| Annual Report of the South Side RR |
| as of October 1, 1862, |
| Survey |
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| H. D. Bird, Esq.
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| Gen'l Sup't of the South-side R. R. Co. |
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Sir,
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In conformity with your request, I proceeded on the 16th
of April last, to make a survey for a Railroad from the town of
Farmville to Rice's Station, and submit the accompanying map and
following remarks:
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The survey to avoid the High Bridge on the South-side
Railroad, commences at the water station in the town of Farmville, and
continues for two miles nearly on a level, along the slopes of the
rising ground near the Appomattox river, and ascends to the division
between the Appomattox and Bush rivers, (not far from Venable's Mill,)
thence it descends to Bush river, through the plantation of Dr.
Carrington, which stream it crosses at a right angle, and ascends
again to the summit of a ridge dividing Bush and Sandy rivers, a short
distance to the south of Mrs. Chamber's house, where it again
descends, and crosses Sandy river on the lands of Mrs. Ligon, and then
ascends at a rise of 50 feet per mile through her lands and those of
Mr. Edward Clarke, and Mr. Bradshaw, to the switch on the Southside
Railroad north of Rice's Station.
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The distance, by the survey, is 6 miles and 1500 feet,
while the distance in a direct line is 5 miles and 4300 feet, showing
a difference between the survey and a direct line of only 2800 feet,
and I have no hesitation in saying that a shorter connection cannot be
obtained for the interest of the Company.
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It is evident that less embankment is required by
crossing the water course as high up as possible than by crossing them
at a lower point. To cross Bush river below its junction with Sandy,
would require a very lengthy and high embankment, hauled a great
distance; and to connect the opposite rising grounds by this line the
embankment would be 80 feet in height while the distance would be
less, and only three-fourths of a mile between that and the course now
surveyed. According to survey, the embankments across the low lands of
Bush and Sandy rivers would be of much less height, and the point for
the material nearer. By widening the cut at the ridge it would yield
the embankment for crossing the bottoms bordering the river, which is
almost the only borrowed material required. High embankments, when as
in this case of decomposed rock, are a serious objection, being so
liable to disturbance from rains.
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Respectfully submitted,
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John Couty
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Engineer
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