The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-26

RAILROAD NEWS.
As last week was drawing TO a close Mr..
Robert III. Saver, President of the South
Pennsylvania Railroad, quietly dropped into
town, and anchored his grip sack at the
Grand hotel. Some time after Mr.. L. +.
Kerr entered his name on the Jones house
register. About midnight the tall and pic
turesque form of Thomas Collins ambled
up from the station. Later busy and prac-
tical Dennis Shanahan, of Virginia, con-
tractor of the Rays Hill tunnel put in an
appearance, and subsequently Mr.. W. F.
Sadler. of Carlisle, aud Mr.. Reon Barnes,
of New York, sauntered up from the
station.
This gathering of South Pennsylvania
railroad magnaies attracted much attention
and news fiend from the Patriot force was
detailed to shadow them. 1t was Impossible
TO ascertain the special mission in hand, but
an industrious effort resulted in obtaining
some information. First it was learned
that Contractor Smith has made gratifying
progress in the preliminary work on the
bridge During the winter he has been
quarrying and preparing stone for the piers,
and as soon as the water recedes sufficiently
the work of building the piers will begin.
Ii has been determined to begin work in the
centre and work toward the shore each way.
This Is in order to have the warm weather
and low water tor the work at the deepest
point.
Mr.. Shanahan has about four hundred
men at work on Rays Hill tunnel. He is
penetrating from both ends, and works day
and night in the shifts. He makes 400 feet
a month.
Charles McFadden has the same force on
the Allegheny Mountain tunnel, and by
similar system makes equal progress. This
rate will complete both tunnels in about
eighteen months The line is located at all
points except in Bedford county. In that
county two surveys have been made but
which one will be adopted has not been de-
termined. One of these lines would leave
the town of Bedford mile or two 10 the
South of the road, but it would shorten the
line about mile. At another point survey
has been ordered with the view of changing
the line between Everett and Rays Hill, so
as TO avoid the high bridging over Brush
creek
Thomas Collins has the contract for the
line from the western portal of the Ale
gheny Mountain tunnel till within three
miles Of Somerset, a distance of ten miles.
He has a large force at work, and is pushing
it with his usual energy. The portion of the
road lying between the western portal OF the
Rays Hill tunnel and the borough ef Ev-
erett will be put under contract in few
days.-HaTjsbtgy Patriot.
We were informed says the Democrat on
Monday evening that the laborers at the east
end of the Sideling Hill tunnel had discov-
cred coal. If this report should be true. it
would certainly be great matter for Full
ton county. 1t is well known that there is
coal under Sideling Hill Gap at New Grena-
da a number of veins were found while
company was boring fo / there more than
a dozen years ago. The vein also crops out
in the creek Just III the NarrOws. Coal has
also been found in Sideling Hill about orc
miles west OF Hancock, Nd, which goes to
show that in some places, at least, the black
diamonds be within the borders OF our coun-
ty, We hope the above report may prove
true, as a coal mine al or near the tunnel will
add materially to the wealth four county
Xi.'toR Republican. -