CIVIL ENGINEER McDUFFIE'S REPORT 
On the Fayetteville & Albemarle Railroad, from Fayetteville to Aberdeen

Fayetteville Observer [Fayetteville, North Carolina] 12 Sept. 1889
[This article is particularly interesting because of the number of names included. 
These are people who lived or owned land along the proposed line of the new railroad]
Contact: Myrtle   April 14, 2018

Capt. A.B. WILLIAMS and JOHN BLUE, Esq., Committee: 
	Sirs: Having completed the survey of the Fayetteville & Albemarle Railroad from Fayetteville to the Raleigh & Augusta Air Line Railroad 
at a point near Aberdeen (as you requested), I have the honor to report as follows: 
The survey was commenced in Fayetteville on the north margin of Hay street near the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot, thence following 
Winslow street to a point near DRIVER's; this being a common point to connect with the C.F. & Y.V [Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley]Railroad at 
their depot. Thence following the north side of the MIMS mill pond, and Crossing Blount's creek below the Turnpike road, thence crossing 
the Albemarle Plank road a little west of Mrs. J.Q. McPHERSON's and crossing Buckhead 1,000 feet north of Mrs. SARAH OWENS, then following 
down the valley of MARY McPHERSON's mill branch and crossing Beaver Creek, just above the mouth of JOHN BUIE's mill branch, and following 
up said branch to near its head near THOS. WEST, and passing through the "DARROCH place", crossing Cow Pen branch and passing near its head, 
and following down the balley of Buie's Spring branch, crossing Little Rockfish below the mouth of the Gum branch passing near WARRICK's 
cooper shop, crossing the Crooked branch, PATTERSON's branch and BLACK's creek, near its mouth and ascending by the ridge north side of 
Puppy creek and crossing the Mulatto road at Cornbean's bottom, crossing NICHOLSON's creek above the mouth of the school house branch and 
crossing BLUE's road neart its head and crossing Jumper (Juniper?) creek above the mouth of the Big branch, thence nearly a straight line, 
passing the head of the Stem branch, crossing pasture branch at ANGUS RAY's old dam, crossing Piney bottom 100 yards above Slim branch then 
N.75 W., to the west edge of McFAYDEN's old field, then following up and crossing Wolf Pit branch, then passing 300 feet south of THOMAS 
GITON's house and still following the valley of Wolf Pit, passing through the BAKER field then about 300 feet north of ARCH. CAMPBELL's 
house, and following the line as surveyed to the R.& A.A. L. Railroad near Aberdeen. The above described line is represented on the map 
accompanying this report by a red line. The line actually surveyed is represented by black lines. It would be well before final location 
to run a line from Buckhead to a point west of the Poor House as represented by a blue line, and a careful examination made and a line 
traced from near the Crooked branch crossing Puppy creek and following up the valley between DAVID RAY and JOHN McCALL, and crossing 
NICHOLSON's creek near COLEMAN road, then to and with the route aas shown by the red line. The route by the red line is 34 miles in 
length, and if the blue lines prove feasible the distance will be about 33 ½ miles. I employed Mr. ANDREW BROADFOOT, an expert leveler, 
to run the line of levels while I was selecting the route. He was assisted by Mr. RUSSELL McNEILL, and I find the work was well and 
faithfully done. The profile is not yet fompleted, and consequently the estimate of the probable cost of construction is  not yet made 
out, for that will depende upon the amount of excavation and embankment, which can not be calculated until the profile is completed.
	This survey was made that the citizens along the line might know where the line would be located before taking stock. And what I wish 
to say is that I hope sufficient stock will be taken at once to justify the organization of the Company, so that I can have the benefit 
of a consultation with its officers so that we will determine whether the road shall be so graded as to be 1, 2nd, or 3rd class, for upon 
this will greatly depend the cost of construction.
	The road will be of more benefit to Fayetteville than any road that has been built or that is likely to be, not only to Fayetteville, 
but to Cumberland count at large, and more especially to the western part of said county, and what benefits part benefits all. This road 
passes over the very best part of the State, crossing 10 creeks that would be called rivers anywhere else, pure, clear water of never failing 
streams, aggregating not less than 2,000 horse power on the line of the road. The land is covered with long leaf pine as a principal growth, 
yet there is juniper, hickory, oak, dogwood, holly, persimmon and maple in large quantities. The country is sparsely settled for the reason 
that the land is owned in large tracts by turpentine men. It is capable of sustaining a dense population. There is corn now growing along 
this line equal to any that I have ever seen in Craven Jones or even Hyde on up lands, and after the timber is used up (which will require 
many years to do) it cane be turned into vineyards and orchards. It is the very home of the grape: grapes are now growing wild on the hill-
tops and in the valleys. In cutting the line the axemen frequently had to hew their way through tangled vines. Here we have Tokay and many 
smaller vineyards around Fayetteville, and Frenchmen and others planting vineyards all along on the R.& A.A.L. Railroad.
	Peaches were never known to fail on the FINDLAYSON ridge. Just to think of a vineyard 34 miles long and 20 miles wide. And this road 
is leading into Montgomery and Stanly counties and the Pee Dee valley where the land is well adapted to the growth of cotton, tobacco, wheat, 
corn and oats. And Fayetteville was formerly the market for this section, and this road will certainly bring it back. This road will be self-
sustaining after 8 miles of it is built. 
Respectrully submitted by  
D.G. McDUFFIE, Chief Engineer.