Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-07-17


train over our bridge on the 9th inst'
as we think there should be some re-
cord made, for future reference, of so
noteworthy on event and we will now
proceed TO do so without further pre-
face.
II timely notice had been given OF
the day fixed on for the crossing we
have 40 doubt but that thousands OF
persons would have been present 10
witness the spectacle, az it was, there
were hundreds there who had assem-
bled at an hours notice, tho most OF
whom were ladies who, grouped upon
the cliffs, added greatly to the pictur-
esoteness of the scene. A locomotive,
(the "Wm. Mines, Jr., land two trucks
heavily ladened with railroad iron and
cross-ties were selected to make the
first trip and we gladly accepted the
invitation of Mr.. Superintendent Sands
to join The party going over WHO were
as tollows:-Wm. Mills, Engineer; Geo.
Fayman, Fireman; James Hurley, Brake
man; Joseph II. Sands, General Super
intender,; w. w. Coe, Chief Engineer;
II. w. Potts, Assistant Engineer; W.
w. and w. II. Macdowell, General
Agents; Jas. Mecredy, Stenographer; q.
II. Dugdalo, General Passenger Agent;
ID. S. Cofrode, Superintendent OF the
Bridge; J. II. McAlister, Master Me
chanic; Ii. G. Grove, Assistant Master
Mechanic; John II. Schoppert ana Alex.
b. Shepherd of the Engineer Corps;
Hon. A. Il. Boteler and David Bill
m,er, Directors OF the S. Y. X. Is. Co.,
John II. little, Editor Shepherdstown
Register; John Cameron ana ID. 3
Rentch.
As the train approached the bridge
and entered upon the first span the
anxiety of the spectators YVES intense;
for few old fogies and feminine Cos
SIPS had been heard to express grave
fears for the stability OF the structure
simply because the contractors had not
taken as many years as they did months
TO erect 1.-THE blessed old creatures
either forgetting or being ignorant OF
the fact that in this progressive age OF
mechanical wonders the forces OF nature
are so utilized in such constructions as
to supercede, in great measure, the
manual labor aud slow processes OF tor,
mer times and that consequently more
work can now be done il day by the
help of machinery than mere muscular
effort could accomplish in month.
During the passage across to the Mary
land side and in coming back not a
single creak was heard nor the slightest
tremor felt to indicate that there was
superintendent weight Of more than
hundred tons upon tho spaos, so that
the test of its stability has fully satisfied
every one in this community not even
excepting the aforesaid cold fogies and
feminine gossips," all of whom are now
loud in praise of the bridge that bore us
safely over.
The view in crossing is one OF the
most beautiful we ever saw. Familiar as
we arc with the features OF our river
scenery We had no idea of its exquisite
loveliness until we saw it from the elc-
walton of the bridge when midway on
our return. The river itself from that
point of view looks like an uDruftied
lake screnely reposing in the midst OF
the most romantic surroundings. But
beautiful as are the physical features OF
the scene there is more in it than meets
the eye for it is replete with those asso-
Citations of historic interest that take
hold upon the heart which will make
this passage of the Potomac into the
central gateway of the fair, fertile and
far famed Valley of the Shenandoah not
the least of the many attractions which
will turn the tide of travel in this direc-
ton upon the completion OF the line to
Hagcrstown, which we are happy to
learn, will be in about month from
this date.