Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-30
TIE BELT-LJNE INSPECTED.
New Connection Track in Good Order and
Ready for Trains

1 httNy ibH AiH"N
An inspection was yesterday made Of the
| BeIt-I4ine by the railroad officials and sew
! eral invited guests. -. A.. 80
cial in which the trip was made left Elba
| Station about 1890 o'clock in the morn
| ing. ~. ~ n
Myers president of the Richmond, Frede-
ricksburg and Potomac railroad; General
| Superintendent Il. l.. Courtney, treasurer
| j. Is. Winston, Master Road-Carpenter
| Samuel b. Rice, Road Master II. III. ROBIN
| son. and w. p. Taylor, chief clerk to the
| traffc manager. ali of the same road; Mr..
w. s. Pitcher, Captain John Cussens, OF
Glen Allen, and several newspaper-nen,
among them Dispatch representative.
CAN TURN AROUND.
The run to Acca station, the northern
| terminus of the Belt" was quickly
| made. The new branch meets the main
| line in the shape of Y, the open end be-
INC towards the latter. Trains going south
pass over one arm of the Yand those north
| on the other. BY this means an entire
| train can be turned completely around II
From Acca Station TO Clopton's, the
south-side end of the new line, is 7.S miles,
all tracked with steel. For the first mile
there is a straight stretch on dead level
with the surrounding country. Entering
| the road by means Of the completely
turns q person around, and 1t is hard TO
realize that it is Broad-Street, Grow, and
| River roads that are being crossed,
Some enterprising individual has put
down a double line of wire on the ties
along the side of the rails for the first mile
or So This is intended 10 be used in test
ing an electric railway signal, but nothing
| has as vet been done.
To the river is about three miles. The
rising ground as the water IS approached
has neceSsltated considerable cutting and
filling, aud the manner in which the engl-
neers have taken the best possible adj
vantage Of the topography OF the country
is remarkable.
THE BRIDGE.
The splendid iron bridge across the river
is n marvel Of engineering skill 1t Is
ninety feet above the water, and every one
of the buttresses has a solid stone founda-
ton. 1t is z, 300 feet in length, and such Is
its height that the Allegheny track, which
runs under the north end, and that OF the
Richmond and Danyille, under the other,
look almost like tramways.
When the car had gone about half way
over it was stopped and the party disem-
parked TO enjoy the view, which is superb
in all directions. There is nothing to sug-
moud or Manchester, except the water
tower of the latter, which can be seen
| looming up in the distance. The same Is
| true of the whole route. and the two cities
might as well be two hundred instead of
two miles away so far as view is concerned.
The remainder of the trip to Clopton's
was equally interesting. The special was
stopped frequently to allow thorough in
spectlon of the road and its surroundings.
On the return run the party partook of
| Refreshments, the health of the President
was drunk, and the time passed so plea
sanity that before they knew it the northern
| junction was reached The special was
run down to the Byrd-street station, arri-
wing there about O'clock.
In speaking of the strength of the
| bridge Major Myers said it's strength was
| 80 per cent greater than the Petersburg
| bridge, and that the running of train
| over IL was in comparison no greater
| strain than the lighting of bird on mans
| shoulder.
| REALLY SAVE.
| When the crowd was about to dispense
| Major Myers asked several of them in his
| Office and taking up large map showed
| them the exact route of the Belt-LIne.
From this it would appear that the new
| road swings around a half circle
with a radius of about two and a
half miles. The increase in distance is
| lO4 miles, but the gam in grade, doing
away with the shunting engine, and the de-
lays in Richmond being overcome, really
| save so saw the officers, about an hours
| time. Major Myers also by means of
numerous colored skeins of worsted showed
| the manner Of detecting whether or no an
| applicant for position as traln-hand Is
| cOlOr-blind