The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-08-06
ALTIM0RE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
TRIp OVER THE WHEELING SECTIONS.

hAJ WAN AnS w nEE6AIsH OEAA lOXN0s
The Wheeling Gazette gives the follow
Ing account of visit over the twenty-five
sections of the Wheeling division Of the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad, now in the
course Of construction, which cannot fail
10 prove or interest to all who have perus-
I'D the accounts OF the recent opening Of
the first division west OF Cumberland:
Ofsthe progress OF the sections below
the citywe have no further remark to make
Tran that the work on all except that which
was abandoned by the contractor is pro-
crossing steadily. The bridge across
Bogg's run is arched, and noble, solid
piece of work it is. The one below is pro.
crossing we'll. eas Ga is ~ 9g
The contractor for the sections in the
Narrows has erected his shanties, and be.
gun to quarry the stone pretty freely
This will be work depending much on
the position Of the rock above the road,
and may be heavy or light. s
The first few sections beyond the Mar
rows are light work, and, OF course, have
butt little done on them, as there is nothing
to be gained by doing the light work at
this time, where the contractors have any
thing else to do. They can, however, 90
on with their contracts whenever they
please. The route adopted strikes the
river al Mounsville, taking route further
south than the original location, in accord
ance with the designation in the original
lettings, that the route might probably be
changed. e'W a1a
Passing up Grave creek mile or two.
we found work on two bridges commenc.
ed, and deep cut and fill entered upon.
There are two bridges at Hogan's mill.
and goodly number Of hands at work.
The valley becomes narrow, the hills
sloping down almost to the waters edge in
many places. and the creek very crooked.
The rise is about forty feet to the mile, and
requires considerable filling, except at
points where the road cuts into the hill.
side. ae lv 90 5HG s
At Beckett's bend the creek is being
turned by canalling, to avoid bridges-so
also below and at Shepherds, about ten
miles from Moundsvle. making heavy
cutting. The dirt from the canal is used
in filling for the road, and the work has
progressed very near TO completion. Just
above Shepherds tunnel has been COM
menced, of 400 feet, through spur of the
hill. There are 1870 men at work near
this place, and the people are, all along up
the route, swarming back and FORTH
Above Shepherds the valley becomes
very crooked and narrow, requiring some
deep cutting and einbankment, most of
which is through blue clay, nearly as
hard as rock, and requiring blasting to ex.
cavate. A single mile here requires three
bridges of heavy masonary, all Of which
are in progress, while the heavy cutting is
nearly completed.
The sections above this are light, al
though the valley is for the most part mar
row, for four or five miles, when, before
reaching Loudenslager's, it opens out. AT
Loudenslager's the contractor is working
g geodly number Of men, and making fair
progress. About three miles above this
section the road climbs an 80 feet grade
10 reach the summit, or opening of the
tunnel Of 200 feet, between the head
waters OF Grave creek and Fish creek
Both of these sections have been extern
sively worked, and are now being pushed
on with vigor.
On the next sections eastward are the
slopes Of four mile run. The grade is at
80 feet, but the ground is better, and the
slopes easier than on the other side; this
work is, however, being pushed. The
next section, at the confluence of four mile
and Har's run, the work is progressing,
and also at the confluence of the latter
with the North Fork of Fish Creek From
there to Bells, crossing the North Fork, the
Grade is more level, and the land better
alohg the line. Passing on about two
}agsitss we strike the section l65. climbing
Che slopes of the North Fork of Fish Creek,
where the work is very heavy, and the
best state Of progress through all of the
heaviest part Of the section. Thennext
section upon Raccoon run. to attain the
summit, is also heavy work, and progress
ing rapidly. lo' od' ~ oete"91
s We here strike the mouth Of the tunnel
of 9 400 feet long. from the North to the
South Fork of Fish Creek. sPhis tunnel is
well under the charge OF II.
Pettibone; but this work is very heavy. and
will not be completed before year from
this fall. The.two last sections on this
division, being about forty.six miles from
are down the slopes OF Broad
Tree Run. and on the low bottoms of Fish
Creek, and are 80 feet grade, and are un-
der progress Of construction.
We thus find there are 25 sections OF this
division in actual process Of construction.
These are the heaviest sections, and en-
ploy in all about I 100 men, and horses
and carts almost innumerable. The work
is ALREADY for the contractors on the light
sections, whenever they choose to come
on, which will probably be this fall. o'1
u The above facts set at trest the effort TO
build up prejudice among usionthe ground
that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad