The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-06
RAILROAD AFFAIRS.
HARRISBURG AND WEST VA. ROAD.
Bid. for til. Construction of Tunnel. and Bridge.
on the Llne-Coat aad scope Of the Road.
The DsfAult Of the OhIo Central.
Some Of the New York Opinions.

PnILADKLpHlA, September 5.-The bid
for the construction OF the tunnels anG
bridges along the route Of the Harrisburg
Il West Virginia railroad, the new Wander
bilt-Gowen road between Harrisburg and
Wheeling, W. Va, through the Connells'
vile coke regions, were opened on last
Saturday at the office Of the company, in
the Mills building, New York City, and
the Pres has been examing into the physi.
cal condition OF the projected road. Il
finds that the contracts, which have
not yet been awarded, embrace the
construction OF one bridge and
seven long tunnels. The first two
OF these tunnels are called the twin tun.
nels, and run under the kittatinny ard
blue Mountains, about thirty-hve miles
southwest from Harrisburg. The tunnel
under the first named mountain will be
4,6S5 feet in Length, not including the ap.
proaches. In its excavation there will be
required the removal Of o., 200 cubic yards
of matter. The estimated cost will ap-
proximate S750000. The second tunnel,
that. under the Blue Mountains, will be
! $50 feet in length. The excavations will
aggregate 10000 cubic feet The estimated
cost OF the construction OF this tunnel will
not exceed 100000. These two tunnels
have valley approaches only short dis
lance removed from each other.
DIFFICULTIES TO OVERCOME.
The Rays Hill tunnel, next along the
line OF the road, will be 1920 feet in length,
and. will require in its excavation the eremov-
al OF Sl,72O cubic yards Of rock and earth.
The estimated cost OF this tunnel is $780,
900. The Tuscarora tunnel, tity-six and
one. half miles from Harrisburg, will be
5,400 feet in length, requiring the excava-
ton OF IL, 100 cubic yards OF earth. The
estimated cost OF the tunnel will not fall
below 100000. The Sideling Hill tunnel,
few miles further along the route, is the
or considerably over mile in length, re-
quiring the excavation Of l43,250 cubic
yards Of rock The estimated cost OF the
tunnel will reach Sl,S00,000. The Ale
gheny Mountain tunnel, near Bedford
Springs, Pa, ia the next longest, and will
be 5 900 feet, also over mile in length, re-.
Quirng the removal OF l2S, 700 cubic yards
OF matter. The estimated cost Of the Allie
gheny Mountain tunnel will approximate
81, 100000. There will be constructed an
other tunnel along the line, near the West
Virginia State line.
The bridge contract calls for the building
across the Susquehanna river, at Harris
burg, OF a bridge over a mile in length,
with superslructure Of wrought iron upon
heavy piers. The estimated cost OF the
bridge will range somewhere in the neigh
borhood OF 100000. The aggregate
length OF the seven tunnels will be nearly
six miles, and their combined estimated
cost about S8,00000O.
THE COST PR NILE.
By the terms OF the contracts the tunnels
and bridge must be completed within two
and half year,, at which time it is ex.
pected the road will be in running opera
ton. The figures for the length and cost OF
construction Of the tunnels do not include
the approaches thereto, which will OF
themselves come TO considerable figure.
The tunnels will be twenty.tour feet in
hight, with breadth ot thirty feet, and
VIII De dEClleu Win htOue. 1ut UkutI tOu-
struc,ion expenses will be heavy. The
estimated cost OF building those portions
OF the road not included Ia the tunnels will
be Sl25, 900 per mile.
COST AND scopE or TIE ROAD.
The Harrisburg & West Virginia road
was granted charter about year ago. It
is 500 miles long, and it is expected that
there will be required to put it in running
operation, s42,0OO,OOO. It taps the famous
Gonnellsville coke regions, and was organ.
i2ed by William II Vanderbilt and Frank,
lin B. Gowen, OF the Reading railroad, as
rival Of the Pennsylvania road. It is
contemplated to ultimately extend the line
to New York, and from Wheeling south
in other words, to make II through freight
and passenger road, The main stem, The
contracts for the remainder OF the con-
struction OF which will be given out with.
in raonth, traverses mountainous re-
eien, and the route embraces numerous
curves and steep grades. All Of the tun:
nels will have an approach upon either
side, with grade Of obe loot in every 100,
dipping in opposite directions from the
center OF the tunnel. The preliminary
survey Of the road has been completed,
and It is stated upon the authority OF the
directors that work will be prosecuted with
all possible dispatch.