mile. Two routes from Oregon City to Eugene City were 
examined : Lieut. Williamson followed the hill road, upon the eastern side of the valley; I took 
the most direct road from Oregon City to Salem, and after crossing the Willamette at that 
point, passed up its western side. Although it would he perfectly practicable to construct a 
railroad in the immediate vicinity of either of these routes, a better location could, without 
doubt, be found between them on the eastern bank of the river. 
The following tables give an approximate idea of the amount of bridging necessary upon each 
of the surveyed lines. 
Table of water-courses in the Willamette Valley, upon Lieutenant Abbot's route. 
Name of stream. 
• 
Distance from 
camp near 
Vancouver. 
Length of 
bridge. 
Remarks. 
Slough -_, - _-_-_------ 
Miles. 
1 
Feet. 
30 
Banks 15 feet high. 
Banks 20 feet high. 
Creek ......___ 
12 
30 
14 
10 
Banks low. 
Clackamas river_-------- 
18 
130 
Banks 30 feet high. 
Banks low. 
25. 5 
10 
Small creek_-_------------ 
25. G 
10 
Banks low. 
Mollalle river__ 
30 
80 
Banks 30 feet high. 
34. 3 
10 
Banks low. 
36. 5 
70 
Banks 20 to 30 feet high. Bridge. 
Banks 20 feet high, with gradual slope. 
Banks miry. 
Banks 20 feet high. 
Banks 40 feet high, with gradual slope. 
Banks low. 
Slough ----- - -_______ 
49. G 
40 
52. 7 
GOO 
GO 
40 
Willamette river - -- --___ 
60. 7 
300 
La Creole river- ............_-_ 
CG. 3 
20 
71 
10 
Banks low. Bridge. 
Banks 40 feet high. Steep. 
Banks low. 
Lackimute river ------_------_ 
77 
40 
82 
10 
94 
GO 
Banks 20 feet high, with gradual slope. 
Banks 30 feet high. Bridge. 
108. 5 
50 
154. 6 
10 
Banks low. 
155. 3 
10 
Banks low. 
