Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-11-19

SHENANDOAH VALLEY Il. X. EXTENSION
SoUrH.-An inspection party, consisting
of Messrs. Coe, Sands. llatch and Coke, OF
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, have
recently completed trip over the line Of
the new extension from WaynesDoro',
Augusta county, Va, to Roanoke, former
ly Big Lick, Roanoke county, Va.
Beginning at Wavnesboro', the entire
line presents Il spectacle OF wonderful aul
exceedingly interesting activity, ana
when it is considered that not stroke oi
work was commenced until June the lst,
the progress Which has been made is i'll
deed remarkable.
Out of the 80 miles seventy-fivc miles
are already graded and track laying is pro
ceeding rs fast rs the completion of
bridges will permit
Track LAYING is going on at both ends,
5 miles being already completed at the
northern end and 4 at the southern ter
minus.
The track is being ballasted us the rails
are put down, which are of heavy steel,
the best production Of the New Cumber-
land (England) Steel Works. The ties
are of white oak, foil regulation standard,
and the masonry il of the finest and most
substantial nature. The bridges, which
number thirteen in all ARE entirely ofiron
and are being erected by McsSrs. Cofrode
& Sayler, of Philadelphia The gradients
are remarkably easy and well adapted to
fast running.
The entire line, with the exception of Il
few miles in Rockbridge county, is ia
high state of cultivation, and the whole
route presentsa continuous panorama OF
superb and picturesque mountain and
river scenery, and indications are every
where evident ofvast mineral wealth.
From Wayncsboro' the road runs in
south-westerly direction, striking Sharon
dale, Double Ford and Greenville, where
the line closely approaches tie proposed
extension of the Valley X. Il. Stcele,s
Town is next reached, where the Osceola
FIGURING Mills are located. Here the line
enters Rockbridge county, and we shortly
pass the Vesuvi,,s and Bucna Vista Fur
naces, extensively used duriag the war to
produce iron for the Confederate States
Government.
The line then strikes in the direction of
the Natural Bridge, the station being but
three miles from this wonderful and gil
gantic curiosity. The grounds and park
are being extensively improved and a
new hotel is about 10 be erected for the
next season, which promises to be an UNI
usually successful one. TO thoroughly APP
preeiate this great work Of nature it must
be seen, il photographs fail to give an all
equate idea OF its vast dlniensions--its
mean height being 2l5 feet, width 50 feet,
length % feet and thickness 90 feet.
Leaving here, the road stretches 10
Buchanan, Botetourt county, running
through the rear Of the town; thence TO
Troutville, Cloyerdale, where the extern
siye canning establishments Of the Moo
nav Bros. are passed. The line here en-
tiers Roanoke county aud runs direct to
Roanoke, formerly known as Big Lick.
This is the junction point will the Nor
folk and Western Ry., running from Nor
folk, Va, to Bristol, Tenn, and here i'm
provements OF 4 vast scale are under way,
under the direction of The South West
Virginia Improvement Company
Plans for large town have been com
pleted and the grading alone will exceed
sixty thousand dollars.
An extensive Joint Depot and shops are
under way, and magnificent hotel build
ing, costing $40 900, designed by Pearson,
the Philadelphia architect and designer OF
the now famous Luray Hotel, has been
contracted for. Including trackmen, ma
sons. carpenters, there are now employed
between Waynesboro' and Roanoke 3.I6O
men. SnOulu the NfiiteE pIoNc di 'pCh
one, the link between Waynesboro' and
Roanoke will be completed by the middle
of February next, and by the end OF March
trains will be running thro' to Roanoke.
A run over the line of the Norfolk < West
ern II. II. as far west Bristol was made,
and the road bed and track were found to
be in strictly tirst-class order, the running
being remarkably smooth. This entire
belt of country through Montgomery,
Pulaski, wythe, Smyth and Washington
counties shows signs Of unbounded pros
perity, the mineral resources being vigor-
Ously developed and the numerous fur
naces and zinc works are i'll full blast, aud
vast quantities Of the New River Coal are
being shipped from the mine. At Roanoke
the Norfolk 81 Western and =. V. r. X.
are Jointly constructing n powerful Hoist
for transferring cars of each road to the
trucks of the other road and thus avoiding
the necessity Of transferring all bulk
freight aud live stock shipment, from one
car to an other, the body of the car run
ming through to final destination OF the
shipments, the car trucks alone being eN-
changed to suit the guage north and south
Of Roanoke.-Hagerstown Mail.
! Mrs. Garfield has leased the farm of the
| late President, for four years and for that