Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-06-01
RESULT OF TIE RECENTLY MADE SURVEYS
OF TIE LINE.

COLUMBIA, May 10 In September last,
under instructions from Col. II. l.. Me
Csughrin, President Of the Columbia and
Grecnville Railroad Company, Mr.. j. W.
Fry, chief engineer of the Blue Ridge
Railroad, began resurvcy of the Blue
Ridge Rond, from Wslhalla, S. g., to
Cl,yton, Georgia. MIR, Charles D. Ellis,
Jr Of Virginia, was the engineer in charge
Of the work which has bccn completed
The results Of his observations arc given in
a full and exhaustive report, showing
the present condition Of tho work which
has already been done on the Blue Ridge
Road, the character of the obstacles vet to
be o,o come before the lire can be cons
plcted, the conformation of the county
though which the road runs and the capital
that will be necessary to omplctc the rond
from WalhallA to its junction with the
No,theas.eru Railroad, cf Georgia to Clay
ton.
In his report Mr.. Fry says: "I have not
attempted to find an entirely new line be-
tween the points namcd as too much work
has been done on the cd line for 1t to be
abandoned even though n more favorab,
line could have been found, but have had
the old line rctraccd and other lines run
where it was thought possible that pcrma.
ncnt changes could be made to advantage,
or where the work was of such magnitude
es to Justify the adoption of temporary
tracks with sleeper grades"
Mr. Ellis says:
"TllE OLD work,
although the greater part of it was done
more thnn twenty years ago, has stood re-
marknhIy well, there being only three or
four slides of any considerable cxtcnt along
the entire line. y 1t is surprising
to fud what small percentage of rock
there is when it is considered what u
rugged country The line Of road passes
through. 10 South Carolina the earth to
be removed is composed principally of sand
In Gcorgi, there is more clay in tho soil,
but not enough to make its removal diff
cult at any point. There arc several deep
nate lines, all of which ore estimated to be
crossed on embankmcnts. There arc five
streams to be crossed which will require
open bridges. Tho othor streams aro
crossed with box culverts. many of which
urc built. In South Carolina they arc
generally badly constructed and are in need
of repairs. In Georgia the square drain
masonry is of much better GLASS and but
little repairs are needed. The bridge ma
sonry that has been done is in excellent
condition. There will be no difficulty in
getting good foundations for all the bridges
and culverts, and good stone can be found
at convenient distances and along the entire
limo.
THE FIRST TUNNEL
on the road passes through Saddle Noun.
tain about eight miles from WaIhalla by
the linc Some work has been dono in
the Eastern approach Of this tunnel, aud at
the Western end the approach has becu
taken out and the tunnel driven full size
for some distance This tunnel has vet to
be driven about 415 feet through solid rock.
Middle tunnel has been driven through.
There are 8T6 cubic yards Of stone to be
taken out of the bottom of tho tunnel.
The Stump House tunnel comes next. 1t
is 1864 feot long and has already had
al out s475,0O0 expended uron it. There
yet remuins 25,l80 cubic yards of earth
and stone to bo excavatcd Ut this tunnel.
The old work hero is in a remarkably good
ell 10 of