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394 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
heavier flat rails- were substituted. Ere long this would not permit the
speed demanded by the traveling public to say nothing of the serious
peril to passengers and property, arising from what were known as
"snake-heads," consisting of the loose ends of rails, which so often came
crashing through the bottom of the cars from the track below. To meet
this demand, the T rail was supplied, and the bed graveled.
Judge Lane's report referred with some detail to the matter of change
in the route of the road between Sandusky and Tiffin, which was changed
from the original location via Bellevue, to the track of what was then
known as the Sandusky'& Indiana Road, via Clyde. Such change of
route was the subject of much discussion at the time, and the cause of
much feeling on the part of Bellevue, Republic and other points on the
old line. Judge Lane stated that the road by Bellevue traversed the
outer edge of a limestone formation, a district abounding in sink-holes
and nearly destitute of running water, rendering it impracticable to
obtain the requisite supply of water. Nor could proper gravel be found
on the route. Upon examination of these facts, and the further facts
that the route was nearly four -miles out of a straight line, the directors
sought to ascertain by what means such location could have been made.
Engineer Bell's report in 1835 gave his reasons for his preference of
route: That the "deep ravines," "immense embankments" and "high
bridges," of the straight line would be very expensive, the grading alone
costing $200,000, while both grading and bridging on the Bellevue route
would be only $71,360, with a maximum grade of eighteen feet to the
mile. Another consideration with him consisted in the large donations
"of lots" made by the "enterprising proprietors" of Bellevue. To
determine how much there was of truth in such comparison of routes
by Fngineer Bell, the company had a survey made of the straight line,
when every position relied upon by him was found to be untrue. It was
ascertained that Tiffin was thirty-three miles from Sandusky, and 179
feet above that point; that a road could be constructed between them
scarcely differing from an air line, with a regular grade not exceeding
seven feet to the mile, except in crossing the Cleveland and Toledo road
at Clyde, where it was fifteen feet for one and one-half miles.. There
were found no streams or ravines or embankments. On the old route.
the altitude of Tiffin was reached within fifteen miles of Sandusky, and
that compelled to surmount an additional elevation of 132 feet, and
descend the same to Tiffin, nearly a total rise of 311, and a descent of
132 feet. According to the equation of lines fixed by books on engineering,
the saving of a mile in* distance is equal to the saving of $50,000
capital, and a rise of twenty feet equivalent to a mile of level road.
Under these rules, it was ascertained that in this case the saving of a
straight line over the Bellevue route was equivalent to ten miles in
distance, or $500,00(Hn capital. Judge Lane then said: "It is not for
us to conjecture the influence under which the engineer was led to act.
but the name of Bellevue is reported to have been selected in compliment
to him. and now known, that at that time he himself was one of
those 'enterprising proprietors,' ,vhose spirit IK; commends."