Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-12-31
Tho Vy..Aa. =. Z. 'Exsonolon.
A sEafIsofFiCIAE VISIT OF INSPECTION TT rREsI-
t' DRNT STEELE,

\
DBST STEELE.
Monday afternoon, at three O'Clock, says tie
Reading Eagle, President Hugh Z. Steele, OF the
W. & X. X. r., accompanied by Civil Engineer
Thomas q. Steele, OF the Bcrks County Railtoad,
jumped aboard PASSENGER engine No. q, standing
at theiuot of Front and Court streets, and started
down the new extension of the w. s. K. road
With SElew Of, msklRA = seEni-official inspection
Of lhe, new route The engine bell rang out a
eheeftng song % The many busy hives OF industry
along Front and Canal Streets as the wheels
tuFned on towards the Eekert Bridge. Then with
u shIili whistle the river was crossed, Hnd the
party sped away along down the Muhenberg
farm towards Lovers Leap, and as the eHgtne
made Its way It seemed more like travelling over
an old aud wen -ballastcd road, than mAEing one
of the hrst trips over the rails Reading faded in
the distance, the second bridge and the third was
crossed. aud the party were being rapidly convey
ed down country and on towards :he spot where
the last spike was driven ON Sunday.
Below the Poplar Neck bridge, there Is TO b0
seen of the very finest sections OF railIoad TO
be found anywhere. Mile afier mile on this new
branch is in direct line, with grade slightly
slOping TO the south. The view along the route
Is in many respects grand. The winding Schuyl-
kll OF to the east, the black outlines of the Read
ing road beyond, the snow clad hills and the blue
boundaries of clear Italian. like sky, all make up
beautiful panorama to look upon.
As yetpthe deep cut near Poplar Neck Is un-
hnished,, aud the tracks run over the summit.
This wIH,hOt interfere with the regular running
of trains. The road is being rapidly pushed on to
cOmpletiOn All along the unfinished part OF the
line, gangs Of men Arc employed In STRENGTHENING
the rails aud baHssting the tracks. The men seem
determined to hurry on the work and finish the
job. The run from Poplar Neck bridge TO q 0ibral-
tar will be q magnificent one, straight aud level
rs 10 to be seen anywhere; while away across the
river the black rails of the competing highway to
the sea suetch parallel, thus presenting for the
tWO rOadb q grand ground for many an eGcltlng
race In ne future. Straight lines after straight
lines follow. each other below 0Ibraltar, aud the
road IRON thence 10 Birasboro' is easy running
and OF q gradual descending grade. Wherever
the Eoaa7yey is completed most excellent time is
Upon ihs arrival OF the party at BirdsborO',
President Stesle, who had previously expressed
bis entire satisfaction with the condition and pros
pects the Branch, lett the engine aud departed
tor home.
Should ths weather continue favorable the en-
tire work on the new Branch as 1t Is at present
arranged, may be temporarily finished before the
close 6fths week. And shortly after that trial
triPof PaSsengef trains may be made. As yet
there iare no stations located nor sldings laid
down. II will EeQuire some time before the road
will be ln proper condition for regular passenger
end freight traf1e Should work be immediately
commenced on the unfinished portion Of the deep
cut q could net be completed shOFt of i've or six
months and with the present heavy grade over
the sunIhlt at that point il does not appear prac
ticable or ad Visable to run any sort of train IS
vet 'rr 'A t-'f