Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-09-13
(Daa5ury Reporter Post.)

(Dan5ury Reporter Post9
But In this case, il has still strong
er significance; it means the building
of a base line through the mineral re
sources of North Carolina and Virgin
ia, with which Iron and Coal, Marrow
Guage feeders may unite, at the least
possible COST 1t means a cooperation
with the Danville and New River
Narrow Guage; the Blacksburg pro-
posed Narrow Guage and the pro-
iected Craig's Creek and New Riv-
er Narrow Guage. 1t means, IN tine,
the inauguration Of Narrow Guage
system for the cheapest development
of the resources of North Carolina,
southwest Virginia and West Virgin
la. Having in view this general idea,
I traced, without difficulty, a line from
| the mouth of Norris Run Gone of the
proposed termini of the Craig's Creek
road) via Blacksburg, Christiansburg
and Auburn in Montgomery county,
to the Low Gap in Pilot mountain,
three miles beyond. Here tunnel OF
four or five hundred feet may be re-
quired.
From this point, the line descends
with some difficulty, along the south
face of the mountain in direction OPP
posed to the current of Little River
reaching that river, and crossing il
about the mouth Of Brush thence
running up the south bank Of the riv
er to the mouth of the west fork; VI
that fork to the junction OF the souti
fork, and, in general terms, follow th'
south fork to its head waters in Thorn
as Gap; only in one case leaving th'
valley of the stream a few hundred
yards in order to pass through the &C
tive and handsome little town of Jack
sonville (Floyd court-house). Thi
description is general, and is intende
to embrace all possible lines on th
proposed. route; being given more to
the information of the general publ
than to satisfy the critical views Of tn
local citizen. By the courtesy an
public spirit of a member of the prom
inent citizens Of Floyd county, | wa
enabled to spend several days in
more particular examination of tt
passes in the Blue Ridge in the vicil
ity of Floyd Court House.
The governing principle in the $
lection of this point of passage, was
fix a crossing Of the Blue Ridge whit
should naturally become the foe
point of the Baltimore Valley roa
, the Danville & New River road, al
,. any extension of the New River Va
ley roads from Central, southwark
as we'll as being the best crossing f
Y yenr proposed line. Along the Cat Il
point5 southern base Of the Blue Rid
runs Rock Castle creek. This ere
has its source in Gap of its nal
(! some four or five miles west of dire
line drawl from Floyd Court Hou
= to Patrick Court House, being by {
dinary road IL or 13 miles south-w'
from Floyd Court House. To this g
: the engineer naturally turns, as pro
. ising, probably, the easiest crossing
, the range And doubtless such wo,
be the case on an east and west III
or even were it your sole purpose
reach a junction with the New By
of road at New RIVER Bridge. II
however, is not your whole purpo
Your desire is to find a point comm
to an extension down the south fork
Roanoke to Shawsville or Big Spri
an extension via Jacksonville, Ch
is. tiansburg, and so on to New Rlv
and an extension down Little River
. New River Bridge. To compass
idea, we are driven to the selection
Thomas Gap, a low depression q
mile or two in width, embracing
number of minor orsparticular g
ty,. living about 6 miles south from ia
sonville. This is, in fact, but q |
ry, of what is known as Tuggles or Sh
ing Creek Gap, and is the crossing
the Jacksonville and Taylorsy
&c Turnpike. Having selected the
ticular gap at Charles Thomas no
ntry I estimated from the reported grad
nop- the Turnpike, that we would have
feet to overcome between the fot
,.r the mountain at Deharts mill, and
ID top at Thomas.
As it is generally we'll known,
Appalachian uplift, having little G
ufac declivity on the western side,
1y rarely ever adapted to tunneling,
this case being no exception to
80 general rule, we find it necessar,
HS overcome the difference In elevs
sI. by disposing of 100 feet in the SUI
-1J cut and the height of the bridge
la Rock Castle Creek; 100 feet
81 (say) in the rise of Rock Castle G
AsIE and the remaining 500 feet il
oals grade. To do this, after passing
e.. q of the gap, / commenced the de
Isl by turning to the southwest, and
nels ing the side of the mountain ag
rsiE the current of Rock Castle creek
III I reach crossing of the creek,
- more or less, according to the r
SN grade, ,erabove Dehart's mill, VIII