The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-12-16
THE EXTENSION INSPECTED.
Morgantown and Point Marion Visited
by Big b. & o. 0fiieials-Other
Railroad Notes.

railroad people. These were Charles
f. Mayer, president of the b. n O.
system; Thomas M. King, first vice
president of the b, IL o. and presi-
dent of the State Line Extension;
C. X. Lord, third vice president Of
the b. d o.; p. T. Fitzgerald, super.
intendent OF transportation r. M.
Sheets, superintendent Of the Park
ersburg and Wheeling divisions; f.
p. Bacon, president of the B. & o.
Southwestern Senator j. n. Cam
den, president of the w. Va. u Z.
and NJ. r. railroads; Harry w. Oil
yer, the famous Pittsburg manufac
turer; G. de B. Keim, director OF the
B. & O., Ex-Governor A. B. Fleming,
and several othera.
The party was on tour of gener.
al inspection of the line. They took
two coaches for their trip to Point
Marion, going down before noon and
returning about il tie evening.
They expressed themselves as well
pleased with the line generally, but
what the recommendation are that
they will offer as to the time the ex-
tension shall be opened for business
is not understood. The object of Sen
ator Camden's visit was to consult
with the officials as to the advisable.
ity of running through trains from
Pittsburg to Weston by way of the
Nj. r. and Clarkshurg and to exam
inc the route Governor Fleming is
anxious for certain coal lands below
here to be developed and this was an
opportunity to confer with the high
er transportation powers on this i'm
portant subject.
1t was ajully,amable crowd withal,
who had due regard for the well con
ditioning of the inner man and time
did not hang heavy on their hands
The trip down to Pont Marion was
made in 30 minutes, the unballasted,
consequently rough, road not permit
ting high rate of speed. Consider
able over an hour was taken on the
return, the inspection en- route being
made coming back. Several hours
were spent at Point Marion. The
inspection in itselfis probably per
functory matter on the part of these
gentlemen, but the time for opening
the road is the matter of most i'm
portanee that will be a result of the
trip. This is matter of the
future. however The party went to
Belington, by way ofClafksburg and
Weston Friday night, and inspected
the w. Va. d z. Saturday. 1t may
yet come TO pass that trains viii, run
over the new routes from Pittsburg
TO the interior.
Last week it was the exclusive
function of the NEW DOMINION to re
port that two spans of the B. A. O..
bridge across Cheat had been laid
down on their solid, everlasting pier
foundations. This week it can with
truth be stated that another span is
down. leaving two more spans yet to
be laid.
Three of the five spans are in po-
sition. There is no let up in the
work for changes in the weather or
night. Three sets Of hands are EN-
ployed, working eight hours at each
shift, thus filling the % hours Of a
full day. Great lights are placed on
shore and on the piers and the work
moves ahead at night proportionately
as rapidly as during the day. In
two weeks, at the present rate of pro
gress, the five spans of the bridge
will be in place. 1t will not he com
pleted when all the iron and steel are
in position, however. When the
structural portion is in position il is
held temporarily by few bolts and
rivets till all are up, when the work
Of thoroughly holting is begun, and
this will take some time-now esti-
mated TO be along in the fore part Of
January before the actual test of the
structure is made and the construc-
ton trains allowed to pass. From
three to four weeks from now these
trains will cross the bridge and the
ballasting Of the line from Granville
to the bridge will be commenced.
Thirty days is the time required to
do the ballasting. This will bring
us up to February some time, and
behold the last link 10 the chain Of
road will be forged and Il will be
completed. Then what? Nobody
knows. Some railroad men say that
the operation of the road will not be-
gin before May, the time when the
railroad will again make new train
schedule ON all its lines, and some
say that when the road is completed
as soon as practicable thereafter
trains will begin to run. The ques-
ton would ,ben seem to be, how long
after the road is completed will be
considered practicable to.run trains?
Ga this No oae has venturcd an epin.
ion, and it would simply be an opin
ion if ventured.
Last Friday the first message was
received over the new telegraph line
from here to Smithfield 1t vas 10
the crew of the construction train
to be ready to meet the special train
referred To above and take it to
Point Marion, which was done Tue
message came from Smithfield, and
the special train bad to go around
by way of Wheeling from Pittsburg.
There is set nc office between here
and Smithfeld When the road is
opened one will be established at
Point Marions