The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-24


to-day the Ohio extension OF the Nor
folk and Western was completed on
Thursday afternoon. The road was com
menced on March S, 1890. The entire
length of the extension is 10t miles,
connecting the Pocahontas coal fields
with Coal Grove, about seven or eight
miles west Of Kenova. There we're
many difficulties in its construction.
There being no roads in the vicinity,
men and material had to be hauled or
carried by water. Long marches wore
often necessary from the nearest rail-
road point.
The road starting from Elkhorn fol-
lows tho Elkhorn fork of the Tug river
to the Tug river at WEIGH. Then pro-
ceeding along the valley OF Tug river
to the mouth of Pigeon creek and then
to its head waters, it enters long tun-
mel and energies at the head waters Of
the Twelve Pole river. 1t then pro.
ceods to Konova and across the Ohio
river at this point, proceeding along
the north bank to Coal Grove
The track is laid with 67-pound steel
rails and Is we'll ballasted throughout
its entire length. The masonry ia first
class. The bridges, numbering about
l2O, arc built Of iron and steel, and are
designed for the heaviest loading.
The bridge which spans the Ohio
river Is an excellent piece of work 1t
has five spans, four of which are 3o4
feet in length and the central span is
52l feet in length. The total length OF
the bridge proper Is 1877 feet and on
the West Virginia side there is an iron
viaduct approach 2,140 feet in length.
The masonry of the bridge is forty feet
above high water or about 100 feet
above low water. The masonry of the
bridge proper consists of six piers and
one abu tment.
There are eight tunnels on the line,
one OF which Is $500 feet long and is
situated at the head waters Of the
Twelve Pole river, the highest point on
the line. The grades over the entire
line are excellent, there being only one
opposing grade between the coal fields
and the Ohio river. There Is u grade
OF SO $40 per mile, compensated for
curvature 30 that the resistance OF
curvature Is not greater than on
straight line.
both bridge and viaduct are so arranged
that they can be double tracked when
required. A good record has been made
this week in track laying. On Tuesday
and Wednesday three miles were laid
each day and on Thursday the rem ain
ing two miles were laid. The delay
during the summer was owing to incom-
plete grading. and as soon as interven.
ing grading was completed the track
laying progressed again.
The main line Is now connected with
the Scioto Valley division at Kenova
The Sciota Valley division at Columbus,
Ohio, will soon have good connections
with every railroad that enters that
city.
Coincident with the building of the
Ohio extension has been the erection OF
very fine warehouse and pier at Nor
folk. This will allow FOR the augmented
business on the main line The ware.
house is situated at Lambert's Point and
is considered as fine a warehouse as can
be found on the Atlantic coast. 1t is
705 feet long and l40 feet wide; Is two
stories high and designed to carry a
load Of 1000 pounds per square foot on
the lower floor and 500 pounds per
square foot on the upper floor. 1t is
similar in design to the one built last
year except that 1t is two stories in
stead of one. There are six elevators
run by steam to transport goods from
the lower to the upper floors. There
are % feet OF water alongside in the
slips. 1t is expected that the extension
will be opene November /.