Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-02-27
VANDERBiLT'S ROAD.
Some Manufactured Rumors d.
MED With Authority.
NATURE OF THE WORK IN PROGRESS.
The Main Line Well Under Way and Many
Contractors Busy at Various Points,
But Nothing Doing on the
Wheeling Extension.
Special 10 tie REGISTER.

PITTSBURGH, February 26.-Seyeral vague
and manufactured rumors have originated
here to the effect that work on the pro-
posed South Pennsylvania railroad had
been suspended and that the road would
not be built. D.. Hostetter OF this city,
whose connection with the South Penn
sylvania Railroad Company enables Elm
to speak authorisively, said to the REGISTER
correspondent that the report that work
had suspended on the road was fabrica-
ton, and that the road would certainly be
built. A gentleman from Westmoreland
county stated that preparations were being
made in bis county to com mence work on
the road. A man nared Duffin, OF West
Virginia representing firm Of railroad
contractors, is in That section and has Sc
cured eight miles OF work. He will put
large force of hands to work as soou as the
weather is favorable. There have been
ANumber of Surveys
made through the southern portion OF the
State for the purpose OF obtaining the best
route. The last survey has been com.
pleted, and on this road will be built with
probably few alterations. The road will,
after leaving Harrisburg, cross the Sus'
ouehanna river upon a bridge nearly a
mile long; into Cumberland county, thence
the route is almost due west, passing
through the rich agricultural and beauh-
full Cumberland valley. Near the western
border of Cumberland county it strikes
two parallel ranges of mountains reqRir'
ing two tunnels eoch about mile In
length. Toey are so close together that
they have received the name OF the Twin
Tunnels" Work has been in progress al
these tunnels for several months. Thence
the line passes through the extreme north
ern end OF Franklin county and near
Faunettsburgh it tunnels through h the
Tuscsrora noun tains-length ABOUT 1000
feet-emerging IN Fulton county, near
Burt Cabins. There is a
Remarkable Gap
between several ranges OF mountains a.
Burnt Cabins, and many surveys have been
made through it, being cons nsid-red the great
strategic point OF the route. Through Fui-
ton county the line occupies the high di.
vide separating heads of streams emptying
in to the JuBista and Potomac respectively.
The work will be costly on this division
North of SalGvia tunnel, nearly mile
and quarter long, enable the road to pass
under Siding Hill mountain. Three miles
farther the line tunnels under Rays hill
with shorter tunnel. At this point the
line enters Bedford county and follows,
more or less, the valley Of the Rapstown
branch Of the Juniata river 10 Mann's
Choice, pa slug through Everette, where
large new furnace IS being built, and the
town Of B dford, two miles distant from
the springs Near Minn's choice the line
follows the crest OF Dry Ridge Ia spur of
the Allegheniesl TO the main Allegheny
mountains, west Of Baltimore, where
Another Tunnel
about mile long is necessary. Through
Somerset county the route is laid on the
divide CoPa-atins th. o.. - 81.
north Of Somerset county. Laurel Hill is
passed with the last regular mountain tun-
mel about 66O0 feet long. There the line
passes by way OF Donegal, and through the
Chestnut ridge, on the waters OF jacob creek,
but de- scends the western slope of Chestnut
ridge te the waters OF Sewickley creek,
which it follows to lis mouth, just below
West Newton, where connection is made
with the completed Pittsburg, MckeeSp0rt
and Youghiogheny railroad. Nothing has
been Gone looking to the early construction
of the Wheeling extension of this road.
'
gton counties have been made, but it is
scarcely IossiLie that any work will be
done on This proposed division during the
coming summer. Greene County has but
one railroad-the Wsynes5ufg and Wash
in gtop, and the people OF that section sre
willing to Cfftr Inducements shoull he
road lie built through their county.
DIR. Hosietter States
that TIE Collins brothers, Of Phila ielphia,
among tie most widely known railroad
men la this country, have been awarded
The contract for building that portion ol
the South Pennsylvania railroad laving be-
tween the Allegheny and Laurel Hill tun
pels. Their contract embraces some twelve
miles, snd includes the Quemahonlng tun
mel. One Of the firm is in Somerset al
present for tie purpose of going over the
lire snd making contracts for the erection
of all needed buildings. They will begin
work at once. Putnam & Kuhns have been
awarded the contract for the construction
OF the Laurel Hill tunnel, and will COM
mence operations as soon as they can pre-
pare shelter and accommodation for their
iaborers. There are now $50 men at work
at Rays Hill tunnel, working night and
day. The tunnel will be lighted for work
by electric light. At the Tuscaroratunnel,
Mason & King contractors, additional work
men are arriving every day. A large num-
Der Of colored men came this week from
the South. The tunnel will be over one
mile in length, standing third in size OF the
eight tunnels. The contractors believe it
will require at least two and half years to
comtl.te tie work