The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-12-19

pers rest on i compact Deu vi oouiuci"
which lie from twelve to fourteen feet De'o"
low water. The earthwork OF this secuon
of line is inconsiderable; the @radeS ana
alignment are very favorable. v..
coSsEcT1oH WITH TIDE-wATER AT RICHMOND.
The Chief Engineer deyotes good portion
of bis report to this important work, Wh'ch
has been pressed forward during the year,
and is nearly completed.
Since his report was written trains have
been passing through. The Church Hill
tunnel, he says. is driven through very
firm and compact clay, which contains no
springs of water and in which the eXclva'
ton can be carried on rapidly ard at low
cost. The report also touches upon the dilll'
culties which have attended operations IN
The tunnel. and alludes to the seYeral accl'
dents which delayed the work.
The tunnel rs originally designed was
completely arched, except where interrupted
BY Shafts Nos. !, q, and 3, in September
| It was intended to be $500 feet long, wlth
its eastern portal in a ravinc short distance
cast of Twenty-ninth street, where the cut
| ting was 40 feet in depth. The approach
cut was intended to be Of single-track WlCtn,
the tunnel being for doube-track, 20 feet .
inches wide at the spring of the arch.
During the spring, slides OF an cxtiaor-
binary character occurred on both sldcs.
Under this state OF things 1t WAS thou9ht
| prudent to extend the tunnel, ana 10
arch a portion of the proposed cut where
the depth was not enough to tunnel about
400 feet has thus been added, and about 500
feet of the approach-cut has been Wldened
TO double-track and securely walled.
| It was intended to pack the space between
the walls and the sides and roof Of the tun-
mel with earth eXcayatcd from it. IL was
found impracticabe to break the ciods OF
CLAW with rammerS, and as these cods would
be softcned in time and occupy less space,
and thus leave cavities, it was thought neces-
sarv to pack with brick and stone instead.
| This appeared more important in this than
in other earth tunnels constructed on your
line. In other tunnels there were tails from
the roof. but they were gradual and pro-
pressjye, aud not in masses OF sufficient SIZE
TO eu,lauger the arch. In the Church Hill
tunnel the material falls in solid uiasS from
the surface. The packing was laid in NOR
tar. and there can be no sensible setting
hereafter from Shrinkagc.
The accident mentioned. the extension OF
the tunnel, the increase IN the amount OF
masonry, and the heavy slides i'll the valley
of Bloody run have increased the cost OF
this work.
The connection with Underwater, passing
through the city of Richmond without any
erade.cro,sngs which will seriously embar-
rass its operations, will prove to be inYalua-
bic to this company, and perhaps to other
companies, and will be worth all that it has
cost.
| BRANCH LINES.
| Under this head the report mentions the
extensive sdings from COal-Mincs, Low
moor branch, Quinnemont, Il. Adams, Nc'
Al the opening of the line there were but
two coaI-mnes tributary TO the line. 1hefe
are now, either in operation or nearly ready,
eight and three others are in preparation anu
will he opencd soon. Two iron.turnaces are
being built at and near Clifton Forge others
will no doubt be built next year.
These operations arc encouraging, III
though feeble in comparison win those %
which the road is capable OF sustaining anu
if these are successful, as we cannot uouo'
thew will be, must be followed by man!
others. Large and remuneratl'e as we ma!
hone ard reasonably expect The throuSi
business OF the line to be, the way business
due to the vast deposits OF iron ore anu Goa
contiguous to the line, must be even more
valuable.
| OIHEE lONNECiloHS'
The surveys for the connections west anG
north of the Ohio river are completed, but
no definite location Is yet determined upon
! The PeninsUar extension, intended 10
connect the road with the beautiful harbor oil
! Yorktown, has been located during the sum-
mer. The distance from Richmond Is aoout
ISL miles the maximum grade is 80 feet per
mile, except near the proposed wharIcs III
| Yorktown. where 40 feet per mile for SHORT
distance may be used. The alignment Is SUI
| pcrior, and the estimated cost per mile very
light. In short time the plans Tor improve
mrnts ON the barbor front, together with Il
detailed estimate of the whole cost from
Richmond, will be submitted 70 the Prcsl-
dent for inspection and approval.
The Chief Engineer concludes his report
with complimentary notice OF the division
aud assistant engineers who were associated
with him in the company's service.
| On motion of Mr.. II. VI. Bell. Of Staun-
ton. the report OF President Huntington and
accompanying documents were
| REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE;
and the Chair appointed the following gen
tIcmen to serve OH said committee: MeSsrs.
| III. VI. Bell, Charles L. Workman, {. Z.
Mason, Henry Cady, y. X. Trout, Joseph
r. Anderson, and William McAIi>ter.
! On motion of Mr.. Bel! the stockholders,
at 100 took recess until L. VI.
| Afternoon Session.
The stockholders resumed their session at
| o'clock.
Major II. VI. Bell, from the committee to
whom was referred the report of President
| Huntington and the directors Of the road.
presented the following resolution; which
was adopted:
| RcSolred, That the report OF the preSi-
| dent and directors is hereby accepted, ap-
proved, and confirmed.
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
On motion of Major H. NJ. Bell the follow
ing resolution was adopted
| "EeSolred, That C.. ?. Huntington, A. A.
Low, William II. Aspinwall, David Stewart
Jonas G. Clark, William Il. Hatch, William
Whitewright, Jr., of New York; Pliny
Fisk, of New Jersey; II. c. Parsons, of West
| Virginia; John Echols and Williams C..
Wickham, Of Virginia, be and they are here.
by elected directors for this company for the
ensuing year."
After the Usual vote of thanks customary
| on such occasions the meeting adjourned
| sine Gte.
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS, THURSDAY
The following business was transacted
Vcnable Us. Commonwealth. From the
Hastings Court of the city Of Richmond.
| Affirmed, Judge Moncure delivering the