Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-20
PROGRESS OF WORK
ONTRB EXTENSION OPTHB WHEELING AND
LAKE BRIB ROAD.
The Big Tunnels Almost Through-fhs Advantage Of
the Ds-Traek-Laying Machine
General Industrial.

Work upon the extensOn of the Wheeling
and Lake Erie railroad, from Portland,
west is progressing theoretically, very
large force being Employed in the work Of
construction. The two tunnels at Port
land and Jewett, are being driven through
the hills rapidly, and the holes will soon
be through. The Jewett tunnel, with the
cuts at either end, is an impressive piece
Of work. Just this side of Jewett the road
passes under the Pittsburg, Cincinnati and
st. Louis railroad, after having run along
side the same from Bowerstown. 1t next
passed under the Csdiz branch railroad,
at Folks station, about two miles from
Cadiz junction. This is accomplished
by a long and deep cutting at both ends
and q tunnel of $50 feet in length I'M
der the latter track. This is a very
heavy piece of work and is in charge OF
Rexford Brothers, contractors. 1t has been
the policy Of this road all along, as con-
tradistinguished from the Panhandle, to
adopt cuttings, so far Is possible, instead
of tunnels, and to reduce the latter to the
shortest possible length. An idea of the
character Of the work at this point may be
gained rom the fact that for the necessary
blasting they have had occasion to order
6fty boxes of dynamite of fifty pounds
each about every three weeks. They COM
menced work on the cutting last August
and will be through by or before July l.,
and have on an average used about 1000
pounds of dynamite a month. The cut
ting is over seventy feet in height. Upon
the eastern end of the work the cutting Is
eompleted and the tunnel proper begun
and already projected $50 feet, there only
remaining 100 feet yet to do. Immediate
lv overhead of the tunnel the Cadiz branch
passes.
The foundations Of most of the bridges
on the line are up, and the superstructures
ready to be placed in position.
By the time this tunnel is completed,
the others on the line between there and
Portland will also be through or so nearly
as to offer little if any further
delay to the continuous aid rapid compile
ion of the track to the river. In the
meantime arrangements are nearing COM
Dletion for the beginning of work north
md south TO Steubenville and Wheeling
% Portland 1t is probable that work
may begin within a month.
The difficulties to rapid construction south
ward are greater than nOrthward. Ii Is
houRht by contractors and engineers in
,Osition to know whereof they speak,
hat the road nOrthward from Portland to
iteubenviIe could be built in three
months. II is not unlikely that if Steu-
,enville is alive and awake to her POSSIBLE
ties, that the road may have cars running
here by December.
The road will be costly one to build, as
much of it will be along the river between
I and the Cleveland and Pittsburg Rail
Dad, necessitatiDg great deal OF pile work
1t has therefore asked for
contribution Of $4,000 from Steuben-
lille and intervening points, the larger
art of which has been secured. Steuben-
lies City Council has Just initiated pro-
ceilings whereby to widen ALLEY A"
rom twenty to forty feet, and through
his a right Of way will be given the road
ccording to present expectations. Their
epOt will be at the lower end of Market
treet on the north side, and about mid
iay between Water and Third streets,
nd about half block from the Cleveland
nd Pittsburg passenger depot.
The best part Of Jefferson county will be
reversed by this road, and the Mt. Pleas
mt section opened up and liberated from
ts frequent bondage Of impossible country
DAD.
One special feature in the development
f Jefferson county and its resources which
his road brings is the opening up to mar
let OF the great new coal field of OHIO, ex-
ending from Cadiz to Portland. Ii is the
oittsbnrg vein, averaging % feet in thick
less. and the best of il is from Adena
lOwB, opening upon the valley occupied
" the main line of the Wheeling and Lake
erie Railway The field is larger than
hat OF the Hooking Valley, and the coal
ully as good in quality and not 80 lean.
Reference has already been made in the
REGISTER to the treck-laying machine in
ise on this line 10 is the first time this
Ingenious machine mas Deen uSed IN TINS
'icinity. The engine and train, with sup
plies, rails, ties, etc, push this machine at
he front Of a series of fiat cars, over and
ipon which. by a system of rollers and
rucxs on rails, they are projected to what
night be termed the feeder or track-laying
Machine itself This, by appropriate
ackle and appliances, swings a couple OF
-ails in place and drops the necessary num-
Der Of ties, which are rapidly and securely
fastened The machine and traiu then
push ahead upon the rails length of track
Of their own building, and steadily repeat
the process, until in day over mile OF
track is readily laid. This is a great i'm
upOn bringing up the supplies
10 q given point and then carrying them
forward labOriously and slowly by hand.