Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-21
REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENTS
Going on in the Southern Part of the State
A New Railroad.

NpctiW Itifgf0N 70 M NtIi5ftF.
HUNTINGTON, W. Va, May 20.-Great
advancement is being made in the
southern part Of West Virginia, and the
future Of that section is looked forward TO
with interest About 5000 men are now at
work along the Ohio extension of the Nor
folk and Western Railroad, rs the work is
all let out in sections Of from ten to thirty
miles each, and the contracts provide that
the grading be completed by January lst.
The extension will be 100 miles long from
the forks OF ElhOn, TO which point the
road now reaches, 10 the Ohio river. A
tunnel ! 500 feet long, which carries the rail
road from Laurel onto the head of Twelve
Pole, is being made at present, but it will
be some time after the first of the year be-
fore that is completed.
II is also understood that parties con
nectcd with the Norfolk and Western road
have taken out a charter and will com
mence shortly on new road beginning
near the tunnel at the head of Laurel, on
lands owned by the Laurel Land and Lum-
Der Company of Wheeling, crossing from
the head of Laurel Fork of Island Creek,
across TO Logan Court House, following
the Guyan river, up TO Pineville. cross
ing Peters Gap at Flat Top Mountain
onto Crane Creek, down TO Bluestonc, and
up BluestOne TO Bramwell TO intersect
with the main line.
From the head of Laurel where the two
roads intersect the extension will be double
track, distance Of eighty miles down
Twelve Pole.
The masonry for the Ohio River bridge
which will be for double track, has been
awarded TO w. f. Patterson, of Pittsburg.
Pa. The superstructure had been previ-
ously awarded TO the Edge Moor Bridge
Works, of Wilmington Del. The contract
for crOss-ties was awarded TO f. A. Tennis
Both these roads run through land in
which Wheeling parties are interested, 10
the distance Of twenty-five or thirty miles,
including the Twelve Pole Coal and Iron
Company, the Laurel Coal and Lumber
Company and the Panhandle Coal and Iron
Company. The country is developing most
wonderfully. The boom that has existed
in the Pocahontas Valley for the past two
years is penetrating that section, which is
perhaps the richest coal and lumber coun-
try in America. Col. II. =. Chew is doing
much to advance the interests Of that sec
ton and has formed several syndicates for
the purchase of land. One syndicate has
purchased 10000 acres of land in Boone
county, known as the Burr Wakeman land,
commencing at Big Coal river and
extending fifteen miles onto the waters Of
Spruce fork Of Little Coal river. The
Colonel has beon very active in bringing
outside capital into that part Of the State.
and some OF the most prominent men in
the country have interests there. II is
also pl opposed to buy other extensive prop
critics in that country, the intention being
to develop them by running railroads
through them. On the Burr Wakeman
lands, referred to above, an expert has
been at work and ne opened up territory
on the West fork Of Little Coal river on
which eight workable veins Of coal were
found At that point there is a mountain
1900 feet high from the bed Of the creek.
800 feet from the top Of which a seyen foot
inch vein Of splint coal was found. Three
hundred feet from the top was found the
thickest vein ever discovered in West Vir-
ginia. \ section Of the vein shows feet
from the floor Of pure coal. then feet Of
slate and l3 feet more of pure coal, making
20 feet Of pure coal in a y foot opening.
There was also found II inch vein Of
camel coal. followed by inches Of fire
clay and then 81 inches of splint coal,
making - inches in all Major j. c. Al
derson. Of Wheeling, is largely interested in
these lands. and he has been instrumental
in inducing great many Wheeling people
TO invest In what will doubtless be great
country in the not distant future.