Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-01

neer OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,) are
much more serious and heavy than generally
supposed, from the fact that through its whole
length it crosses water courses instead of follow
ing them, as railroads generally do. kr. Ran
dOlph, well known as one OF the most accom-
plislSd engineers in the country, is Washing
tonian, "a son OF the late much respected VIM
B. Randolph,) and feels much interest in the
speedy completion of the road.
Some fuller particulars than have yet an
peared concerning the Metropolitan Road will
doubtless be of interest 30 Washington readers.
Starting from the Point Of Rocks the first heavy
work is at the MOnocsey, where there is to be an
iron bridge so feet above the water, consisting Of
three spans of 300 feet each. On the west side OF
the bridge 10000 yards OF embankment have
been borrowed from the side hills, and on the
east side is a cut of 1900 feet, averaging % feet
in depth. Then comes the Little honocscy,
with bridge 20 feet above water. and wrought
iron trestle 400 feet long. At PAIRS Ridge III
miles from the Point of Rocks is cut 900 feet
long and 30 feet deep in the middle. At Buck
lodge Run, one mile from here, there ID an en-
bankment OF 20 feet, and an arch of Is feet span.
At Little Seneca (f6 miles from the Point OF
Rocks) the grade OF the road i. JOG feet above the
water, which Is spanned by an iron trestle 800
feet long. Next this is a cut in the solid rock,
half a mile long and s. feet deep in the middle,
tapering each way. Eighteen miles from the Point
OF Rocks is heavy cut, 900 feet in length, and
for a quarter OF that distance 50 feet in depth.
Then comes the Big Seneca, where the track Is
&C feet above water, requiring two spans of iron
Of 125 feet each. West of the Seneca there is
heavy cut of 90 feet, and on the east side very
heavy embankment, the material of which has
10 he borrowed from the neighboriBg fields. This
is 10 miles from the Point of Rocks; and from
here to the 31st mile, near Rock Greek, the work
is quite light and is about finished. In fact, be-
cause of being so light IT was not commenced UNI
til this spring. Next we come to Rock Creek,
where the track is &c feet above water, requiring
an iron bridge Of four spans of 100 feet each, The
point where the road crosses Rock Greek is three
miles from the Seventh street turnpike, near
Silver Spring. On the section this side "a miles
from Point of Rocks there is a long cut 80 feet
deep in the center, from which "a 200 cubic
yards of solid rock have been removed and piled
up along the road to be distributed as ballast for
other sections. There is enough to supply bal
last for ten miles of road.
Besides the work above mentioned there are
three arched bridges of IS feet span, each, under
entertainments 20 feet deep; and number of cuts
ranging from 20 to 10 feet.
Geological Features.
Between Nolan's Ferry and the Point of Rocks
the road builders encountered formidable masses
OF Jraocid, more commonly known as "oonglOm-
eTate'' or pudding stone and which in Mary
land bears the somewhat appropriate name OF
''uhe calico rocks" The pillars in the old Hall
OF Representatives are OF this stone, and the
effect is 20 peculiar that many people can with
difficulty be made 10 believe that IL is not sort
OF mosaic composition. This stone abounds in
the whole country trsSersed by the Metropolitan
railroad, and was met I'm great blufs requiring
labOrious cuts through solid walls "a feet in
depth. 1t is hard TO drill sledge, but is blown
readily, and takes q fine polish. 1t can also be
sawed. This curious stone Is composed of water
worn pebbles cemented with sand-hme, and
containing iron enough TO color it.
On section 10 (32 miles from Washington)
bed OF slate was found running under the road
but was not traced. 1t Is the same vein now
successfully worked at Hyattsville, and when
the road is opened il viii doubtless be deyel
oped.
Near section 81 some seap-stone quarries Of
fine quality were crossed, which will also be
successfully developed, without doubt. In the
same locality indications Of chrome were seen,
and also OF iron ore. The Montgomery county
gold belt also crosses the road In the vicinity OF
Rock Greek, but unfortunately, or perhaps for
tunately, it has never been found IN paying
quantities.
The land on the line of the road is good, and
is especially capable OF high improvement by
the use OF lime, q fertilizer that can be procured
with facility from upper Maryland so soon ~ the
road is opened. The rolling country, well
wooded and vstcred, Is also favorable for eoun-
try residences, and the succession OF rounded
hills brought within easy reach OF the city by the
railroad will, before many years, be occupied
by handsome villas.
Stations on the Road.
The first regular station will be at Silver
Spring, but flag stations will be located at every
intersecting country road, and also at points
intermediate. In fact the accommodation trains.
answering 30 what IL called the "Bob-tail" train
on the Baltimore road, viii stop wherever a flag
is waved. The purpose is TO build up local bust
ness, andifthis purpose Is carried out in liberal
spirit Montgomery county will take a wonderful
start in the way Of improvement, upon the open
ing of the road.
The next regular station beyond Silver Spring
win be at Rockville, II miles from Washington;
and the next at Gsithersburg, 81 miles from
Washington. This Is the point from which Mr..
Garrett proposes TO make n connection with
Laurel, by which he will shorten his line from
Pittsburgh TO Baltimore miles, and save the
heavy 30 feet grade at PARIS Ridge on the Patap-
SEQ route. 1t viii also save the sharp curves of
the PatapsoO valley, aud which give the road for
fifteen miles above Ellicott's Mills the name of
''the Rams Horn" The route By the way of
GaithersbuTg and Laurel viii undoubtedly
supersede the PatapscO road altogether as the
main route of travel between Baltimore and the
West, and the latter line will be given up TO
freight trains.
Beyond Gaithersburg the next station viii be
at Germantown, "a miles from Washington; and
the next, called " Nicholson's,' - four miles fur
ther, on the Sugar Lands road from GAINESVILLE
u Clarksburg. Next comes the GAINESVILLE sta
ton, 81 miles from Washington on the road from
Poolesville to Monrovia. The Nolan's Ferry
station succeeding, is SO miles from Washington
and three-fourths OF a mile from the Potomac.
communicating by the ferry with London coun-
ty, Va. The next station is at the Point OF
Rocks, the end of the Metropolitan road and the
point of junction with the Baltimore and Ohio
road.
What Will the Metropolitan Road 10
for Washfngt0nr