The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-10-29

SOuPAo " dHs NAeSA VIC We iAhiAS
of the marvellous work his nov
able kitchens were seen all along
the line, furnishing q supply of ex-
cellent dinners, from six francs for
the higher employees down to ten
cents for the workmen.
All these interesting features
the almost magic rise of a railway
in heavy chalk soil. the wonder
full activity of thousands Of skill
full labOrers on so short 3 distance,
and the almost fairy>like illumina-
ton at night-attracted immense
numbers Of Parisians, who came
by day and BY night to witness the
strange sight, and brough. rich
reward at once to the enterprising
company.
High and large embankmenss
were Of course out Of the question
under snch circumstances, and the
company adopted, therefore, our
own system Of trestle works in
stead, planting immense piles by
means of hundreds Of steam rams,
which went to work at one and the
same time. Strengthening them
simultaneously by heavy cross
timbers, and laying the track with
out delay on the solid structure
One such trestle bridge, two thou-
sand feet long, crossed the valley
Of the Marine. q second, of only five
hundred feet, that Of the Vesle, and
a third, of six hundred feet, the
lowlands of smaller stream.
When the whole line was com
pleted, these trestle- works were fill-
ed up with earth. and at leisure
changed into huge entertainments.
The principal bridge, however, was
from the first placed upon solid
beton foundations.
The construction began, of
| course, at Chalons, so as to remain
constantly in direct communication
with Paris, from which all the ma
terial and the supplies had to be
obtained. An electric telegraph
line was likewise erected along the
route, with a station at every thou
sand yards, SO that not a moment
was lost by the sending Of MESA
ges and orders, and directions
could be issued at once to every
part of the line. The track spun
out like a ribbon, with all the nee
essary additions of crossings, turn
outs, barriers, fencing on both
sides, station buildings; in fact
everything that belongs to the most
complete outfit of first class rail
way; and as soon as the rails were
laid down, locomotives came ur
! cautiously with new material anC
supplies for the workmen. The
! country through which the new
line passed was fortunately no
very rich, and hence the owners o
land, struck by this unheardo
display of energy and capital com
bined, willingly coded their right:
and offered their assistance in eve
ry available shape.
1t was said then, and it has since
been confirmed by the emperor
own admission, that he suggested
this exploit in no wanton desire t.
prove his power and to excite won
der and admiration, but with q viev
to ascertaining what could be don
under similar circumstances il
time of war by the aid of the abso
Lutte power Of commanding gen
eral. He attained his end in til
most satisfactory manner. On tn
fifty sixth day after the first blo'
had been struck the locomotiv
passed over the whole line fror
the station at Chalons to the tel
minus in the centre of the camp
during the next five days the sia
ton buildings, restaurants, an
waiting rooms were completel
finished, and on the sixty-first da
the emperor opened the new rail
way in person, expressing his hig
satisfaction at the unexpected sue
cess in the most impressive word:
and bestowing brilliant reward
, upon the chief agents in the gres
: enterprise.