The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-14
open,pe or the Dock Connection Limo
or the Richmond and Allegheny
naiiroad- -Ttdewater Connection So

cUreO.
Yesterday morning about hali-past IL
O'Clock the dock connection trcstle and
bridge OF the Richmond and Allegheny
railroad was tested by the passage OF heavy
engines and attached train with very salts
factory results.
Mr.. q. ID. Harris, master mechanic, acted
as engineer, assisted by n. II. Wren, engi-
neer. and James Ambers and w. ID. JON
son as fromen. The following .persons
were on the train during the trial. Walter
G. Berg, engineer in charge; III. Raaslofl,
principal assistant engineer; a. l.. VIII
kinson, freight agent; X. Richardson,
yardmaster and several volunteers as
brakemen.
The bridge and trestle have been de-
clared opened, and regular traffic will COM
mence tomorrow.
This connection line between the Rich
mond basin and the docks Is Of the great
est importance TO the railroad company, as
il will offer the long-desired outlet for the
through traffic OF the road. On MAY lst
the first train ran through Lynchburg
on the newly-constructed line, located on
the property of the company throughout,
Offering for the first time an uninterrupted
passage OF trains through the town. Yes
terday the company completed the only
other missing link in H. system-namely,
the "tidc-water connection" in Richmond.
Large improvements are planned for the
dock property owned by the railroad: side
tracks. new wharf-lines, and store-houscs
will be built, which, with coal-chutes and
other facilities for rapid loading of vessels,
will offer vast inducements 10 shippers.
The speed and energy which the COM
pany has shown in the construction OF the
dock connection line a. well as iiS other
works demonstrate clearly the spirit leading
the organization.
The following data regarding the dock
connection line will prove OF interest: The
entire distance from Seyenth-strcet switch
to the ship-lock is one and quarter miles.
the distance TO the end OF the trcStle proper
i nearly one mile. The total fall from the
upper basin 10 the dock level is GS feet (;
from the upper basin TO mean water level
in James river. So feet. This heavy fall in
such a short distance required a grade Of
1Cj G-fO feet 10 the mile. or two feet fall
in every 100 feet horizontal, which grade i
continued without break from Eleventh
street to Twentieth street, or distance Of
300 feet. The highest point of the track
is sixty feet above the foundations. The
depot LOT OF tie Richmond and Danvillc
Railroad Company is crossed overhead on
two iron bridge spans, each l37 feet long,
resting on three granite piers.
The location Of the line in the midst Of
streets, houses, canal, and locks, and many
other requirements, being confined by
foreign property on all sides, and the ne
cesSty OF keeping mp canal navigation du-
ring the greater part OF the time given 10
construction, caused this work TO require
the greatest attention in design and con-
struction. Field work was commenced on
October II, 1881, which shows exactly
seven months 20 have been required.
The line has been constructed under the
general supervision OF Decatur AXtell. Esq,
vice-presidcnt Richmond and Allcghany
Railroad Company. The location, esti-
mates. and design were made and the work
constructed under the direct supervision
OF Walter G.. Berg, Esq, engineer in
charge, with ii. Raasloff * principal assist
ant engineer. Philip Eder, Esq. Of Bound
Brook. y. j., was contractor for the mason
~ piers Of the bridge. the iron supcrstruc-
tIre being built and erected by the Clarke
Bridge Company, Of Baltimore, Nd. G.. r.
Williams, Esq, Of the firm Of Jesse L.
Adams & Co.. Of Amherst county. was con-
tractor for the erection Of main trestlc-
work