Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-11-24


- veil to the sojidiiy and imperishsbis
nature IF the materials employed, Is
the beauty and mastery style Of the
execution Of the work. The Third
Division commences at the Forks OF
the Pstspsco, and advances along The
course Of the west or main branch OF
the river. About two miles from its
commencement, the road crosses 90
the north. or Baltimore county side Of
the Pstspsco. by means Of . nest and
substantial granite visduet. About six
Of the seventeen miles embraced in this
Division. are Of granite rails, and the
remainder of wood. The curves are
less frequent than on the other parn
Of the Road. aud in its course there are
straight lines Of quarter To mile and
. quarter IN length. Ii 10 worthy Of
special remark and commenslation, that
in order to avoid the disadvantages at
tendant on the sinuosities Of the stream,
the novel and bold expedient Of turn
ing its course TO make room for the
road, has been resortcd to. This has
been accomplished in various places.
with perfect success, and not only
without extraordinary expense, but in
most cases with an actual saving. The
credit of the measure Of thus advanta.
eeously aPPropriating the bed Of the
stream to the passage Of the road, is due
to the able and expsrienc ed Su Pc rinten-
dent Of Construction, c. w. Viewer, Esq.
The road is carried over Gillis's Falls,
one Of the principa: tributaries Of the
PataPsco, by a granite viaduct, and
continues along the Parr's Falls branch
ut the Patapsco, until it strikes the
base OF PARIS Ridge, . distance of 40
miles from Baltimore. The road is
here about six hundred and thirty feet
above the level Of mid tide in our Ba.
sin. Although it was evident that,
from the time Of FIRST entering the RAJ
vine 81 the Patapsco, the road was
gradually ascending as it traced the
stream towards ITS sources, vet the As.
cent was SO regular and easy, that il
was altogether unapparen, to the most
acute vision; and the height actually
overcome might we'll challenge belief,
1t II had not been established by ad
measurement.
The leading carriages of the PARTY
reached the foot Of the Ridge soon al
ter twelve. noon, the time employed
IN travelling to this point being about
four hours. II the various obs tacles
which the road had already overcome.
naturally excited admiration at the
ooldness and perseverance which were
required TO surmount them, that senti.
ment was now excited afresh, and ia
q much greater degree, by the impos-
ing work which at this point came un
der examination. The Inclined Planes.
our readers are aware, are DESIGNED IN
accomplish, by means of stationary en-
gines, the easy and rapid passage Of
PARIS Ridge. the dividing ridge be-
tween the waters Of the Patapsco and
Potomac. and the only point on the
long line between Baltimore and Cum.
oerland where stationary power will be
required. The apex Of the Ridge il
more than eight hundred feet above
t'de. Most OF the company ascendeJ
to the summit on foot, passing over the
hrst and second inclined planes on
their way. The visit was truly graft.
Tying, aud Vas calculated to make a
strong Impression as to the magnitude
and difficulty of the work. The planes
are four IN number, two on the eastern.
and two on the western side Of the
ridge. They are perfectly straight,
Tor the purpose Of attaining the great
est degree Of efficiency. The first
plane Is 2l50 feet long, with a rise Of
one loot IN twenty six, and total rise
OF traction over eighty feet. Then
succeeds an exact level Of 1914 feet
terminating At the foot Of the second
plane. The level here spoken of cross.
es the Frederick turn pike ut the thirty.
hrst mule, the Railroad being carried
over the turnpike, and q small stream
running at its side, by a handsome
double arched viaduet Of stone. The
length OF the second plane is 5000 feet.
win rise OF one foot in thirty, or a
total rise OF one hundred feet. The
upper end of the second plane. termi.
mates at the top of the Ridge. wbere
mere IS a level OF SIX hundred feet, az. 4
iording full space for the advantageous
location aud operation of the staiiona.
~ engines. At the western end of the
summit level, the third plane com. I
mences; its length is $500 feet, Oith n
descent Of one foot in twenty. ora tn.
tai descent Of one hundred and fftv. |
nice feet. Then succeeds n level OIL
SooI ieet' terminating at the head Of
the fourth plane. THIS last plane is
1000 feet long, With a descent Of one i
foot IN twenty three ard . half. or a
total descent Of eighty one feet.
The united length Of the four planes
= nearly two miles, and the length ell
the levels betNeeu aud attached 10
men, more than a mile and a half.
making The extent Of this formidable 4