The Placer herald., 1858-11-27
California Central Railroad.

This enterprise is steadily progressing
The contractors are now at work upon the
first division of five miles, beginning at the
connection with the Sacramento Valley Rail-
road, and Folsom, and ending at the Auburn
road. 1t comprises two heavy cuts upon
either side of the river; the American river
bridge; two pieces of trestlng on each side
of the bridge, fifty feet in height; trestling
across Big Gulch Ravine, forty-five feet in
length; across Cave Ravine, ffty-tive feet in
length; and cutting through Chinese Hill,
about a mile below Russvile, which is forty
feet in depth, and almost entirely through
decayed granite and cement gravel. The
majority of the grading is on the first two
miles, and is reported of the hardest descrip-
ton. 1t is all finished except Chinese Hill,
two-thrds of which is completed.
The contractors have been seriously delay
ed in consequence of failure to furnish the
lumber for the bridge at the time agreed
upon. This failure not only delayed the
sub-contractors, but it has subjected G. L..
Wilson Il Co., the original parties, to an ex-
pense of some $4,000 to put up an arch upon
which to build the bridge, in place of the
usual false work, which was thought INSULT
cient to resist the power of the winter floods.
The lumber was contracted for to be saw
ed at Puget Sound, and, had it been deliver
ed at the date agreed, the main bridge would
now have been completed as per agreement.
About the fifteenth of October it became
evident that to depend upon the false work
already up to resist the high water and pow
erful current of the river would be DANCE
rous, and it was determined to spring an
arch over the river and cut out the false
work.
On the 10th of October, three-nch lum-
Der, the only kind which could be procured
in San Francisco, was purchased; but in con-
sequence of the rain storm none of it reach
ed Folsom, until the 23d, at which time the
work Of springing the arch commenced. In
twenty-five days it was completed, and the
false work cut away, leaving to the river a
clear sweep. 1t is composed of three inch
plank, bolted and spiked The total span
of the arch is 200 feet in length, and 25 feet
in width. The structure contains 75, 900 feet
of lumber, $50 bolts about SO inches in
length, 500 large cast washers, $50 structure
bolts, and 45 kegs Of spikes; weight,
about $50 tons. 1t is intended to support,
in addition to its own weight, that Of the
main bridge, equivalent to 800 additional
tons. The top of the present structure is
about rs feet above the bed Of the river; the
top Of the main bridge will be 100 feet above
the river bed.
The railroad bridge will consist Of sin
gle span of 2l3 feet containing 100, 900 feet
Of lumber, and $4,000 pounds Of iron.
AS the lumber all arrived this week, it is
the intention of the contractors to complete
the bridge within the next sixty days, and
lay the iron on the track over the five mile
division before the first of March. Includ
ing those at work on the bridge, there are
some $50 men employed. In paying for
iron, lumber, work, etc, over 5000, 600, we
are assured, have been expended on this ex-
tension since the undert king was b gun.
Although not so far advanced as was intend
ed, in consequence of the failure to get um-
ber, the job has been steadily progressing
since its commencement
Sac Union, Nou. 18Th.