New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-08
THE RAILROADS or YIRGINLA

WHITE SULPHUR sPRINGs-THE MOUNTAINS
TUNNELED AGAIN-A NEW RoCTE BLTWEEN
THE sEABoARD AND THE WESr-ruE CHES-
APEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, on THE LINE BE-
TWEEN EAST AND WEST VIRGINIA, June Sl-CompIa
lively few persons aware what SURPRISINGLY PIC
turesaue mountain region lies at our homes neary-
"a hours travel OF NewYork confess my as'ohisnne'
that the beauties and attractions OF the Allegheny Range
in tho region OF the sources Of the James and KanahWa
streams should have been known mainly TO the odfash
toned politicians and nvads from the Southern states
The AdroudacRs the White Mountains, and other resorts
OF tourists not more charming aspects TO present
than the region between tho Blue Ridge and this point
Would It not be we'll for tourists before rushing to Eu
rome or 10 the Rocky Mountains 10 traverse some OF the
wild and rugged mountains at their very doors Aslde
from the medicinal properties OF tho various mineral
waters-and Is variety OF them hereaDout' moro
than 20 In atho pure, COOL bracinB mountain air IS
curative OF itself Sleeping under blankets Is eomior'a
bic every night while the temperature during the day
never Impressive Only one thing remains TO be added 10
render the spot worldwide famous that let me say Is
the influx OF Northern visitors With them come all the
accessories Of highest CIVILIZATION good, comiortabe
rooms and wholesome cuisine.
Two great events arc destined think 20 revolutonizc
things in this upper portion OF Virginia. refer to tho
incoming OF Northern settlers and the completion OF the
line OF railroad which has been slowly advancing west
ward across the State for the past thirty years IL may
not DO generally known that tho Allegheny range has
again been covered by railroad. Yesterday had tho
pleasure OF travelling the first passenger train which
passed over from the waters 81 the James River TO the
valleys OF the Kanahwa. Tho limo between Richmond
and the base OF tho mountains proper at stanton was
completed some years ago. mainly with the aid OF the
State Of Virginia and at the close Of the war tho building
OF the line suspended at Coyinon an antique tte
town at the base Of the wesernmos chain OF ridges
Since 1868 but little more could be done with the means
az command than 10 put tho old Hue In repair and TO
open TWENTY-FIVE miles additional upon which much OF
the heaviest work had been done. This considera
bic task has ength accomplished and on tomorrow the
trains viii make continuous trips from Washington
ieavrg nv the r. M train reach White Sulphur Springs
at $50 the evening In order % appreciate the vast
work which has engaged the attention OF tho Railroad
Company for the past four years may be well 10 state
that the cort OF tho "a miles Of road VIZ 20, "h"h pei
million or more has been raised since the war The
tunnel by which tho summit OF the Allegheny pierced
enough admit double track as are also several other
smaller tunnels and cuts required IN making the passage
double trackW This = precisely the dea suggested 70
mysefl II was until had cxaminedtho history and
details Of enterprise that began 10 appreciate either
its magnitude or importance. IL appears thAt JsAts
ago when canals IN favor ana was evident tha
the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys were 20 be tho seats OF
productions the attention OF engineers was turned 20 he
ethan chain Of mountains which lies the country
The Erie Cara the rst constructed but connected
only the great lakes with tho sen, and besides Was
frozen useless half the year Railroads suPereded
"a
wanna had endeayored to construct canai over 70 e
Ohio Pittsburgh and failed, nnd the state OF virginia
had built likewise 20 tho foot OF the same mountains
where the difficulties became insuperabe was az tns
happy Iuuctue that railroads introduced 10 supple
the canal system, which they aerward sot aside
The mountains searched for available water gaps
cut through the subordinate bills, as
carried over in the Valley Of tho susquehanua second
the Valley Of the wyoming and, later third over
the head range VI the Potomac During this iim0 some
OF the most eminent engineers OF the country had exam
med tho James River for suitable passage for canal
OF the Ram Fleet, who lost his life at the naval
Of Me%G P TSs aai had 1 nS
broken ont either railroad or canal or BOTH would
have been long ago connecting the Ohio waters with
those Of the lower Chesapeake presents the feWes
natural obstacles Of auy Of the passes now In use IL Is
ceBdng line can be built from the Ohio to the summit OF
the Aleghenie this point with 10 grade greater
than 80 feet the mile Hence down the tributaries Of
the James tho road built has greater than
80 feet to the mle aud It Is possible 70 reduce these
Cincinnati TO the Chesapeake tide waters less than BY
ace ro s he henG Of al on the he
Kanahwa TO the nayigable waters OF tho James IL actu
ally less than from Pittsburgh 10 Philadelphia. These
facts are very important Tor they give 10 the west
another shorter and easlerrnk ue OF railroad 10 the
ocean. The Chesapeake and Ohio Road, as has been
stated. is more than half built and much the hardest
part OF tho work Is done
Alexandria Railroad at Gordonsvie winch VIII form
Northern connection and offer short line between Gin
cinDati, Louisville and Saint Louis 10 the National Capt.
M lint E egS S gTep IL OF - 70 stP91S
Will the line as the Eastern and Central pOr
lions Of the line abound I'm iron while the Western
section has valuable veins OF pnt and camel coal which
are valuable Tor smelling purposes they contain
sulphur. Beds OF anthracite and bitumnOus coal are
found adjacent TO tho road The officers OF the Company
deserve credit for the manner In which they havo srug
gled through with their gigantic enterprise In view OF the
destitute condition In which the left them Mr. Fon
taine recently deceased To whom theBe eYertlODs
largely due resigned the great trust into the hands OF
Cen Wickham under whose management 1t appears TO
progress with greater energy. Messrs Whcomb
and Riyes the Engineers OF tho line who hero
making examination OF the line, also deserve
mention they have certainly left great monument Of
their skill and judgement 20 be seen OF all men.
Not tho least OF the attractions, 20 my fancy the
limo OF the railroad, must be the region OF mineral
springs OF which there different kinds all Of them
containing different properties. situated within radius
OF 80 miles Of COyngon These have lsnR been tho haunt
OF few nvads aud chronic seekers after health. The
White Sulphur Is the principal OF the group, and here
handsome property Of 5000 has been laid out
esque parts OF the mountains IL elevated about 1900
feet above sea level central hotel, containing prob
ably the largest dinnRrOom aud dancing hall In tho
country Is surrounded by OF 80 white cottages
which families ana the more exclusive classes nhRDit
during the Tho accommodation at present for
the whole OF the Springs IL about 5000 OF which tho White
Sulphur takes the larger part Additions and extensions
will be found necessary long the place has tho
reputation OF being the resort Of politicians where poll
cies and candidates Matched In this competition
here lie keeps very quiet in his little cottage. There
here also several HewYOrk parties; Gen Anderson
OF the Tredegar Works; Baeque Bey Turkish Minister,
and family; g. W. Race OF New-Orleans: Gen EchOls,
Virginia; j. A. johnson Of California; j. Kennedy and
family, Washingoni the Hon. A. T. Carpenter; West
Virginia. There will be quito eOnYOcatiOn here,
u understand on the Fourth OF Juy.
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