The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-31


ELECTION DAY IN WEST 'iRGisiA"-fhE
RAPID WORK on THE WESTERN END OF
THE goAD-GANGs OF NIGHT HANDsPUT
TO WORK, &C, &C. &C.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,
August 81, 1872. !
Yesterday 1t was my good fortune TO pass
over the western extension Of the Chesa'
apeake and Ohio railroad so far as the track
has been laid. Your paper has a'reaoy ue.
scribed tie road for sixteen miles 10 the
Seweli crossing of the Grecnbricr river.
Passing over the bridge you come 10
MAINS FERRY,
two miles distant. This is place OF some
interest as being distant about eleven
mile, from Union, the county.scat of
Monroe. and situated in the justly celebrated
farming and grating lands so well known TO
the visitors of the Salt Sulphur Springs.
These Springs were for a long time the resort
of many of the most fashionable and accoIi-
pIished families OF the South, and must
again be resortcd to when they are brolgh,
so near 10 railroad travel. 1t is the great all
vantage of this road that it passes'by or near
SO many delightful and remedial places OF re-
sort. The White Sulphur, Luna IN Stetus
7ntnUs. cannot for many years be adequate
TO the accommodation OF the vast numbers
from the East, North, West, and South, that
* VIM seek for pleasure, recreation, and health
In this happy valley when The chesapeake
and Ohio railroad shall be completed. BE-
sides, ii will be pleasure to those who con.
template long sojourn in the mountains to
vary the scene of enjoyment by occasional
visits to other Springs-erery one OF when
is charming and delightful, and ut which the
visitor may well eXclain, i'll the language OF
the perplexed lover, How happy could
be with either, if other dear charmers were
away"
Mann,s Ferry possesses another interest, to
the seologist, the student Of history, and the
ANTIQUARIAN. MS being one mile from the
former courthouse Of West Augusta, when
the limits of that county, embracing so many
of the present States of this Union, extended
to the Rocky mountains, on the Pacific. lie
old stone house representing the courthouse
and clerks office still remains. at this court
house, too, the distinguished author Of ''Ihe
Travels and the Ruins" the great soney,
sojourned for some time, making his lnvestl-
cations into the secrets OF nature in her
mountain Businesses.
But Il will not do to linger longer in such
dissertations while describing this railroad
jaunt. Passing from Mann's Ferry you en-
ter and pass through
TUNNEL ELEVEN HUNDRED FEET LONG.
The workmen are still engaged in archinS
with brick and stone the western outlet ana
widening the deep cut through which the
roadway emerges again upon the green banks
of the river. At Alderson's ferry, two miles
further on, the road opens upon beautiful
valley. 1t boasts already of saw-mill, ana
the erection of several houses would seem TO
Indicate that this is to be an important STA
ton. It is fourteen miles from Union ana
eight from the Blue Sulphur Springs, so well
and favorably known to the western traveller
before the war. Grass seems TO he the ciiicl
agricultural product OF these river llnds.
There were twenty-one large stacks OF hay
standing in one small field. The grade OF the
road for considerable distance is almost
level-in u ten-mile section the maximum
grade being ten feet to the mile for the dis
lance of half n mile; for n considerable dis
lance only three feet to the mile. Thus IN
unexpected difficulty arises in providing for
the drainage of the road-hcd. Such is the
general character of the road to the present
terminus. In front and to the right Of the
= road you will be attracted by mountain
called
THE LooKING-GLAss MOUNTAIN.
The name originates from a comparatively
small clearing, oblong in shape. clothed III
verdure, which seems to be reflected from
the vast evergreen forests that surround and
fringe the borders of the mirror. At Ora
hams ferry we pass the Grecnbrier river
upon q temporary bridge. The iron for the
permanent bridge had just arrived by the
construction train, aud the. bridge will bt
finished in few days. 1t is built by Major
Latrobe, Of Baltimore, who is earning mucl
reputation us a bridge.builder. The two
bridges we have passed were constructed by
Clarke L. Riyes, of Philadelphia. The stone
masonry of the first by Major Kelley, of tn,
second by Mr.. Robert Harvey, and of The
third by Major McMahon, each for double
track, and, like all the masonry on this road
! worthy of particular admiration rs types OF
strength and beauty.
GRAHAM'S FERRY
is only eight miles from the Red Sulphur
Springs, which have so high rcpute fol-
regulating the pulse and acting as RENE.
dial agent in the early stages of consumption
Two miles further on we come to the present
terminus of the road, if that can be called
terminus which Is daily advancing. The
road is now thirty -tlve miles from the White
DuipHuf anu u quarter OF nile trOlu the
Great Bend tunnel The pioneer line OF
track-hlyers may be delayed for few days
for its completion; but this will not post
pone the final opening Of the road, as it will
give more time for the contractors beyond to
finish their work of preparing the road-bed,
which is the only thing that retards the
road. There can be no reasonable doubt Of
its completion by the end of this year. The
large force under Mr.. Thomson has laid
over mile and half in 4 single day. There
reinain but seventy miles of track to be laid,
and Of this fifty-two miles will be laid from
this end and eighteen from the western end
Besides the large force
LAYING DOWN TIE STEEL RAILS
there are large gangs Of men employed in
baiIasfing tho road. inserting additional cross
ties and raising those that have become de-
pressed and out Of position from being placed
upon fresh and green embankments. There
seemed to be force Of four OF five hundred
men engaged In this service, and so large Il
force following the tiack-layers, the road will
be well baliasted very soon after the eastern
and western ends OF the road are united.
This large force caves very aniinatedappear
ance to the road as we steamed by.
Shortly after passing Alderson's we were in
TIE NEW COUNTY OF SUMMERS,
narlad in commitment of and aS O grateful