Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-06-03
CONVICTION AND OHIO RAIL ROAD.


long article the signature Of MoSnoE on Inc comPsra
y merits q" Grccnbcr and Monroe routes OF the Gov
on and Ohio rail road now IN progress Oh construction
IN no cu., 70 take part controversy, about which
10 not feel competent 10 hazard an opinion though
am well acquainted With The country have never exlIn
rd with rail road ana never mad an opportunl-
10 nrrsc the report Of Mr. SHAW the Chet Engineer OF
mat road But there is statement relative 10 tunnels and
particularly the Blue RIDGE Tunnel, which il 10 incumbent
upon TO correct lest my silence might DC construed I'M"
admission accuracy and leave erroneous impressions
on the public mind vel! affect materially the question
of routes justice therefore, 10 the subject beg 10 lay
the following before the public through the medium your
columns. 80, 90
Il is said in the article advered TO- "Mr Shaw has
questionab!y erred in of his estimates he estimates
the cost Of long tunnels $40 per linear foot and Of short
NJ sG0 But, since Mr.. Shaws estimate, virginia has had
some experience in The o tunnels III the construction
Of the Blue Ride tunnel; and um told by gentleman in
formed on The subject The Blue Ridge tunnel, OF less
rnrth Than these on the Grcenbrier route will cost when
completed moi less shan s7UOOOO or greatly more than slUO
Fer linear foot"
All this isrrroncous; the gentleman Informed on The subject
very pbaby led into the mistake BY tie common prac-
tice OF Designating The Blue RIDGE RAIL ROAD By lis pro-
mncn feature The TUNNEL, which IS after all comparative
" the Ieast difficult and costly part OF H.
Al time Of our last estimate for April the Tunnel had
progressed aggregate distance OF 2,U40 iec
The perforaon proper amountcd to 22947 cubic ya!d5
whict! is 81 G5 per cubic yard
:" If '' sy, ESQ Yards al 81 Is, llO,522
Toal cos, OF the pcrloa,ion a260fec in gh1h Sis lis
The portal considerable length OF archng Ventilatlng
and pumping apparatus mus, BIZ added 10 ms: they nave
complrd only 1922 S2 hslcad "f S7OO UO which divided
by the cnuth 800 tect makes The cost per linear loot only
S54 o. instead OF greatly more than Sluu'
If is probable deep cuts or approaches at each end
incIndrd in the estimate o the Tunnels rs presented ny
Mo.goE the must be added 10 the Blue ha@c lnnne
Then whole cue;' oI !una" ami approaches via DC
O50 feet and S2i5 1911 and the cost per linear loot
nny SIS &C which il no. even onc.half of the medium,
$lUO assumed by MoSnoE though considered by him as "a
lower figure than il Will doubtless cost
We have here small tunns, when IS extremely ncul
and dangerous. and consequently, very expensive pre-.
scns very yet liz cost VIII not exceed sSV per
linear foot, all included II il nearly completed.
IT viii br perceived, therefore. that Mr. Shn"s estimate
If $40 rcr linear foot il perfectly sse, End thai conlnsen
cs are more likely -cduce Than {" ncca%c INC rue OF
... he has .saE.!ed is not probable ina! Nc |icn
counter unfay0ae ?sriodilon AZ iie s"o sai Dive
Ridge fuEyas
Ao.. who object to Tunnels among rcaaairs must sub
mil 10 shl curves and high g!ade ~h, afc certainly less
niectina han tho sensation experienced IN pa3slnc
through 2nn;. Let people shut Their eyes on approach
inc irn aud they viii nc: know Tic difference II iuh
- are made sIragn. do not conceive mar mere can be
any greater danger in thcrn than on any o'hef slfash
Track. =,
The main Blue Ridge Tunnel has progressed moro rapidly
than the usual average Of such works which s one leo;
mr. day at each end progress has been three
ret per day both endaa result due 10 te energy anu
good management o the contractors ana 70 INC s"undness
and sdity OF the rock, which leaves nothing 10 We done
when blasted out. The cas-: IL different with softer ma
rails which require precautions aud additional "oiE produc
tive of delay. Persons unacqna"ted WIN lrch matters
are apt 10 soft lnaie'us an adv"a1g nut eSpe.
rnc, teaches other" ise The sinai! luaLc We axe aUou'
completing, is a Gas. IN point.
TIE WORK On the Buc Ridge Rail Road has een unusual.
hard and difficult beyond what those vino have no, visited
il can realize. 1t consists mainly oi hlgh emoansnenss,
reaching even 80 icc and very deep rock cuts thoueh
steep ridges both which progress only from the ends
ihe rail road he'd generally completed, except al lew
points where the work is excessively hca"y and prevents c
use OF tie balance ALL however, will be completed before
the Tunnel which will require two more years we shall
open the lower eight miles shortly 10 tho travel
Rcspcclfuly, you're, Y. CROAEI