The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-10-06
Completion Of the Va. and Tenn. Railroad
CELEBRATION Ar BRIsTOL.
lREPORTED FOR THE DALEY DIsPATCH.]

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CELEBRATION Ar BRISTOL.
[REPoRTED FOR THE DAILY DIsPATCH.l ]
The Virginia and Tennessee Road was compile.
ted to Bristol its terminus ON the Tennessee line,
on the 23d Of September, making the distance 204t
miles. This important event to the people of that
region as well to the State At large, was cele.
brated with great enthusiasm on the I'd day Of Oc-
tober at Bristol.
On Wednesday morning, October i, two of the
csmpanies' splendid new Norris Engines, the "John
T. Mcdaniel and the "Washington,' left Lynch.
burg for Bristol, drawing long trains of cars con.
tanning hundreds Of invited guests Both of these
powerful machines were appropriately decorated
and festooned with flowers with the national en-
sign in front. The Mcdaniel was under the skilful
conduct Of Pat Gallon, assisted by the master ms-
chinist, Mr. 8. Peters. inside the passengers were
In charge of Conductor r. H. Buckner, and could
not have been better cared for The "Washing.
tom was similarly decorated, and placed in charge
OF Ed Sawyer, one of the compapys skillfuI en-
gineers. The insiders" on this train were cared
for by conductor VIM. A. Horton, and the work
was well DONE The trains left at As minutes past
8 in the morning, and reached their place of des
I 'tination in the evening. splendid dinner was
provided for the party by the company at the Cen
trail Depot, 96a miles from Lynchburg At every
station additions to the number were made The
first train carried the music, the second cannon,
and started within fifteen minutes of each other
The views at Bristol are especially pleasing to the
eye, the town being located on undulating ground
with woods in the distance-the effect of the whole
is eminently picturesque The inhabitants had
prepared to accommodate the guests of the day
A large triumphal arch had been placed over the
road from the top of which aoated two American
flags, and from the middle Of which banner was
hung inscribed with the name of "Goodson, in com.
pliment to Col Samuel Goodson, q resident of the
town and very ardent friend of the road. Ow.
ing to the cars arriving trife later than was
pected, those in the second train did not get
view of some 120 young ladies who were divided
and ranged on either side of the arch dressed in
white and holding flowers in their hands, to well
come the visitors. This part of the pageant was
further reinforced by the Jonesboro' band, and one
cannon, but is previously said, the shades of eve
ming drew down too soon for satisfactory peep at
the pretty lasses to hear the loud reverberation
of the "war dog" the concourse of sweet sounds
from the representatives of Tennessee melody
The passengers having landed, and obtained
supper, disposed of themselves in various ways,
preparatory to the ceremonies of the following
day. Large numbers slept in the Magnolia Hotel;
others found refuge in the Depot, and the cars
were filled to repletion. Hundreds felt themselves
bound to all night" and it is but justice to
them to say that they did so. Greas as the crowd
was at this time, it was nothing in comparison to
that assembled on the morrow. While they are
aud the read may not be uninteresting to the gen.
eral reader
The work on the Road was commenced early in
1850, and completed to the terminus September
23d, 1856, making six and half years. 1t is two
hundred and four and q quarter miles long, and
cost fraction over $4,000 per mile for road and
equipments. Near Lynchburg the way for long
stretch is cut through bold face flint rock. The
difficulties here could only have been overcome by
the greatest and no little exhibition OF
engineering skill There are five tunnels ON the
road the longest seven hundred and sixty feet and
the shortest two hundred feet, mostly through
limestone and flint rock. The road passes through
the counties of Campbell Bedford (via Liberty the
county seat,) Betetourt, Roanoke, (via Big Lick
and Salem,) Montgomery, (passing near Christians.
burg) Pulaski, (passing through Dublin and near
Newbern) Wythe, (vis Wythevie3 then through
Smythe and Washington, passing the towns of
Marion and Abingdon.
TO make the Improvement very immense cuts
and fills have been made-they vary from forty to
eighty feet. The road proceeds from Lynchburg
up Black Water Creek for mile or two and then
strikes across the country, passing over Ivy. Elk
and Goose, and the two Otters' Greeks, to
Buford's Gap, in Bedford county, over the Blue
Ridge then striking the waters of Glade Greek,
it proceeds down that to near its junction with the
Roanoke; then up the Roanoke, crossing 1t six
times to the foot of the Allegheny mountains. The
way across these mountains is by a grade of
sixty eight feet to the mile for ten miles till the
summit is reached. Eight miles of descent brings
the cars down to the waters of Coal Creek
and to New River; up that two or three miles,
when it is crossed; then crossing the country
through Pulaski (where it seems one continued
ridge) the road leads to Peak Greek; up that for
five miles to the waters OF Reedy Creek, (within
this space there are twenty seven bridges) Pro
ceedng up the bed of this creek four or five miles,
you pass another continued ridge and descend to
the waters of Reedy Creek, In Wythe county
After passing Wytheville, reach Mt Airy, the
main ridge dividing waters running to the gulf
stream on one side and New River ON the other.
The latter is branch of the Kanawha. Mt
Airy is 1000 feet above Lynchburg and $500
feet above Richmond. Near the summit cut at
Mt. Airy, within few rods of the road, ia the
head waters of the spring of the Middle Fork of
Holston River The road then runs down the
Valley of Holston to Bristol, where it Is to unite
" tn the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad
the contractors on which will commence work at
this end of the line in q few days. cargo of
iron of $50 tons is now at City Point waiting trans
portation. Eighty miles OF this road is yet to be
done before a connection can be had with the Vir-
ginia and Tennessee Railroad. They run fifty
miles now, and the road is to be 130 long, passing
through the towns of Jonesboro', Greenville, Rus
sellville, Morristown and New Market At Forest
Depot, twenty miles from Lynchburg, you get off
for the Bedford Alum Springs at Bonsack's, forty
seven miles, Coyner's White Sulphur may be
found The Allegheny Springs are seventy six
miles from Lynchburg, and travellers leave at
Shawsvie for that place. Eghtyone miles brings
WV
Montgomery White and Yellow Sulphur. Near
Christiansburg, eighty six miles from Lynchburg,
has been recently discovered alum springs Of good
quality In addition to these, there are other
springs unimproved along the line Among these
is the Chilhowie, l67 miles from Lynchburg. There
were 200 guests at one time this summer at the
Montgomery White Sulphur Springs.
In various parts of the line minerals have been
discovered. Iron, salt, copper ore and gypsum in
abundance. l23 miles from Lynchburg there are
lead mines which have been worked since the Rev.
olutionary war They produce abundantly. Hon.
John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, gave .
contract to the owners for supply for the United
States. The salt works at Saltvile in Smythe and
Washington counties, owned by Maj Preston.
were open many years prior to 1900. They are
| well worthy . visit. In Bedford you have the
| grave of Gen'l Andrew Lewis, the hero Of Point
| Pleasant. In Smythe county near Mile Ford, il
located the tomb Of Genl w. Campbell, the hero
| of Kings Mountain. At the junction (BristoD In
| Tennessee, is the tomb (of iron) Of Gen'i Evan
| Shelby q brother Of the famous Deane Shelby, oi
| KY. His remains repose beneath the shade of .
| giant oak, in . country church yard.
1 Before and after.leaving Liberty, the Peaks oi
Otter are In view; but the best view ID obtained
| after. In the valley of the Roanoke some beau
tiful Views are obtained 1t 10 undoubtedly great
/ grain and grazing country. Some of the largest
| catfish in the world are to be found In New river
This region Is famous for the excellent quality o.