The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-23
JyRox OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

and during the three days OF my stay here
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
time of endi, g it. And yet, very little has
been done. Indeed, it may be said that but
for the kind assistance of MIR. Waterman, a
brother .in-law of Governor Scott, the contract
of Crisweli (sic), Sellers & Patterson would have
been forfeited, leaving the Executive Commit
tee at liberty to make another contract where.
in there should be lees room for executive per-
ouisites. This is the way of it. Under this
contract with the Blue Ridge Railroad Com
pany, CriswelI Il Co. were to commence opera
tions on a certain day or forfeit their bargain.
The day approached, and Criswell d 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 q contract made to COM
pete the road at 81, 900, 600 or s., 500 900 more
than the Just and legitimate price. Governor
Scott, throughout, gives the successful con-
tractors advantages which tbeiririvals did not
enjoy. And when the contractors are about to
forfeit their contract by not beginning work at
the stipulated time, brother. in-law Waterman
1.-THE same man who ssys that Robert had
South Carolina in sling !") steps in, shovels
dirt in mastery way, and saves the contrac-
tors from the consequences Of their hardness.
Governor Scott was the savior of Criswell
Il Co. Is there any man in this State
fool enough to believe that this was
done for love of 1.-THE great pubic work. or for
love OF the lucky contractors? Is there any
man now in South Carolina, outside of the
Ring, who will deny that LUX was right
in saying that Scott has direct pecu-
MARY interest in the Blue Ridge contract
Brother-in-law Waterman shovels 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. are ready to
carry out their contract. They notified Pres:-
dent Harrison last week that they were pre-
pared 10 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, and
1 presume that the Blue Ridge Railroad CON-
pany is, by this time, without dollar OF debt,
for am assured by gentlemen WHO arrived
here YesterdaY. that the rnonay wee sss"''s''"
in bank awaiting the coming OF MIR. Harrison.
THE BORING ABOUT TO BEGIN
This ia one hard fact, and another is that
there arc two locating parties OF engineers IN
thofeld, and Major Steers, the sub-contractor
for the Stump House, War Woman and Dicks
Creek tunnels, is really here in Walhalla. MIR.
Steers, who is an experienced contractor and
q driving man, hopes 20 be able to begin bor-
ing on the tunnels in about month. The
length Of tunuellipg to be done is about as
follows: Stump House 1900 feet; Dicks Creek
21OO feet; and War 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 2700 feet, Of
which only 600 feet are completed.
By hand labor from thirty to forty feet
month can be tunnened, but by sinking shafts
and working simultaneously on each face,
several parties can work at the same time. MIR.
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 take
many hours to do the same work, go that the
tunnelhng may be finished earlier than is ex'
pected. None Of the engineers, however, be-
lieve that the whole work can be done in less
than THREE YEARS; Scott & Co. to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
THE ORIGINAL LINE.
learn that the unwise conduct OF the origi-
nal projectors OF the road in limiting their en-
gineers to grade Of sixty feet to the mile has
been, and is, great disadvantage to the COM
pany. In more than one instance the line is
far longer than was necessary, and ereat deal
of useless work has bean done; all in order
that the grades might be kept below the arbl.
trary standard Of the persons who had control
of the work. The new surveys which have been
made lately show that far better line than
the original line could have been selected, but,
as SO much work is done it is thought better
and cheaper to go on and finish the line as it
now runs. One change IN the route will be
made, saving the company about $4,000.
THE ROAD AZ IT Runs.
The thirty-tbree miles Of the Blue Ridge
Railroad, from Anderson to Walhalla, now IN
operation, are in fair order. New ties are
wanted along the greater part of the line, and
some ditching is necessary; bat the road was
well built and is worked with judgment, econo-
my aud proper regard to the convenience OF
the public. There is a daily train each way,
and or Fridays two trains each way. Yester-
day a special train was run from Walhalla to
Anderson, where the Methodist District Con-
ference is in session. This train took over a
large number of passengers from this village
and from Pendleton. The Superintendent oi
the Blue Ridge Railroad, ". H. D. Gaillard,
ESQ.,, is an able and faithful guardian OF the
interests of bis company, and neglects no op-
portunity Of serving and accommodating the peo-
pie along the line Of road.
THE VILLAGE.
Walballa itself is already about three miles
long. with population of 700; but the gaps In
the streets are filing up rapidly, and think
that there are more new stores building in the
village than you will find in some places OF