Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-11-15
SHENANDOAH Valley R. R. BX-
TENSION.

~, nave recently completed trip over
the line of the new extension from Waynes>
boro', Augusta county. Va, to Roanoke,
Formerly Big Liok,) Roanoke county, Va.
Beginning at Waynesboro', the entire line
presents q spectacle of wonderful and exoeed>.
ingly interesting activity, and when it is cons
meneed until June the let, the progress which
has been made is indeed remarkable. Out of
the ninety.fve miles seyenty>fye miles are
already graded, and track laying is proceed
ing as fast as the completion of bridges will
permit. This work is going on at both
ends, five miles being already completed at
the Northern end, and four and a>half at the
Southern terminus.
The track. is being bsllas.ed as the rails
are put down, which are of heavy steel, the
best production of the New Cumberland
Steel Works, England. The lies are of
white oak, full regulation standard, and the
masonry, is of the finest and most substantial
nature. The bridges, which number thir-
teen in all, are entirely Of iron, and are being
erected by Messrs. Cofrode & saylor, ofPhil>
%adelphia. The gradients are remarkably easy
and well adapted to fast running.
The country along the entire line, with
the exception of a few miles in Rockbridge
county, is in a high state of cultivation and
the whole route presents a continuous PAN
Drama of superb and picturesque mountain
aud river scenery, and indications are every
where evident of vast mineral wealth.
From Waynesboro' the road runs in q south
westerly direction, striking Sharondale,
Double Ford and Greenville, where the line
closely approaches the proposed extension of
the Valley R. R. sseele's Tavern is next
reached, where the Oseeola FIGURING Mills
are located. Here the line enters Rockbridse
county and We shortly pass the Yesuvius
and Buena Vista Furnaces, extensively used
during the war to produce iron for the Con-
federate States government.
The line then strikes in the direction of
the Natural Bridge, the station being but
three miles from this wonderful and gigantic
lcur iosity. The grounds and park are being
extensively improved and a new hotel is
about to be erected for the next season, which
promises to be an unusually successful one.
To thoroughly apprec iate this great work of
nature it must be seen, as photographs fail
to give an adequate idea of its vast dimen-
sions, its mean height being 215 feet, width
80 feet, length "a feet, and thickness 55 feet.
Leaving here the road stretches to Buoh-
auan, Botetourt county, running through the
rear of the town, thence to Troutville and
Gloverdale, where the extensive canning os>
= Enlistment of the Moomaw Bros. are passed.
The line here enters Roanoke county, and
runs direct to Roanoke, formerly known as
Big Lick.
This is the junction point with the Nor
folk and Western Railway, running from
Norfolk, Va, to Bristol, Tenn, and hore
Improvements on a vast scale are under way,
under the direction of The South West Vir>
ginia Improvement Company.
Plans for a large town have been COM
pleted, aud the grading alone will exceed
sixty thousand dollars. An extensive Joint
Depot and Shops are under way, and a mag
niicent Hotel building costing $40, 600, de-
signed by Pearson, the Philadelphia Arohi>
u SsiSuS VI IL now famous LurdV
Hotel, has been contracted for. Including
trackmen, masons and carpenters there are
now employed, between Wsynesboro' and
Roanoke, $3.50 men. Should tie winter
prove an open one, the link between Waynes-
boro' and Roanoke will be completed by
the middle of February next, and by the
end of March trains will be running through
TO Roanoke. A run over the line of the
& Western Railroad rs far on. as
Bristol was made, and the road bed and track
were found to be in strictly frst-elass order,
the running being remarkably smooth. This
entire belt of country, through Montgomery,
Pulaski, Wythe, Smyth and Washington
counties, shows signs of unbounded prosperi-
ty, the mineral resources being vigorously
developed and the numerous furnaces and
zine works are in full blast, and vast quanti>
ties of the New River coal are being shipped
from the mine. At Roanoke the Norfolk &
Western and s. v. R. R. are jointly con.
structiug . powerful Hoist for transferring
cars of each road to the trucks of the other
road, aud thus avoiding the necessity of
transferring ali puik Irelgnt ana live stock
shipments from one car to another, the body
of the car running through to final dOstina>
tion of the shipment. the oar trucks alone
being exchanged to-suit the guage north and
south of Roanoke.
The elections last Tuesday were not fruit.
full of very great Democratic Victories. Vir-
ginia-to her shame-was carried by the
ooalitionists, and will send a partner of Ma
hone to the u. 8. Senate. New York, Mary
land and Mississippi have been carried by
the democrats; Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ne.