The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-23
Iraom oun own oonaEsposp.sr.l I

WALHALLA, Monday, Sept. 20.-The Walhalla
Hotel seems to be the general headquarters Of
the engineer corps OF the Blue Ridge Railroad,
| and during the three days OF my stay hero
have heard little else than gossip about grades
and tunnels, and approaches and strata, to-
gether with speculations as to the probable
time OF beginning work, and the improbable
timo of endirg it. Aud yet, very little has
| been done. Indeed, it may be said hat but
for the kind assistance Of Mr.. Waterman. a
brother-in-law of Governor Scott, the contract
of Criswell tsic), Sellers q Patterson would havo
been forfeited, leaving the Executive Commit
tee at liberty to make another contract where.
in thero should be less room for executive per-
quisites. This is the way of it. Under this
contract with the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, Criswell & Co. we're to commence opera
tious on a certain day or forfeit their bargain.
| The day approached, and Criswsll & Co. made
no sign. The fate of Scott & Co. was trembling
| In the balance, when this Mr.. Waterman came
| to the rescue, and with one man set to work
| upon the road with shovel and pick, and so
saved the contract from forfeiture. Look at
the facts Here is a contract made to COM
plete the road at 81, 100000 or 81, 500, 900 moro
than the Just and legitimate price. Governor
Scott, throughout, gives the successful con-
tractors advantages which tbeiritivals did not
enjoy. And when the contractors are abont to
forfeit their contract by not beginning work at
the stipulated time, brother. in.law Waterman
tthe same man who says that "Robert had
South Carolina in a sling p, steps in, shovels
dirt in mastery way, and saves tho contrac-
tors from the consequences of their tarlipess.
Governor Scott was the eaSior of Criswell
& Co. Is there any man in this State
fool enough to believe that this was
done for love of "tho great public works or for
love of the lucky contraotors2 Is there uuy
man now in South Carolina, outside of tho,
Ring, who will deny that Lux was right
in saying that Scott has direct pccu-
MARY interest in the Blue Ridge contract
Brother-in-law Waterman ehoveIs no more,
but lounges in the hotel piazza, doubtless
awaiting another opportunity OF doing Robert
a good turn. So much for Scott, Waterman &
Co.
DOWN WITH TIE DUST.
In one respect Criswell & Co. ore ready to
carry out their contract They notified Pres.-
dent Harrison last week tRat they were pre-.
pared TO pay over the 100000 required to re-
deem the old first mortgage bonds and the
floating debt of the road. Mr.. Harrison went,
North at once to complete the transaction, ana
presume thatthe Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany is, By this time, without dollar Of debt,
for am assured by gentlemen who arrived
here yesterday, that the money WAS actually
in bank awaiting the coming OF Mr.. Harrison.
THE BORING ABOUT TO BEGIN.
This is'one hard fact, and another is that
there are two locating parties Of engineers in
the field, mud Major Steers, the sub-contractor
for the Stump House, War Woman and Dicks
Creek tunnels, is really here in walhalla. Mr..
Steers, who is an experienced contractor and
driving man, hopes 20 be able to begin bor-
ing on the tunnels in about month. The
length Of tunnelling to be done is about as
follows: Stump House 1900 feet; Dicks Creek
2100 feet; and Wer Woman hoo. The whole
length Of the Stump House tunnel is $500 feet
of which 1900 feet are completed; the whole
length OF Dicks Creek tunnel is 27OO feet, OF
which only 600 feet are completed.
By hand labor from thirty to forty feet a
month can be tunnelled. but by sinking shatts
and working simultaneously on each face,
several parties can work at the same time. Mr,
Steers will use, am told, the Burleigh drill,
which is an improvement upon the drill used
IN the Mount Cents tunnel. This drill will bore
out the chambers to hold blasting charge in
fifteen minutes; by hand labor it would tako
many hours to do the same work, so that the
tunnelling may be fioisked earlier than is ex
pected.. None Of the engineers, however, be-
love that the whole work ean be done in less
than THREE yRAns; scolt & Co. to the contrary
Notwithstanding. .5-
THE ORIGINAL LINE.
learn that The unwise conduct OF the origi-
nal projectors of tho road in limiting their en-
gineers 10 o grade Of sixty feet to the mile has
been. and lie, a great disadvantage to the COM
pany. In more than one instance the line is
far longer than was necessary, and great deal
OF useless work has bean: done; all in order
that the grades might bs kept, below. the arbi.
trary standard Of the. e.persons who had control
Of the work.. The new surveys which have been
made lately show that'a far better limo than
the original line could have been selected, but,
as 30 much work ia done. .itisi thought better
and cheaper to. go on and fnieh the lineas IL
now runs. One change in the route will be
made, saving the Company about &S0, ,000.t ~ (.
THE ROAD AS TT Rgis. ~ lrsl .,':'n
The thirty-three miles OF the Blue Ridge
Railroad, from Anderson to Walhalls. now m
operation, are In fair order. New ties are
"SnsSo oANhN tho kAohtot phEt vi Iuc uuVy 6uU
some ditchiDg is necessary; bat the road was
we'll built and is workod with judgment. e,onoc
my and proper regard to the convenience Of
the public. There is daily train each way,
and on Fridays Two trains each way. Yester.
day special train was run from Wa,halla to
Anderson, where the Methodist District Con-
ference Is in session. Tbts train took over
large nnmber'of passengers from this village
and from Pendleton. :. Tho Superintendent OF
the Blue Ridge Railroad. W. a. b. Gaiilards
Esq, 10 an able and faithful guardian OF tho
interests OF bis company, and fneglects no op-
portnnity Of serving and accommodating the peo-
pie along the line OF road:
e,is.pgdiE THE VILLAGE. n!i,i3.
Walbslia itself is already about three n,iles
long, with population OF 700; but the gaps II,
tho streets are filing up rapidly, Ald I lhink
that there are more new stores, building In the
village than you viii find in some places Of
)ten times the size. The removal OF the conrt