above our present grade line at 147. Two curves would be thus introduced-one to the north, to turn into the small ravine from No. 2-and the other south, to fall into No. 1.

It may not be amiss in this place to say, that a less circuitous and better line can be found still farther south, pursuing a branch of Kettle Brook, called Dark Brook; but it lies too low for our route. At the southern bend of Kettle Brook, nearly 4 miles from Worcester, this stream is elevated 10 feet only above the Boston and Worcester RailRoad; and as we require a distance of nearly 13 miles to pass the summit at a grade of 35 feet, even, it is obvious that the line by Dark Brook would not suit our purpose, unless it might be deemed expedient to resort to fixed engines and inclined planes, to overcome the summit; in which case a route by this valley would be favorable, and a considerable portion of the whole rise might probably be concentrated at the point of Henshaw's ridge, before spoken of. This route is entitled to more notice, if taken in connexion with the Grout summit route, than it would be with that by Ryan's summit.

From Station 897 in Spencer, to 1132 in Brookfield, a line was surveyed crossing the Cranberry Meadow Brook above the red school house in Spencer, and thence pursuing the hill-side west of the Brook, it falls into the first line at 1132, as stated.

This line (marked No. 6,) is shorter than the first, by nearly one mile, and consequently descends at a steeper grade; viz. for 2.01 miles, at 50.17 per mile, and for 1.43 miles, at 34.74. The crossing of the Cranberry Meadow valley would necessitate a heavy embankment; that is to say, the present grade line is about 60 feet above it, and the width from the high ground on one side of the stream to that on the other, is 1000 feet. The accompanying Table will exhibit the amount of cutting and filling on this line, in comparison with that between the same portion of the first line. It is probable that a line located from the summit in this direction at an uniform grade of 43 or 44 feet, would present a more favorable profile, even than the present one, which was traced for a grade corresponding more nearly with that of Route No. 1.

At the crossing of the Seven-mile River by the first route, the grade is 50 feet above the stream, and the immediate

valley is 1400 feet wide. Another line was traced (Route No. 7,) crossing about 1000 feet farther south, or below, with the view of saving embankment. The grade line crosses 30 feet above, only, but the valley is 2000 feet wide. The Table will exhibit the relative amount of embankment upon these two routes.

The Routes from Clappville to Grout's summit.

The main line from Clappville to Grout's summit, is made up of portions of two distinct lines, carried upon different sides of the French River-the lower, or eastern portion being a part of Route No. 8-and the upper, or western portion, a part of No. 9. In selecting the best line for the route, it will be necessary to cross and re-cross the stream several times, as will be seen in the annexed description of each route,

In the case of Route No. 9, by the south-west side of the river, a considerable portion of the heaviest part of the embankment at the cove of the upper mill-pond, near the village, can be avoided by throwing the whole line farther south; an alternative which would increase the amount of cutting, but equalize, more nearly, the quantity of excavation and embankment.

From Grout's summit west, the descent to the valley of the Chickopee can be effected by two different routes-one nearly south-and the other north. To understand why we make so great a deflection from the proper course of the road, a few words of explanation are necessary.

Cranberry Meadow Brook, (referred to in the description of Route No. 1,) at a point less than one mile west of Grout's summit, is 240 feet below it. The declivity in that direction being so great, any line descending at an admissi ble grade for locomotive engines, must turn either to the north or south. To effect the descent within the prescribed limits, and to ascertain the direction in which it could best be made, two lines were traced-one south, by the head of Cranberry Meadow pond-and the other north, through the village of Spencer and across the Seven-mile River, one and a half miles north of the Meeting-house, The particular description of each will exhibit the details. viz.

Roule No. 8.

Leaving Route No. 1 at 448, near Clappville, a line was carried upon the north-east side of French River, crossing the Hartford turnpike east of the upper factory pond, thence across to the Baptist Meeting-house on the road from Charlton to Leicester village, thence by a straight line through the middle of Wall's mill-pond, 1400 feet, thence crossing the river to the south-west side, at the north end. of Grass hill, near Sibley Converse's, and curving around to the west, it again crosses the river (or brook, as it is here,) and passing into the town of Spencer, it crosses, from 615 to 626, a swamp or meadow 1100 feet long, and varying in depth from 2 to 8 feet; thence turning the point of W. Watson's hill at Jones's mill, it continues on the north side of the brook to Watson's saw-mill, thence crossing the brook, it winds around south of west upon a very gradual curve, and pursuing a small branch of the main brook, it crosses another meadow and swamp of 200 feet in extent, of the same character as that at 615, and reaches the summit near J. Grout's house, having attained an elevation of 445.75 feet above the Boston and Worcester Rail Road at Worcester. (The Bench Mark at this summit is a point designated in Mr. Baldwin's survey of 1828.)

