The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-03


after short stop at Millcr's ferry we crossed
the river on the splendid iron bridge, the
longest and finest on the whole road, and
moved down the southern bank Of New river
to its union with the Gauley to form the
Kauawba, eight miles below.
We now enter upon the widest part Of
the whole route. We had thought the
scenery unsurpassed before, but over this
section of eight miles it is
PICTURESQUE BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
At the start the "uawk's Nest" looks
upon lis from the opposite side OF the river,
and we have succession of the most rugged
cliffs, that rise abruptly from both sides Of
the riyer-hanks and wall in the narrow
stream. The scenery is somewhat similar to
that of the passage of the Blue Ridge at Har-
per's Ferry except that, instead of cut
ting the mountain at right angles, the river
seems to split length,rise q continuous noun
tain chain and to rush through the cleft.
The work along this cleft is, of course,
heavy. the road-bed being cut out Of the face
of the sandstone from fifty to eighty feet
deep. with embankments on the riverside
seventy feet high We pass through three
tunnels, and cross Laurel Creek No. 3 on a
noble stone arch Of sixty feet span, which
seemed to be the pride OF the engineers. 81
After what we have said of the large
amount of heavy work on the road west Of
the White Sulphur, and our description OF
the wild, rugged character Of the country,
1t may be inferred that ......
THE COST OF BUILDING
was enormous. | was surprised, therefore,
to learn from the report of Chief Engineer
Whitcomb that the "cost of graduation and
masonry on the eight miles between the New
River bridge, just above the Hawks Nest
and the mouth of the river, does not exceed
$50, 900 per mile, and that the most costly
section is under 100000. The road-bed
between Mechum's river and Waynesboro'
(serenteen miles, cost about 600 per mile
in times when such work could be done
much cheaper than now; and the gradua-
ton and masonry between Covington and
White Sulphur Springs twenty-five miles,
averaged even more. The cost of the sixty
two miles lying in the valley of New river
will probably not exceed that of any sixty
two consecutive miles between Charlottes-
vile and the Ohio river"
Nor are the grades as heavy as one would
expect to find. On the contrary, the maxi
mum grade on this New River division is
onlv tYenty-one feet, and the average grade
ONLY seventeen feet to the mile. At the same
time the road-bcd is from forty to sixty feet
above the water-mark, and we'll protected
from the highest freshet that has ever been
known in the river. No higher tribute to
the engineering skill Of ..@
CHIEF-ENGINEER wHITco,lB
can be paid than the statement of these sim.
ple facts. The man who located such path
through these mountains, and directed the
building Of such A road as this, and at sc
small! q cost, has reached the highest round
in his profession. The echoes Of these cliffs
will sound his praises as the years go on, and
this splendid highway of commerce will bt
his enduring monument.
But our train does not larry, ana we must
hurry on, not lingering to admire hanaWhs
falls, which are very beautiful, an d must be-
come famous now that the r'ilroad gives ae'
cess to them. 1 s.
At this point we meet delegations from
Huntington and Charleston, who came up tx
| witness the ceremonies, but were unable L
get through in time.
From kanawha falls the wires had flashed
the news that the last rail had been laid, ant
that the first train from Richmond was com
ing; and, although 1t was night, the peopl'
assembled at every station, and manifested
their joy by giving us sf-:@.5@ IA
80. AGRAND OVATION. l .s
At Coalsburg there were fireworks, cheer
ing, &C., and ut st. Alban's bonfire and I
| salute from a WelEused cannon. - -
AT CHAB LESION
lfthe Hsie House was illuminated, there wer
beautiful fireworks, and the waruest greet
ing that one could ask-the only thing II
mar il being that the railroad Is on theoppo
site hauk of the river, and we could not tol
/ In our aon to the Ohio" even to receive tb
| hnspitaiities OF che capital Of West Virgins
we learn, ttiat they had speeches from Hon
John B. Baldwin and others, and that Col
lionel Baldwin Raa loudly anplauded who