Report of the Chief Engineer of the State of Tennesse; On the Surveys and Examinations for the Central Railroad, and for the Central Turnpike (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1837 edition. Excerpt: ...that these basins are generally at a considerable distance from the main river, and that there is a large body of high table land along the Tennessee, which is only interrupted by the streams which drain these basins. In order to conduct a road through a country thus composed of tracts of high table land and intervening basins, the first idea which would suggest itself, would be to pass between the tracts of table land by the valleys of the streams, and then to run the desired course across the flats of the basin; and the second method which would naturally occur to the mind would be to ascend to the summit of the table land, and to continue on that elevation. But when we examine more minutely the ground before us, we find that Duck river is the only stream any where near our route, that tears asunder the high ridge which bounds the Tennessee river on the east, and that its valley presents no feasible route for a road. In every two or three miles there are high and precipitous rocky bluffs on alternate sides, and the narrow flats which lie opposite to the bluffs, are subject to overflow from ten to forty feet in depth. When we cast our eyes on either side of Duck river, we find the minor streams at every few miles, cutting chasms in the table lands from three to five hundred feet deep, and thus presenting almost impassable gulphs. Perhaps there is not a more broken country in the world than that round about the lower part of Duck river. Great difficulties must therefore be encountered on this part of the route. In following out our second method of passing them, (that is by ascending to the highlands and keeping there, ) on the north side of Duck river, we discover nothing but a succession of ridges, and deep rugged chasms to be crossed. But on..