The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-02-18

OF this communication. Our attention,
while yet in Bridgeport was attracted TO
long line of excavations and emoahK-
ments on TIE south side of the creek, and
as we went westward these evidences,
together with various stone culverts and
abutments, convinced US that this road,
which we had 3 lurking idea only
existed on maps and in newspapers, was
not only reality but was rapidly ap-
preaching completion. There hss 81
ready been more work done on the TWEEN
ty.six miles which we travelled than has
been done on the p, w. Il Ky. iG It's en-
tire existence, and in case the work is
pushed forward in the future, with the
same energy which has characterized Its
prosecution in the past, we hazard the
prediction that it will be finished
within the present year: the greatest
and only obstruction that we can toresee
beng the completion OF the Flushing
tunnel, of which, however, under the
able management OF Mr.. L. w. Darrsh,
we have little or no fear. We are in
formed that the &. ~ 7. V. 4. K. Go. did
not invite a general competition OF bids
for the work, but gave it to man, at a
fair price, who they knew could and
would complete the undertaking within
the time required. The wisdom OF this
course of procedure is evident to any one
who has seen the immense amount oil
work already done, and the contractor
has already given such evidence OF his
ability and energy that there is. little
room Eor doubt of the fultillment OF his
contract by the middle of September,
nearly o month before the time required.
The approaches on osch end of the tun-
mel are unusually heavy, the west end re-
curing abou. $1,000 and the cast
end about $4,000 cubic wards Of earth
and rock excavation nearly equally d.
vided. Much trouble has been expert.
enced from water, no. in the eXcaVa-
tons themselves, but drained rom the
surrounding country. By quite an eX-
tensive system ofdralns this trouble has
been in great measure disposed OF, and
on the west end they are now fairly at
work in the tunnel, while at the east end
they will have finished the approach and
began the tunnel proper about the md
die of next month. The method OF work
ing tho tunnel is slightly modified from
the usual manner, owing to the existence
of q vein of coal Al feet thick in very
nearly the centre OF the opening. This
volume of coal, 16 feet wide and 1900
feet long, can, with little care, be taken
out in understandable condition, and Will
be quite an item to the contractor. One
very frequently hears 8 great deal about
extensive coal fields" along the line OF
the road, but while you do not doubt the
versci:y of your Informant, it is much
more satisfactory to see them as we did
on both sides of the long cut before going
into the tunnel. There was over
LOCO lineal feet of this vein which had
been exposed al winter, and on which
we could not find q single sulphur
blossom"
They are now fairly started at the
west end, being in distance Of about
twenty-five feet. At present the work
is little slow because it is necessary TO
timber the mouth about that dis
lance, after which they expect to advance
five feet day at each end, which will
enable them TO complete the entire
length in five months. The material
through which they pass is hard, dark
blue, siaty stone, laminated, but in the
roof it grows to solid rock, which they
hope will not require arching, excepting
about fifty feet at each end. The cut al
the mouth IS seventy-fve feet, and the
materials taken from the tunnel have TO
be transported over halt n milo. The APP
proach at tae east end is even more eX.
tensive that at the west; all the
material has TO be- taken from
the cut on inclined planes, of
which they have two worked by
steam. NJ. Z. Keesan has charge Of
this end, and is making al the progress
possible or expected. Tho rock here is
largely limestone, and is probably
harder than st the other end. The
grade of The approaches and tunnel is
about 90 tact to the mile, which We arc
told is about the heaviest on the rosd.
We wish here TO express our thanks to
Mr.. Darrsh Cor his hospitality and his
kindness in showing US about and fur
nishing any information which we
desired. To .hose gentlemen who
subscribed the $4,000 furnished by this
town we would say that they have con-
siderable to show FOR their money. and
they may be assured Of its good invest
ment. a. yet this city has taken no
positive steps towards securing the termi-
nation of he road at this point and yet
il seems TO US ths. it is of vital impor-
tsnce that they should be at work in that
direction. The manifold advantages TO
be derived from its termination within
the city are so evident that they need not
here be expstisted on, but that 1t would
pay them handsomely to build a bridge
IN IsfayI -