The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-10-28
THE BLUE RIDGE RAILROAD.

We understand that several of the contractors or
this Road have gone to Walhala, for the purpose
of making arrangements to begin at once the work
ted 1t is certain that vigorous and energetic
measures will now be taken, and we hope the con-
tractors will not only put large force at work
but will in all respects redeem their pledges in re-
gard to its speedy construction. a correspondent
of the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel furnishes thai
journal with the following facts regarding tins I'M
portani line of communication:
The corps of surveyors which lett "aiha'la I'd
the latter part of last summer to resurVey anu 10
cate the route of the Railroad, has passed ihrougi
CLAYTON. Rabun Gap, the Tennessee Valley, and
boi ooIten some distance into North Carolina. A
corns of SURVEYORS had also been recently organ
lied and had started from Maryvle, Tennessee,
TO meet the party of engineers just mentioned. 1t
is expected that the two corps will meet each 9TH
er this winter in the region of the Smoky noun
tains.
AS we have before stated the engineers perna-
nenty locate the line of the road as they proceed
with the survey, and appoint or detach members
of the corps to take charge of and superlnend the
construction of the different sections OF the rail-
way, and everything seems 20 indicate that this
~
as rapidly as possible.
Our readers are no doubt, aware that thirty
three miles of this railroad, from Anderson TO
Wahala, South Carolina, on the southern end of
the line, and that portion of the line from
Knoxville to Maryville, Tennessee, on the
western end, are already completed and in
OF eration. The road from Walhalla to- Clayton,
Georgia. about twenty-five miles, has been put un
der contract and let out to q sub contractornamed
u,bo hoe dooa rrea deal of work
on Southern and Southwestern railroads since the
termination of hostilites and said to have been
very successful in his operations. This part of
the line is considered by railway engineers to COM
prise the heaviest work on the whole road, and
our informant does not think that it will be posi-
BILE to complete it within the lime-August, 1871
specified in the contract. On this portion of
the route, running through very rough and
mountainous country, three large tunnels VIII!
have 10 be excavated under the mountains. One
of these is the celebrated "Stump- House Noun
tain - tunnel, situated few miles from Walhalla,
and which is at this time more than two thirds
completed. The shafts are SO full of water, how
ever, that it will take much time and money TO get
it ready for work. and the remainder of the tunnel
will be so difficult TO excavate that the contractor
at one time seriously thought Of Abandoning it,,
and running the road around instead of through
the mountain, although much money had al
ready been sunk with the shafts. "Dick's Greek !"
Tunnel is the next one to Stump House Mountain,
and will be also very heavy job on account of its
length and the hardness of the rock which will be
encountered. Both of the tunnels just mentioned
will be bored with machinery modelled after that
which is now being used with such complete sue
cess on the tunnel under Mount Gents in Italy.
The third. Saddle mountain Tunnel, will be
worked after the old style
Shanties were being put up along this line when
our informant left Rabun, workmen were on their
way there from North Carolina. and by this time
work has. no doubt, been commenced. The con-
struction of the entire line from Walhalla to
Knoxville, will be commenced rs soon as the sur
veys are finished, and every effort made to ensure
its completion within the time specified.