The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-17
Tug JAMEs.RIvER RAILROAD.
ONE MISSING LIyK--cPERATIoNs PROGRESSING
FAvoRABLY-T NEW PUmP-woRKs-
CHARMING SCENERY, &c., &C.

The work goes brayely on. by the mid
die OF this week, II nothing happens TO re-
Itard IL, the track Of ibe Richmond and Al
lleghany railroad will strike the city. There
will then be completed tweniy-eicht miles.
or from Richmond 10 Maiden's-Advcnfure
dam. There would be continuous track
OF forty six miles were IL not for an inter-
4 val beyond the dam OF seven miles, which
will RI qnire considerable iresiling. There
Is very little OF that sort OF work needed
this side Of MaIden's Adventure, Just few
feet over the incline at each lock and across
one or two very sharp curves requiring the
carpenters labors.
Matters are beginning 10 assume varie-
gated and busy look along the line OF the
road adjacent 10 Richmond. ParadoXical
rs il appears, the "sleepers" are ahead OF
everything else, ties having been laid Satur-
day evening as iar-or as near, rather-as
the upper extremity Of the pun p-bouse
fence. Rails, at the same time, had been
laid TO the old Powbatan Furnace, or Just
five miles from the city. Saturday evening
the reporter stood upon them and forged
the "missiDy link" in his imagination,
bridging the interval with the greatest ease,
and herring the sbrll whistle OF the locomo-
tive. the rapid, continuous rush OF the train,
:
from the stack itself. Brushing a cnder
from the right corner of bis left eye, be
looked about him. The tOw-path was plen-
tiiulIy strewn here and there with all kinds
Of maierial-nails, bars, rails, plates, spikes,
bolts, &c.-wbile gangs OF busy laborers
were engaged IN unloading boats OF more,
all hands working in unison and with
hearty will. The inevitable surveyors were
on duty, alSo-a tall, sun-burned young
man, the exact antItbesis OF old Sol CLIPS
little midshipmaD, having his left eye
screwed 10 his instrument, vainly endeavor-
ling TO take an observation through the re-
porter's Opaque anatomy.
The extensive quariies OF the Westham
Granite Company, about four miles from
the city, present 4 novel and busy appear
ance--ior all the world like a coal country.
only the coal Is white. The works are in
full operation. The supply OF granite along
the canal course is practically ineXhausi-
bic and OF good qualily-tall, smooth cliffs
OF it frowning upon you with an almost un-
broken front and crowned with luXnrlant
vegetation, now OF the deepest green. Upon
the face Of these cliffs, in places both easy
and difficult OF access, enlerprising itine-
rant peddlers OF patent medicines and sew
ing-machines have inscribed their trade.
marks at the risk OF their necks, insancly
trusting TO increase their profits by casting
bread upon the unyelding surface OF in
| sensible rocks instead OF the susceptible,
revealing pages OF the newspaper.
| Most OF the bridges over The canal have
| already been torn down, aud are stacked up
in irregular heaps on tho "bum-bank." a
few years hence the familiar cry of slow
bridge" will be as forgotten sound along
the banks OF the James rs the war-whoOp OF
Pow haian and his dusky minions. The but
tresseS OF The bridges still stand, however,
but viii be soon torn down. The reporter
was contemplating one OF these and won
dering whether 1t would be necessary 10
destroy il, when an old darky, one OF the
road hands by his looks, coming along. he
accosted him with the question whether
such demolition would be necessary.
"Oh, yes, boss said Cn1ee.
"Why," asked the reporter, "isnt there
room enough 10 60 round!"
"Norser. An ef dey was, railrodes dom
turn out de way T. nuPn."
Cufiee was right. The iron rail rides over
everything.
The grading Of the course to Richmond
is. OF course, all done. One good effect OF
il has been to raise the extreme edge OF the
tOWDajh nearest the water 10 varying
height OF from one TO three feet, thereby
greatly decreasing the possibility OF breaks
through the bank during the heavy rains, as
have been OF occasional occurrence IN times
past. There will now be very little danger
OF such casualties.
| As vet operations are not much advanced
on the new pump-w0rk>, the excavations
for site beng not yet completed. But
the evidences OF an enterprise of great
magnitude are not wanting, the face OF ma
ture IN the vicinity Of the three-mile locks
being considerably disturbed and cut up.
The workmen live on the ground, where Il
number OF cabins have been put up tempo
rarily for their accommodation, and when
work is in full progress the locality pre-
sents an animated and novel appearance.
II this enterprise will result in giving III clear
water no one will regret the pecuniary out
Ilay. Ii is not clear to the repoItorial mind,
however, how this will be done. The river
now is nothing but tuTbid apple. broth, and
has been been for some time, with good
prospects for lengthy continuation. Many
people, We are informed, strain at gnat
and swallow q camel, but we would like TO
see some one strain James-riyer water at
the rate OF several million gallons daily and
swallow crystal. Desirable, but hardly i'm
minent. Therefore, the only gain will be
In quantity. ...-......
Travellers by the Richmond and ALE
phany will be fortunate in the matter OF
scenery, no road in Virginia, with perhaps
one exception, surprising 1t in that particu-
lar. Even near the city the landscape Is
far from unattractive. The steep granite,
green-topped cliffs on the right overlook
the brawliDg river running over It's rocky
bed with ceaseless murmur on the lefl.
while beyond rise the wooded heights Of
Chesterfield defiuing the southern horizon
with vivid contrast. There are few babi-
tations, however. after the city's suburbs
are passed, and less OF visible natives.
Such as we do see are as picturesque and
! striking in appearance at least as the Italian
peasantry. which European travellers, blind
TO the trifiing defects OF rags and dirt. per
sist in going into ecslacies over, and are
for the most part, squatted along the canal
bank absorbed in " "cattin'." So. even in
that particular, we are not deficient.
About four miles from the city is one
very striking feature. A high, long hill o.
green, rising abruptly in front OF the track
: and stretching off far TO the right, at onc'
J suggests long, dark tunnel to the travel
Ier's mind; but rs he is all but upon 1t, ;
! hort, sharp curve opens and passes arouns
To the left. In full summer suit OF luxu
. RANT yerdure, il is the Green Wdge-ant
; so let ii be.
There is ample to repay a stroll up ih'
canal at this season. .pf the year, and all wh'
Z do so will return well pleased. We have
!. single word OF advice 10 give intesdln:
: tourists. however. liz you go leave YOU
z dog at home. II he loves the waaer-a
l most dogs do--he has plenty OF 1t right
: b,nd-or nav. let Us say; and as the tow