The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-06-01
TmEsOLD:BLUE RIDGE II. r.
Result OF the Recently A1ade Surveys OF
tho xdne-it Can bc Completed Through.
out, With Few Changes, for About u MIL
lion Dollars.
Correspondence Mers aud Courier.

Correspondence Ne,cs aud Courier.
: COLUMBIA, May 19.-In Septembe
last, under instructions fr.u. Col. r. L
Mclaughlin, president of the Columbi,
and Greenville Railroad Company. Mr.
J. w. Fry, chief engineer of the Blu,
Ridge Railroad, began resurvcy of til,
to Clayton, Georgia. Mr.. Chas. Ellis
Jr., OF Virginia, was the engineer il
charge of the work which has been com
pleted. The results of his observation.
are given in full and exhaustive report
showing the present condition of Tho
work which has already been done or
the Blue Ridge road, the character of tn,
obstacles yet to be overcome before the
line can be completed. the conformation
OF the country through which the road
runs, and the capital that will be neces
sary to complete the road from Walhalla
to its junction with the northeastern
Railroad of Georgia Mt Clayton.
In his report Mr. Fry says: IL have
not attempted to find an entirely new
line between the points named, as toe
much work has been done on the old line
for 1t to be abandoned even though n
more favorable line could have been
found, but have had the old line retraced
and other lines run whcrc it was though;
possible that permanent changes could
be made to advantage, or where the work
was of such magnitude rs to Justify the
adoption oftemporary tracks with steepor
grades"
Mr.. Ellis says:
THE OLD WORK,
although the greater part Of it was done
more than twenty years ago, has stood
remarkably well, there being only three
or iour slides of any considerable extent
along the entire line. It is
surprising to find what small percen.
tage OF rock there is when it is consider.
ed what rugged country the line OF the
road passes through. In South Carolina
the earth to be removed is composed
principally of sand. In Georgia there
is more clay in the soil, but not enough
to make its removal difficult at any point.
There are several deep ravines oncoun.
tered in the main and alternate lines, all
OF which are estimated to be crossed on
embellishments. There are five streams 10
be crossed, which will require open
bridges. The other streams are crossed
with box culverts, many Of which are
built. In South Carolina they are gen.
orally badly constructed and are in need
OF repairs. In Georgia the square drain
masonry is of @ much better class and
but little repairs arc needed. The bridge
masonry that has been done is in excel.
lent condition. There will be no diff.
Guilty in getting good foundations for all
the bridges and culverts, and good stone
can be found at convenient distances
along the entire line.
THE FIRST TUNNEL
on the road passes through Saddle Nom.
tain about eight miles from Walhalla Inv
the line. Some work has been done in
the eastern approach of this tunnel, and
at the western end the approach has been
taken out and the tunnel driven full
size for some distance. This tunnel has
yet to be driven about 415 feet, mostly
through solid rock. Middle tunnel has
been driven through. There are SIG
cubic yards of stone to be taken out OF
the bottom of the tunnel. The Stump
House tunnel comes next. It is 5,SG4
feet long and has already had about
S476, 900 expended upon it. There vet
remains 25, lS0 cubic yards of earth and
stone to be excavated Mt this tunnel.
The old work here is in remarkably good
state of preservation.
The adoption of this tunnel" Mr..
Ellis says, Involving a total cost OF
some S750,000, was not the most pracli.
cable line, but now that so much work
has been done am not prepared to re.
commend any change. | have plotted q
location which shows conclusively that
by lengtnening the line about two and
two.thirds miles, and by q considerable
addition of curvature, and increasing the
maximum curve to ten degrees in two
places, but without increasing the maxi.
mum grades, the tunnel could have been
avoided at cost of no. more than $50.
0GO. The character Of the work to be
done on this line, from the point where
i: leaves the main line TO where Cane
Creek is crossed will be comparatively
light; there the line passes through
Poplar Gap with q cut of forty.two feet
The work is then light until the middle
tunnel ridge is struck, which it passes
through with u tunnel of $50 or 2UC
feet. Then at the ridge running ur
from Smiths Cut another tunnel OF 35t
feet will have to be made. Tho work
will then be light until the line crosses
itself in Poplar Gap, which is crossed
the second time on bridge of fifty fee
span at an elevation Of sixty.seven fee
above the first crossing" Two location.
for
TEMPORARY TRACK
over this tunnel have been made. In tht
first caso, on the east side of the noun
tain the track would have maximum
grade of 1876 feet per mile, and on thu
west side of the mountain q maximum
grade of LOG feet per mile. The maxi
mum curve going west on ascending grad,
is ten degrees per 100 feet and descend
ing is nine degrees per 100 feet. The tota
length of this line is 1892 feet, ant
would cost $G3,404 46, and although
1925 feet longer than the tunnel or main
line, could be constructed for $201 ,495 G.
less than the main line.
A temporary track has also been loca
ted to avoid the Chauga tunnel and to bs
used in connection with the line abov,
described. 1t is 474 feet longer than tn,
main line and will be $25, ,997 80 cheaper
The total length Of this track is 4'6l:
feet and the total cost of construction
would be Sl4,380 03.
The second line over
STUMP HOUSE MOUNTAIN
avoids both the Stump House tunnel anc
the Chauga tunnel. The maximum
grade on this line going west ia 255 fee
per mile, and going east $50 feet pc
mile. This line is 1928 feet longe
than the main line. Mr.. Ellis says
am not inclined to recommend ethe
of these temporary lines, unless the OBJ
ject be to save first cost in building tn
road; for if the tunnel is pushed will
proper energy it could be complete,
within sixteen months"
Chauga tunnel is about $500 feet ives