The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-09-27

THE BELLS GAP RAIL ROAD.-It may
have been for want of space last week, but II
is not for want of other material this week,
that we publish in the present issue what
we might have published in the previous
one, but as the subject is one of interest to
goodly number of our readers, don't
know that could put the same amount of
space To better use than by copying the fol-
lowing in relation 10 the Bells Gap railroad
from the Tyrone Herald of week before last
The extract is taken from long and inter
esting account of the recent journalistic
iaunt to Iloydsville, and is from the pen Of
Brother Jones, editor of the paper named
''W hen first erected, the road cont aimed mnny
curves, which wound around the hOlIOws and
projecting knobs in its course on toe mountain
side, many of which have been taken out, and
the work of strengthening and otherwise I'm
proving the road still goes on. Four trcstlps
hear the track across ravincs in the course OF
the road from Bells TO LOyds, which in height
are -. 40, y and 65 feet respectively. being
from 80 TO $50 feet in length with 27H degree
curves on the two highest ones. The maxi
mum grade Of The road is 146 feet, the average
grade l45 feet per mile and the total elevation
of the road is l.l2G feet the summit OF the
mountain being ia feet higher. The road is at
present stocked with two engines. tw % passen-
five coal and freight cars. The buildings of
the road at Belrs Mills consist OF an Office,
I freight or ware house, engine house, oil house,
&c, and all the necessary buildings are In po-
sition at he other end OF the route. II was the
original intention of the Company to continue
the road to Fallen Timber. distance of l05S
miles from the present terminus, but very little
, I
1t is now proposed to extend the road to the
mouth of Whtmer run, distance OF l64 miles
/ from LlOyd's. and the citizens along the route
are manifestin0 considerable Interest in the
matter bv holding public meetings and render
( ing substantial encouragement to the project
/ by subscribing literally. Two meetings were
I held this week. at couple Of the prominent
/ points. for the purpose of electing Trustees to
/ take charge OF subscriptions &c. but we have
: not learned the result of their deliberations
/ One OF the questions proposed TO be brought
up at these meetings that of the time
4 for beginning work on the proposed extern
+ sion-whethcT il hef this Fall next Spring.
! We hope that they have arrived at some dehn-
I ite conclusion, and that the extension viii be
/ begun and completed in the near future. as II
| will open out an immense coal field in a region
| that has not yet been worked. The village
( (Ljuydsville) J. situated in White township, Cam
/ bria county. little over loo feet below the
summit Of the Allegheny Mountains at that
/ point, is eight and three tenths miles from
Z Bells Mills, nine miles from Altoona. seven
miipS from GAINESVILLE. and seven miles from
Fallen Timber 1t contains fry houses and
sixty families, with a total population OF SO
people. The driit 20 the mines enters the noun
! tain side at the village. The face OF the mine
/ is about half mile from the entrance A
/ drainage tunnel runs entirely through the
/ mountain, distance of a little over one and &
} half miles. About seventy five or eighty min
! ers at present working al these mines.
Z They ship average of three hundred tons OF
: coal per day. nearly III of which is consumed
7 10y the Pennsy ylvania Railroad Company.