The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1871-09-08
From the Louisville Courier journal, 3Oth.l
THE ST. LOUIS AIRLINE.


! CSSs
by invitation Of Hon. Augustus Brad
ley, President of the Louisville, New
Albany and ST. Louis Airline railroad,
party of prominent gentlemen of this
city made visit to the big tunnel, near
New Albany, yesterday.
President Bradley had made ample
accommodations for his visitors. Con-
veyances were ready OH the arrival of
the train. Chief Engineer Dukes took
charge of the rcportorial corps. Sccre-
tary Lyman, Contractor Matthews. Di-
rectors Jesse j. Brown, w. $. Culbcrt-
son, &. &. Cannion, Morris Mcdonald
and Col. Bella {. Kent, had their car
riages in waiting. n rapid drive soon
took the party TO Lower Fifth street.
where the trcstle-work commences.
This trestlc-work is Intended TO over
come the elevation TO the first bench OF
the knob and to save the track from
overflow in high water. The length OF
this trestlc, including the bridge over
Falling Run, is fifteen hundred feet the
average hight twenty-five feet. From
the west end Of this trestle to second
trestle is three-fourths of mile, which
really is only long bridge. The third
trestle is four hundred and fifty feet in
length, with an average hight Of thirty
five feet. These three trcstlcs, except
ing span of sixty feet over Falling Run,
are completed and ready for the iron.
The fourth trustle is seven hundred and
fifty feet in length, with an average elc-
vation OF fifty feet. This is not vet COM
plctcd, but is in very forward stage
Of progress. Besides these, there are
two other trestles, moi as long as the
ones particularized, but still Of large
proportions. This trestle-work is built
by Mcssrs. Washer Il Hooper. and o.
the heaviest and best materials. The cx-
cavatiOns and cuts OH the road are mir
aclcs of wonder, from their immense
hight and great depth. The fills span
the deepest and widest looking gurgcs
ever spanncd by the hand of man. The
cuts penetrate the most rugged and inn
pcrvious looking hills, and yet the work
done upon them is in a manner to ex-
cite the admiration of the best railroad
men of the very many of whom have
visited the line. Equally marvellous are
the tunnels. These are four in number
on the first six miles of the road. The
first, two hundred feet long the second,
one hundred and seventy feet long the
third, two hundred and eighty-fivc fcctl
long; the fourth, three thousand nine
feet long. The first three are
ready for the track. The big
tunnel has been cxcavated from the cast
end five hundred and thirty-two feet.
Two shafts have been sunk in it from
the top of the hill, the first Que hundred
and eighteen feet deep. From this the
tunnel has been eXcavatcd two hundred
and fifty feet. The second shaft is sew
enty-two feet in depth, and from this
shaft the excavation reaches one hum
drcd and fifty feet. At the west end of
The tunnel two hundred feet has been
This will give our readers
some idea ofthc vast energy that is being
displayed by President Bradley and his
in pushing forward this
grand work. This is the longest tunnel
in the West, and it pcnetratcs its entire
length through solid blue limestone.
which is the character of the rock in all
Inc tunnels. Westward from New Al
bany the road is under sub-contract a
distance Of nearly fifty miles, taking in
Ihe famous block coal fields Of Indiana,
.hc best coal TO be found i'm the State,
md equal for iron smelling to any coal
N the country. Rich iron ores are found
N the most prolific abundance, and also
reached in this distance.
The balance Of the road, to Princeton,
will be sub-lct as fast as the engineers
:an locate it, and then we will have
llong the line the best coal. iron ore,
,mory, building-stonc, mineral paints.
,alt, and even lead. The road will also
penetrate the finest agricultural district
Of Indiana. This will give the people
of Louisville some proper idea OF the
they are 10 receive for
heir liberal subscription of five hun
lrcd thousand dollars to the road.
From Princeton to Mount Carmel, a
distance Of ten miles, the road has been
and in operation since the lst
Of last January. The work on the bridge
over the Wabash river, at Mount Car
mel, will be completed by the first Of
April next, and it is confidently hoped
TO have the entire road finished to the
Wabash river by the first of June, 1872.
The Illinois division will be completed
by that date, and thus Louisville will be
connected with st. Louis by 4 line near
" fifty miles shorter than she now has,
Or is likely ever to have.