The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-11

spripgs and Pueblo in July. and early In
August the ArchIson, Topeka and Santa re
road suffered about equal damage between
Ia Junta and the Rio Grande river. lsaw
in Mora Can n, about half way between the
Ration and santa Fe ranges, at least mile
az track that had been taken up bodily and
landed twenty or thirty rods away from It's
original position, the rails twisted and bent
until they were as crooked as a telegraph
wire which q herd OF buiTaloes have been
PLAYING with. The only way In which this
could be made passable was by building a
new embankment and laying new ties and
rails. In Apache Canon, In the Santa re
mouptuins, the track crosses a ravine thirty
or forty feet deep on bridge held up by
ties built np dollhouse fashion In place OF a
high lrestle that has been taken out by the
food. The
SAFETY
with which trains have been run over THESE
new roads during the floods OF this year Is
remarkable. On the Aichison, Topeka and
Santa Fe road, about month ago, frelgnt
train was run upon washout that couid
not be seen. and the locomotive went into
the ditch, killing the engineer. This Is the
opiy serious accident that has occurred. and
The explanation is that every possible pre-
caution has been taken TO insure safety. met
division superintendent on the road, look
ing after some repairs. He said that ever since
the floods began he has made every other
consideration subordinate to the single one
of safety. He had paid no attention to the
grumbling Of passengers on account OF de-
laws, but had absolutely refused TO allow q
train TO move until he was sure the track
was safe. 81 don't believe" he said, " In
hunting for washouis with an engine. L
look them up on foot or with hand'car.
Time is OF no consequence when the saiety
OF life and property is at stake"
In passing down The railroad along The
Galistes river the other day | saw the wreck
of several freigbt-cars, and learned the par
ticuIars OF q very remarkable, though not
very serious, accident. They had what was
called
A "DRY wAsH0UT."
The embankment was composed OF sand,
and heavy wind blew out part OF 1t from
beneath the rails aud ties, leaving the track
suspended without support. The engineer
OF freight train did not see the defect until
be ran upon it. Mr.. Il. f. Sckels, the emf
nent railway engineer, who was with me,
said that be never had heard OF an accident
from similar cause.
cannot close this letter without mention
ing the Valley Of the Pecos river, through
which The railroad passes north OF the Santa
rs Mountains. ! shall say nothing OF Its
history, which is full Of romance, or OF the
ruins which il contains, which are very an
cient and full OF interest. | can only refer
briefly TO its natural beauty. The grass
is now as fresh and green as that OF
the lawns in Central Park before the
hot sun OF July and August has scorch-
ed it.: the slopes are genile-tust sutfl-
cient TO give variety TO the landscape; ana
the whole valley is covered with growth
of pine, pinon-, and cedar-trees, not crowd
ed together as in forest, but seemingly
planted here and there to set of the beauty
of the lawns. 1t actually required an effort
to disabuse the mind OF the idea that we
were riding through some gentleman's park
upon which thousands OF dollars were an
nually spent to keep il in perfect order.
The Pecos river Is alive with mountain
trout, and the valley abounds in game-an-
telope, deer, and wild fowl.
The Santa Fe branch OF the Atchlson,
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad is built
through an apparently barren country. coy-
cred with stunted cedars, tall tree-cacti. and
sage brush, and cut up by many deep IA
vines and arrOyos. The railroad winds
about like a snake, sometimes doubling
upon itself in order TO avoid these deep de-
pressiOns and the impractica6le grades
which siraighter line would make neces-
sary, and enters this city In its southwest
ern suburbs. q. l.. w.