The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-07-24
The CHEAT RIVER R. R.
A New Survey To Be Made
And on the Result Depends the
Building oft Road.
The Old Location an Expensive One and
not at the Proper Eleyation-lt does
not look as though that much Talked
Of Line would be Completed Very
Saau
Pittsburg Post

OSl
A second survey Of the proposed
route of the Cheat river railroad, which
was projected many months ago by j,
NJ. and w. S. Guffey, was begun last
week. Chief Engineer J. J. Janeway
commenced operations at Point Mar
ion, Fayette county, and will extend
the survey along the line mapped out.
The road is to be built mainly for the
purpose Of developing the large tracts
Of coal, timber and stone land owned
by the Guffeys. The resuryey will not
be completed for many weeks, and w.
S. Guffey states that no time has
been set for beginning the construc-
lion of the line.
The proposed route begins at Point
Marion, where connections are to be
made with the Baltimore & Ohio
system. Thence the road will run
along the Cheat river 10 miles, to Par
sons, where it will connect with the
Pittsburg & West Virginia Central
railroad, a line operated by the Davis &
Elkins company.
Talk Of the Cheat River railroad
being constructed has been rife for
many months. Last winter an initial
survey was made along a route mapped
out by the projectors. A result of
the survey was not satisfactory. The
grade in some places would be very
steep, and in Others would lie along
the lowlands, where the tracks would
be flooded by every large rise Of the
river. The projectors, therefore, de-
eided that the matter should remain
as it was until another survey could
be made and more even grade arriv-
ed at. As matters now stand the only
definite arrangement made is that the
beginning of the line shall be at PIT.
Marion, and that its terminus shall
be Parsons.
w. S. Guffey stated yesterday that
everything depended upon the result
Of the new survey If a satisfactory
grade can be established the building
Of the road will be accelerated but if
it is not it is probable that the pro-
ject will be abandoned for some time.
If, however, the report of the survey
ors meets with the approval of the
projectors, they will at once set to
work to get the right of way. While
this is being done work on the build
ing of the road can be commenced, in
asmuch as it has often been the case
for railroads to construct and after
wards secure the right of way.
Pho rronncQ1 rnnfa liac i'm ~, aI n al 10
through the large tracts of coal land
owned by the Guffeys. Hundreds of
acres are in the neighborhood of Sandy
Creek, and the road will figure largely
in shipping the coal taken from this
tract. The projectors also own 3, 700
acres of blue stone land, on which are
many quarries. This land is situated
10 miles up Cheat river from Point
Marion, where the line will have an
other large freight receiving station.
Further along the line are situated
the old Henry Clay furnaces, which
are also owned by the Guffeys. Diff
Guilty in shipping the products of this
territory have always been encounter
ed, and the absence of transit facili-
ties has caused work to be delayed at
various times when large shipments
could have been made. These incon-
yeniences have caused the project TO
be seriously considered, and the fact
that another survey is being made
leads many to think that the con-
struction of the proposed road is only
a matter of few months.