Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-10
THE BLUE.-RIDGE TUNNEL,

Everything connected with this important
work possesses interest for all our readers. The
talented and observant editor of the "Somhern
Planter" has recently made tour through a
large portion of the State, and presents the fol-
lowing important facts respecting this rnagnifi-
cent work. We are certain they will command
the attention, and will prove highly acceptable
to all our readers.-Valley Star.
ssThis important undertaking, by which the
Blue Ridge is to be tunneled at Rockfsh Gap for
a railroad, was recently let to Messrs. John Rut-
ter & Co. of New York, who expect to complete
it in three years As part of the history of pub
lie Improvements in Virginia, we give few of
the details and dimensions. The length of the
main tunnel will be 1850 feet, height 20 feet,
breadth 16 feet, The grade will be sc feet Der
mile, ascending from the east. The minor tun-
mel will be 700 feet long, with nearly the same
proportions.
1t isknown to lltravellers who have crossed the
Blue Ridge at Rockfsh Cap that the surface of the
country is much higher above tide water level at
the Western base, than it is at the Eastern base
A horizontal line from the Eastern side would
pass beneath the bed of South River, in Augusta,
on the west. The railroad, therefore, from its
point of connection with the Louisa road will
wind round the side Of the mountain, gradually
ascending until it reaches the entrance of the
main tunnel From this point to the western
outlet, there is an ascending gradient at the rate
OF GO feet to the mile. The water, (which af-
ter all, may prove to be greater obstacle than
hard rock Or spongy earth will be drained off
by bitches on either side Of the track. Passing
under al distance of 700 feet below the summit
of the mountain, it is supposed that the method
usually resorted to for operating in the central
portion Of tunnels, by which the excavated earth
is drawn, cannot lie adopted. On the eastern side
there will be a smaller tunnel. This minor tun-
mel was adopted in order to avoid a considera-
Bile meander, with sharp curve and much cut
ting and filling. If we may judge by the pro-
files and drawings, the cutting and filling on the
mountain side are nearly equal"
AWFUL SHlpwREcK AND SUFFER1NG-Th
English papers give detailed accounts of the
shipwreck and suffering OF the crew of the brig
South Stockton, of New Castle. She was water
logged at sea, and everything swept from the
decks. The men now took to the tops and made
a cover of canvas around them, to save them as
much as possible from the weather. In this state
they remained IL days without any subsistence,
excepting small quantity of water, when one
OF them died; they were under the necessity OF
eating small portion Of their companion. They
continued dropping one by one till they were
all dead but Robert Hogg, chief mate and Hen
ry Leslie, second mate, who sustained them
selves by eating small portions Of their compan-
ions and drinking their blood. They were in
this deplorable situation for 25 days, when, on
the 9Th Of November the Helen Thompson sue
ceeded in putting out boat, and bringing the
sufferers on board in a very exhausted state. Ev-
erything was done for them that prudence could
suggest, and which would tend to their recove-
ry. The chief mate recovered very fast, but
the second mate still remains in a very poor
state of health, having very sore hands and feet,
from which he will take considerable time to re-