Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-09-22
.THE RAILROAD WORK,
The Registers Periodic Review of the
Situation.
VERY GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE.
The IrOnwOrk Of the Bridge Approach, OF
This Side, Going in Place.
In THE TUNNELS And ON THE PIERS,

- SoHi VA VIC OHiOn pIiuge W0rR, yes
terday, showed that matters are being
pushed all along the line with the energy
which has characterized the contractors
from the beginning.
Around the hill, at the point where the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad track inter-
sects the line Of the Terminal Company's
road, the cut has been completed through
at the east end CT the creek bridge, on the
B. & o, and the iron girders, TO sustain
the track of that railroad have been put in
place. The earth beneath the section of
track thus removed has been cut away
about down to the level of the new road
bed, and the temporary tramway line
previously running under the east arch of
the B. & o. bridge will be abandoned.
The fill north of the point mentioned has
made very material progress within the
past two or three weeks, and is now pretty
close to the eouth wall Of the bridge across
the road leading to the Peninsula GEM
etery. Still, it will take about another
month to close up the gap, and this done,
there will still remain the space Of about
one hundred and fifty feet to fill north of
the north wall of the same bridge, before
a continuous roadway can be had at this
point. These fills are quite heavy, and it
takes q good deal of earth to advance them
a few feet
Up at the point where the liIe of the
road crosses the creek, just before entering
the tunnel, there is another centre of ac-
tivity. Work on the bridge piers, for the
structure designed TO carry the track
across the creek, is progressing very well,
and the piers will soon be up to the grade.
A large force of stone.masons are employed
at this point. In the tunnel work is being
pushed with the old-time regularity, and
there is nothing especially new to chron-
icle. This applies to the tunnel opening
in JOnathan's ravine and also TO the
opening up at the Top mill. The thres
headings have been carried in about 800
feet each, and everything is moving along
emOothly.
The chief centre of interest Just at this
time is at the Top mill, where the work Of
setting up the bents of the iron work for
the bridge is in operation. Between the
abutment at the mouth of the tunnel and
pier No. of the bridge proper, there are
numerous pedestals designed to support the
huge iron "hents" of the bridge, or rather
the approach to the bridge proper. Two
or three of these 'Dents" are in place, and
they are enormous masses of wrought met
al, seemingly capable of supporting tre-
mendous weight. Two of them have been
placed in position, resting upon the founda-
tons of stone and cement prepared for
them, and big force of expert workmen
are putting up additional iron work with
the assistance of steam engine. The
southern portion of the Top mill factory
has been pretty well cut up as
to root and walls, to enable this work
to progress, and nothing can
be done in the way of manufacturing nails,
in the part of the factory affected, until
the macs of timbers, etc necessary to the
erection of the permanent structure, is got
ten out of the way. II will likely take
two weeks of uninterrupted work to finish
setting up this part of the structure, and
then the regular span of the approach will
have 20 be placed upon it. When all this
is ready the approach from the tunnel
abutmsnt leading out to about the west
line of the Top mill property will be COM
pleted, and then will come the gigantic
task of erecting the pedestal up IN the stone
work, Just 10 the west of the 'Pewiky"
railroad track, carrying the approach out
10 pier Nc. l. The amount of metal used
in setting up these preliminary spans, and
the weight and apparent strength OF the
pieces, is astonishing, and gives the casual
visitor better idea of the magnitude of
the Job than days study of the tunnel
and piers.
Pier No. ., which is the east channel
pier, will soon be up to grade. Work on
it has made considerable advance re-
Gently, and two weeks of good weather
will see il abo1t completed. At pier No.
3, the west channel pier, the masops now
have fourteen courses of stone, each two
feet thick, intervening between them and
the surface of the water, and they are out
of the reach OF floods. Three weeks ought
10 ses this pier up to grade. Pier No. a is
not being worked upon, at present.
Up in the rsvine, the open cut to the
south end of the short tunnel is in such g
state that it will be good while yet be-
fore the workmen get under ground. The
surface of thu hill slopes very gradually
and the soil is of very unsuhstantial
character. Besides, it is very wet and
hard TO handle.
Yesterday was pay day, and about $40,
600 was distributed among the army OF
WOrkmen.