Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-01-10
s EnaLa1rhn Iifrnptke,

| turnpike road, at the bend oil fioWarus CREEK,
which has been executed agreeahly to the pro
visions of the act OF The Legislature, giving au-
lhorily Tor the purpose, and in conformity 10 re-
solution OF the Board OF Directors, requiring Inc
work 10 be done.
On The lst November, 1913, contract for the
new road was made, allowing the contractor
Sll95 for the job; and il was found TO have been
satisfactorily executed by the 10th of September
at which time the road was inspected by myself
and by Mr.. Lancaster OF the Board OF Directors,
bv whom was accompanied in my visit of exa-
animation Of the company's Western improve
meniS.
The new road is OFT rods in length, and fol-
lows the course OF the creek along its Southeast
side, al grade in no case exceeding Two and a
half degrees, and al an elevation sufficient 10 pro.
tect it fiom damage by high water. About ou
| rods Of the location is along cliff OF rock from
90 TO 40 feet in height, out of which The road is
excavaled
This change was designed 10 avoid some heavy
grade upon a hill on the opposite side OF the
creek over which the old road was made; and,
likewise, 10 dispense with two considerable bridges
thrown across The stream upon the line of the old
location, which were liable 10 frequent injuries al
the time Of high floods. With the easy grade OBJ
tanned, although al the expense of some increase
of distance, the change will add greatly 10 the
convenience Of The travelling public, and will re-
dound ultimately 10 the pecuniary benefit OF the
company.
Another object Of extraordinary expenditure
| upon the line OF the road, is new cover 10
| Greenbrer bridge The contract for this job was
made in January, and its execution was COM
pleicd in July 1t took about 100 600 shingles OF
yellow poplar, for which and for putting them on,
the contractor was allowed The sum Of 1926.
Under this head may alsobc mentioned an ex-
| r. 81 ho fiv,,
las, mentioned, under the contract system; but hy
means Of portion OF The Company annual force
upon The road in The execution Of an improve
ment. involving a considerable amount Of en-
bankmenl, dry masonry and riprap al deep ra-
vine in uuicksand, upon The line of The turnpike,
near the town OF Guyandolle; The details Of
which improvement however, are not of sufficient
interest 10 be stated in the report
The orliaara repairs upon the Kanawha Tnrn-
pike, are always more or less influenced by The
character Of the preceding Winter. The last
Winter, in consequence OF its being open and
wet. was peculiarly unfavorabe 10 The road so
that upon the return Of Spring, it was much cut
M, and much depressed upon lis surface. The
Spring, however, was unusually favorable, and
justified calling out the hands al an early period.
in the first week in April, five companies con-
sisling of from six 10 len hands each, with The
usual supply Of draft cattle, were placed upon
the road which, with a view 10 this object, was
arranged into five subdivisions
To The most Eastern company was allotted
| forty miles OF The road, commencing AT Coving-
ton on Jacksou's river; whilst 10 The two noun
| tain companies were assigned sixiy-iour miles,
extending tiom Clnlonsyille in Greenbriercounty,
to the falls OF Kanawha; and the residue OF the
road. of l0i miles in extent was about equally
/ divided between the Two Western companies.
The month Of April proved 10 be unusually Ia
vorable in point of weather, and was devoted 10
passing rapidly over The road, paving mud holes,
repairing drains and culverts, and Otherwise put
| ting the line in good travelling condition, and,
this being done, the work of pluughng, in order
10 raise and round The road, was entered upon.
| The favorable weather which characterized the
month of April and part OF March, continued
until near the close OF MAY, and the work pro-
gressed 50 rapidly as fully 10 Justify The agents
estimate thai The forces on The road would be able
10 complete the repairs in The space OF four months
from The time they were commenced.
About the lst OF June, however, heavy rains
began lo.iall almost daily, and continued, with
but little interruption, for HE space OF ten weeks
For the first six weeks these severe rains extend
ed the whole length OF the line, delaying opera
lions upon every part alike. Alter This, however
The line from Covinglon 10 The Falls was, 10 some
extent, exempt: and little later, the line from
the Falls 10 the mouth Of Big Sandy River. Up
on The middle sections extending through The Ka-
nawha valley and over the Ganley and Suel
mountains severe showers continued 10 tall al
most daily, which, for period Of more than two
months greatly retarded The course Of repairs by
inlerruming lie work and washing off the male
rails, inSonuch that four Of the companies found
il necessary 10 work portions OF their sections al
as MANY as three different times. These causes
have added considerably 10 tie expenditures Of The
wear. Notwithstanding the difficulties Of the sea-
son, the road was kept in good travelling order,
and al The time of disbanding the forces, was, in
point Of shape smoohness and drainage, in ex-
ccleni condition. The repairs executed were OF
durable and substantial character, and, with an
ordinarily favorable winter, may reasonably be
expected 10 diminish 10 a considerable extent the
expenses Of The ensuing year.
1t NAV he properlo add, that after the accounts
for the fiscal year upon the western improve
ments were closed, an extraordinary rain fell in
Suel valley and upon the adjacent mountains,
in consequence Of which Big and Lille Suel, and
Meadow river, rose higher, probably Than ever
before known. The bridge over Little Suel, which
was never before disturbed by water, was carried
off, and several oitha culverts upon the road were
uncapped but the materials OF the bridge were
soon recovered and replaced and the damage 10
the culverts speedily repaired; so that The travel
dill is due 10 VIM. Hickman, collector of tolls, and
10 all the citizens living in the bordering country,
Tor their zeal and activity in repairing and rccti-
fvine the damages and losses sustained BY the
company upon this occasion
The oroinary repairs of the Kanawha turnpike
for the fiscal year ending on the 3lst Of October
last, amounted 10 the sum Of 81 $50 81 or so
40 per mile.
Ii is 10 be regretted that the change made in The
al "A IL
Of the previous year, should have prevented the
agent from making with the aid of any data in
his possession, correct comparison between The
receipts of the two last years. During nine
months, commencing on The 18th Of November,
1912, and ending on the Nth Of August, lSi3, the
abstracts from the whole road show an aggregate
collection Of 5000 o.. During the same num-
Der OF months commencing on the 18th of Oclo-
ber 1913 and terminating on the 18th Of July.
1874, The aggregate collections amounted TO 6lOl6
dollars 81 cents; showing an excess OF 947 dollars
u cents in favor OF the present year. Although
this comparison isnot exactly accurate, the months
not being The same, il yet shows that there has
been some improvement of The travel.
g. kanowha Rtrer.
The kanawha river, during the last Summer
and Autumn, for the first time in four years, was
low enough, and continued low enough 10 be
operated upon 10 advantage About the 10Th Of
August the river was regarded as al ordinary
low water, and at that time there was depth OF
three feet every where in the channels. From
that time to the last Of September the river con-
linued gradually to fall, until in some Of the
channels, The water was reduced 10 2G inches
Al this stage, salt boats loaded 10 % inches only
and thus loaded descended the Kanawha safely,
but were unable TO navigate The Ohio river,
which upon several bars afforded about 10 inches
only This state of things continued ill the last
three feet occurred in both the rivers.
On the 10th of July an efficient force was, =
ganized for operations: and the wafer Delns lhen
sufficiently low for the purpose, the company oil
hands, assisted by an experienced s,eersman,
proceeded TO the mouth oflhe river and replaced
all The buoys found wanting, amounting 10 about
niaciu in number With few exceptions, these
are the first buoys which have been sci in The