Route No. 9.

This is a line traced on the south-west side of French River. Leaving Route No. 1 at 462, it passes through the village of Clappville, crossing the turnpike near the tavern, thence passing over a cove of the upper mill pond upon a heavy embankment, it continues along the side hill near the road from Clappville to Leicester village, crossing the Charlton and Leicester road at Wall's mills; turning the point of a spur at this place, it continues nearly straight across a small cove of Wall's large pond or reservoir, thence falling upon the slope of Jones's hill, it unites with Route No. 8 near Sibley Converse's, and is thence identified with that route to Grout's summit.

A line in continuation of Route No. 9 from the point of intersection with No. 8, was carried around the north part

of Watson's hill, by V. Jones's, and in a direction towards Kingsley's, crossing the northern extremity of the meadow of 2000 feet in extent, referred to in Route No. 8, thence along on the side hill, and crossing the main branch of the brook, it unites with Routes No. 8 and 9, at Grout's summit. This line is 3600 feet longer than the corresponding portion of the other, with an increase of curvature, and without any improvement in the grades.

Two wells at Grout's, about 18 feet in depth, gave no indication of rock; but towards the western side of the summit it shows itself in ledges. The swamp at the summit is inconsiderable in extent, with large loose rock scattered over it.

From the summit at Station 745 (Route No. 8, towards Cranberry Meadow Pond,) the line winds around upon a curve, varying from 1432 to 2865 feet radius, and descending at a grade of 35 feet, thence it pursues its course south, on the same side hill which Route No. 1, from Ryan's summit, follows in its course to the north, thence it passes into the town of Charlton, near Newhall's mills, thence continuing still further south, about half a mile, it makes an entire semicircle, turning from the south to the north, and upon a shorter radius than occurs in any other line, viz. 716 feet, and this short turn cannot well be avoided; for an increase in the length of the radius of curvature would throw the line into very deep cutting, on the west side of the pond; continuing its course north, the route crosses Cranberry Meadow Pond, and again enters the town of Spencer, following the side hill west of Cranberry Meadow Brook, and thence by a deep cut across a neck of land, which, to be turned, would require a very short radius; and thence, to avoid a similar turn beyond, it crosses the brook twice, near the red school house, thence winding around, gradually, over broken ground, and passing several small runs, it enters the town of Brookfield, and unites with Route No. 1, at Station 1132, between Gallup's mill and Furnace Village, or East Brookfield. The distance from Worcester by this route, is 21.83 miles.

Route No. 10, by Grout summit and Spencer Village.

From the summit at 745, this line pursues a direction nearly west, half a mile, thence winds to the north upon

eurves of 1273 and 1910 feet radius, descending at a grade of 30.95 feet, for 2.74 miles, to Spencer lower village; thence it continues north, on the side hill, at a grade of 55.42, for 1.57 miles; thence at 39.95; all which is detailed in the Table. At the distance of about one and a half miles north of Spencer village, it curves to the west and south, on a radius of 1900 feet, and crosses the two branches of Seven mile River; and thence by the western side hill of Seven mile River valley, with occasional moderate curves, it falls into Route No. 1, at 1065 of the same distance 22.04 miles.

Route No. 11,-Morey Summit Route.

This route branches from Route No. 1, at Station 558, near Capt. Tucker's hill, on the east side of the summit; thence passing over broken ground by widow Tucker's, at a grade of 34.28; thence increasing the grade to 57 feet, the line crosses, near Chamberlain's, the road from Charlton to Spencer, and thence to the summit. This summit is elevated 472.76 feet above the Boston and Worcester Rail-Road. Upon this grade, the cutting there, for 500 feet in length, would exceed 20 feet-the greatest is at Station 699, and would be 42 feet, and it would be equal to 40 feet for 300 feet in length. In descending west, the line was connected with No. 1 farther south than it should have been ; the consequence is, that the grade of the road, (72.93,) upon this portion of the line, is much steeper than it would be if the two lines were connected farther north. The details are contained in the Table. A route leaving this line at Station 645, near the Charlton and Spencer road, passing north of Jones's mill, and intersecting the first route at 710, upwards of a mile west of 645, was attempted. The embankment upon this line is less than upon the first; but to obtain a grade of 45 feet it will require cutting greater than 25 feet (and at the summit 40 feet) for 2700 feet. A line diverging from the first route at 680, and intersecting it at 714, was also attempted, but without success. Still another route, further south, was attempted; it leaves the first route at about Station 600, passes through the burying ground south of Chamberlain's house, and unites with the