The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-23

70 " neellns, is 80 miles; that of the
Washington branch, 81 miles. Other
branches increase its total length to $50
mics. Otsldings and second main track
there are built nearly 300 miles more.
The original cost OF the entire work is
thirty-one millions of dollars.
It's heaviest permanent grade on the
eastern declivity of the Alleghanies is
ZIG feet per mile for II miles; its great
est altitude, 1920 feet. 1t has twelve
repair stations. 80 repair shops, 9S water
stations, 30 telegraph stations and line
of wires, II tunnels, 1904 feet of tun-
nelling, 1876 bridges on the main stem,
l3,0SS feet of bridging, about 1000 cars
and nearly 2,3S engines, and gives occu-
patton to 5000 officers and employe. Its
annual income, i'll good times, has been
five millions of dollars.
The road-bed is probably superior to
any line of considerable length in Amer
lea. 1t is rock-ballasted, and laid with
heavy rail strongly secured. The first
rail used weighing iifty-iive pounds per
lineal yard, for which rail of seventy
five and eighty-tivc pounds was substi-
tuted, nd recently il has been increased
to one hundred pounds.
Astonishing activity has characterized
the repair Of portions Of the line dam
aged by raids during the war, and re-
markable exemption from accident is
noticed, as. during the entire existence
of the road. it has suffered but one Sc
rious accident, and that was due to an
avoidable circumstance when the road
was new.
Several years ago ii WAS estimated by
an officer of the road that an army of
10000 men could be transported over it
in thirty hours. The prediction is more
than verified in the following, received
from w. p. Smith, the Well-knoWn and
efficient master of transportation of the
road:
s"The heaviest movement that we
have made, or that has been made by
any railway in the country, was of the
5000 men in Hooker's two corps, in
September last, from Washington to
Chattanooga. This great body of men,
with all their artillery, equipage, wag-
ons and effects, including the cavalry
horses, occupied about 1000 ears, and
were carried from Washington to Ben
wood, on the Ohio river, 400 miles, in
about forty hours"
the line of this road has been the aston
ishment and admiration of travellers
from all quarters of the globe.
From Harper's Ferry, where the road
has broken a rough passage through
the frowning mountains of the Blue
Ridge, to the crossing Of the Potomac
again before Cumberland, Il distance of
ninety-eight miles, the road passes
through the eastern section of Western
Virginia, Il mingled scene of rough ra-
vines, river rapids, widening plains, and
mountain barriers, which push forth en-
croachingly upon the river, compelling
a detour not made by the stream with
out a noisy yet unavailing murmur.
After a run through Maryland of little
more than twenty miles, corner of
Hampshire county, in West Virginia, is
struck at New Creek and Piedmont, the
terminus of the first division of the road
and site of extensive machine shops.
From this point rise of about nineteen
hundred feet is accomplished in seven
teen miles, the steepest railroad grade
in the country. Passing the glade lands
of the summit, which are in Maryland,
the traveller is again introduced into
West Virginia just as he commences the
western descent OF the Alleghanics, and
viewsa beautiful panorama of mountain
peaks piled upon reeeding mountains.
Soon the most sublime of railroad see
merry is in View; the passage Of the
Cheat river, the winding along the al
most perpendicular sides of the noun
tain, with the chocoate-colored stream
far down It's base, and similar range
on the opposite side, presenting to- dis
tant observer q scene aptly represented
by Il walk furrOWed around the spire of
a towering steeple. Cheat river is cross
ed by Il viaduct based upon abutmcnts
and a pier OF solid freestone. \ mile
further westward, Kyer's run, rs feet
deep, is crossed by an cnbankment of
solid masonry; then Buckeye Hollow is
bridged by works 1913 feet in depth and
last, but not least, the famous Tray Run
is crossed, ut the height Of $50 feet, by u
viaduct 600 feet long, a huge network
of iron upon q massive base Of masonry.
At the west end Of the via6iuct, from Il
broad ledge ovefhan@in@ the npecipiec
an impressive view Of the great cllasm
OF The Cheat river. IS obtained, with the
stream itself three hundred feet below,
winding northWard and disappearing
among the mountains.
Soon another barrier is reached. Pro
jecting spurs have been eifcunVented,
deep ravines Overlcapea, aspiring knobs
bisceted, and the height thus persever-
ingly overcome; but here conlronts the
road a peak vet DO feet higher still, ard