The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-16

Richmond and Allegheny Railroad.
The Coyington Tribune gives the following
description OF the bridges over James River
erected by the Richmond and Allegheny Rail
road company for the accommodation of its
trains:
There are three bridges spanning James
River, on the Richmond and Allegheny rail-
road, between Williamson and Buchanan, in
Botetourt county. AS these bridges will soon
become quite familiar to our readers, by the
opening up of the important railway line Of
which they are part, it will be interesting to
our readers to learn some particulars in rela-
ton to them. The first bridge, then after leav-
ing Williamson, is about ten miles below the
latter place, and is known as Wood Island
Bridge" it has three spans, of 1875 feet each !;
is iron, and is about forty-four feet above low
water mark. Bridge No. 2 is also an iron
structure. has two spans of 100 feet each; it is
located about fifteen miles below Wood Is
land" and twenty-five below Williamson; it
crosses the James at Little Tunnel"-and the
train, Immediately after leaving this bridge,
enters this tunnel, which is about 800 yards in
length. Leaving the tunnel, and passing over
trestle of about 400 yards bridge NJ. 8 is met,
which is also iron and has three spans of 1875
feet each.
1t will be noticed by the above that the
Little Tunnel" bridges are close together
that Little Tunnel and short system of
trestling, the whole not exceeding half mile
in distance, only divides them. The river at
this point, however, makes big bend-the
distance by the current being fully four miles,
The distance thus saved by the tunnel and
bridges in question will of course prove good
investment for the railroad company.
The first bridge mentioned is now completed
and the iron for the No. 2 is ON the spot and
will be in position by the 10th of December
The last bridge will be completed, we are as
sured by the contractor, before the close of
December.
These bridges were contracted for by tho
late Col. John g. Clarke, of Richmond, but he
having been killed by train in New Jersey
several months ago. the Clarke Bridge Com
the late Col. John G.. Clarke), W. L. Coles,
VIM Klrkus, .jr., and VIM. A. Aiken, became
his successor, and is finishing the work.
Volz g. Co., an Italian firm, did the masonry
of these bridges. Mr.. Volz, we understand, is
resident of StauntOn.
The longest and most extensive as well as
most expensive bridge on the line Will be
thrown across the James few miles below
Buchanan, and will be known as the Rope
Ferry Bridge" 1t will be iron, and will have
five spans of 1870 feet each. The contract for
Philadelphia firm, and it is to be completed by
the LIST Of July, next.
REPUDIATED STATE BoNDs-The Washing
ton correspondent of the Baltimore Safa Nov.
4th has the following highly important state
ment, in which we think there is great deal
for thought:
To-day an attorney for claims amounting to
over three millions for Georgia repudiated
bonds arrived, and stated to your correspond
ent that they meant to push the matter early
in the session. They propose to have bill
passed giving POWER to sue State in the
courts Now States cannot be sued, and
claimants have no way 10 begin proceedings
| for recovery of money lost through reputation
of liabilities by some of the Southern States
States are harder to reach than the general
government, there being no court of claims to
which their cases can oe referred. 1t is an
nounced also that a committee is en- route to
this country, from Frankford-on-the-Main to
press the matter representing fifteen hundred
| thousand dollars worth of bonds issued by
Georgia for the benefit of the Brunswick and
Albany road, declared legal, it is stated, by the
present Senator Brown, then Supreme Judge
of that State This matter has also been a
subject for diplomatic correspondence because
the bonds were purchased of English dealers
and bear the seal of the British consulate at
that place. Recitals of the facts have been sent
| to Sir Edward Thornton, British minister in
] Washington, in hope of enlisting his interest
in cases Of these foreign claimants