Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-09-05
p .s For the SPECTATOR.
The Norfolk and Cincinnati Railroad.


The Norfolk and Cincinnati Railroad.
Within the last few years the mind OF
the general reader in this quarter has
been confused in reading of the several
railroads projected through Southwest
Virginia. Over dozen counties, In
that corner OF the State, constitute 9
terra anc0gaatd to your most intelligent
called to the above improvement, from
a very interesting letter to gentleman
in this county from the acting engineer
in charge of it. He is a native OF an
adjoining county, q young man OF
ton was received in country school al
the hands of an uncle. Its character
can be measured from this fact.
Eighteen months ago he sought the
place of an aXeman in q corps of engj-
neers engaged in the construction OF
the Tinsalia Coal and Iron Narrow
Gauge Railroad from Big Stone Gap to
Bristol. He was made transit-man in
few days, and in less than three
months was at the head of the corps.
He sent for the needed books on engi-
neering, and six months or more ago
was, through Col. - Barrett, of Pitts.
burg, the chief engineer of the above
company, and one of the most accom-.
plished engineers of the country, made
his subordinate in locating this road.
We quote portions of his letter, that he
did not dream would be seen by other
eyes than of the gentleman to whom it
was written, Apart from the informa-
tion it contains, it should be an incen-
tive to other young men. On its being
read to a prominent citizen, a relative,
he remarked: '''I am proud of that
young man !; he will yet make an Eads."
"ENG1NERs' CAMP, ON INDIAN CR.,l
Buchanan county, July 80, 1882. {
My Dear Relative:
I am kept so busy have little time
for correspondence. I am in the field
all day., and at night have work to
eleven O'clock, and have to spend my
Sabbaths in getting my map up. Shut
out as I am from Gods country, have
but little to write, and fear 1 will bore
you with my scribble about myself, for
want of another subject: I have had
charge of my party, on experimental
since the first of January, and
think I have given satisfaction to our
Chief Engineer, Mr.. Barrett, of Pitts
burg. He is an accomplished engineer
and nice gentleman. He spends day
or two with me once 3 month. Have
eight men in my party, exclusive OF
myself, and hire one axeman in the
vicinity. Have three large tents, and
am comfortably fixed up. 1 am work.
ing for the Norfolk and Cincinnati
Railroad Company chartered by the last
Legislature, and, when finished, will
bo fbuo,,11 lime Wo houo finiahoA
the location from Saltville to the coal
fields, and this will soon be let to COM
tract, so as to enable the company, at
the earliest convenience, to begin to ship
coal. We tap the Norfolk and Western
at Glade Spring, and by this means
have an outlet to market the coal and
remunerate the company while the en-
gineering and construction of the
through line is going Oh. The company
1 am working tor have purchased $780,
600 acres of coal and mineral lands in
Russell, Buchanan, and Dickinson
counties. Mr.. Bronson, of Philadelphia,
is President of the Company that is
made up of substantial capitalists from
New York. I began my survey at
Clinch river, near the mouth of Dumbs
creek, and ran up the creek to the top
of Sandy Ridge. The country is fear
fully broken, and find great difficulty
in getting ground to sustain our light
grades. The laurel is so thick that a
man can't go through them without
having way cut out, and l have
run over a hundred miles through such
a section since the first of April. Have
tried every possible route from Sandy
Ridge to Russell Fork of Big Sandy, in
order to secure the best line. I think [
am now likely to 60 through to Ken
lucky by the first of September. Let me
tell you this is not the q. T. Smith road,
which has collapsed for want OF money.
The majority of the people here take
little interest in any thing that tends
towards the development OF their lands,
rich in coal and good for farming pur-
poses, with the finest poplar, walnut,
ash, oak, &C., that ever graced forest.
1t is shame to see the destruction they
commit in telling this fine timber and
burning it in log-heaps. A man has no
temptation to spend money here: The
Company pays my expenses. and nave
not spent five dollars of my own In as
many months. expect to 60 to con-
struction this fall as engineer OF di-
vision, and will not have such q rough
life. Mr.. Barrettshas said to me should
have the first promotion. They raised
me from the position Of transit-man
to assistant engineer last January. L
can't hope to do much better, as l never
studied engineering until 1 came out
here, but little over year ago. am
free to say, though In no egotlstic spirit,
1 feel much qualification at the progress
I have made. think it the most in
teresting work In the world, in spite of
,kc I, II from
all society and from friends; but the
best friend have is the one who will
give me work and that will pay me bis
money. Have no need of any thing
here but old clothes. Have worn moth
| ing but blue flannel. Have not had
any hot weather and no night that !
could not sleep under o blanket. and
that, too, to keep the mosquitOes-'Pun
kies,' as they call them nere-from eat
ing me up. Mr.. Barrett is very kind,
and keeps my table covered with Scien
titic americans, Iron Worlds, and Othel
papers, magazines, &C. To give you ar
idea of this country let me tell you
when we move we have to hire horses
and carry every thing on horse back, al
there is not q wagOn-road, or even
wagon, in Dickinson county. Have tc
send twenty miles to mill, and keep 6
man always on horse back thus engaged
Have number of visitors every Sun
day, sedateslooking old men, with pa
triarchal boards, and hair as long a.
Samson's, come with their bare
footed maidens, sit around awhile, ask
foolish questions, and after inviting m
up and down, as the case may be, TAX
their departure, remarking as the.
leave. "Ain't it a sights" *x*
Hon. John w. Daniel, being on Wis
it to Amherst G. H., Va, Monday las
on legal business, accepted an invita-
ton to address a large assemblage o
democrats. He denounced the Arthu
administration as the most illiberal to
wards the South which has ever exist
ed, and INDUCED in a severe arraign-
ment of what he termed "the little pet