Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-30
BRIDGE TO BE BUILT.
RAILROAD TO CONNECT THE GAY.
TON AND MIDLOTHIAN MINES. ,
CONNECT MINES WITH DEEP WATER.
Nearly Million Dollars to lie Spcnt
in Increasing tho Facilities for
Shipping Coai-Thc Bridge to Ao-
comm odnte the Public.

Plans for the extension OF the TNsckA-
hoe and James-River railroad from Lor-
raine. across the river and along the
bank TO the tidewater below Manches-
ter, involving nearly a million dollars.
will shortly be put into execution. The
importance Of such giant enterprise
'need not to be insisted upon to be ap-
preciated.
The fathers of this scheme are the
stockholders OF the corporation which
owns the coal-helds at Gayton. In Hem
rico. and Midlothian. in Chesterfield. The
object is to connect the mines with the
Southern railway and with a wharf to be
situated on deep water. so that the adj
vantage OF water rates may be gained In
the shipment Of the product OF the mines
to the northern cities. where the demand
grows rapidly.
AN INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY.
The project and the increasing demand
for Virginia coal marks the renasoence
Of the Richmond coal-felds, which. IT Is
a matter of history. prior TO the year 1850
furnished over one-half OF all the coal
used in America, and In point of quality
and other considerations stood very high
i'm the general estimation. The owners OF
the mines say that they can now walk
twenty miles on solid coal bed, and ti.a
supply is practically inexhaustible. The
mines are now an immense source or
wealth TO the city. and during the past
six years have spent on an average Sl-
300 in supplies each year In the city OF
Richmond. The development OF the
mines is, therefore, a matter OF supreme
Importance and interest TO Richmond peo-
pie.
THE BRIDGE AT LORRAINE.
One of the most important features or
the plan TO connect the mines with deep
water Is the construction OF a bridge at
Lorraine. point about twelve miles
above Richmond. This structure Is to be
designed after the same plan as the one
at Grand Rapids, Mioh.. and will accom-.
modate teams and foot passengers as
well as the railroad. The bridge will
prove OF lnestmable benefit to the coun.
ties of Chesterfield and Henrico. as al
present there is no bridge crossing the
river between Richmond and a point
nearly fifty miles above It.
An interesting fact in connection with
the enterprise is that the supervisors OF
the two counties are not only heartily
In favor of the bridge, but Will extend O
good road to IL, in case 1t is made suit
able for country travel. as well as
railroad service,
Rights OF way have been obtained for
the railroad extension, and a survey has
been made over the old Chesterfield
tramway. formerly used by the mines
as an outlet TO Richmond and tide
water. Estimates are now being made
for the work. which will he energetically
prosecuted at an early date.
MIR. GAY ON THE SCHEME.
Mr. Ware b. Gay, Of the firm OF Gay
e Lorraine. which owns a large interest
i'm the Richmond coal-helds, Is PERSONAL
Iy at the head OF this project. For seve-
raj years no has been negotiating for
the rights OF way for the extension OF
the Tuckahoe and James River mhroad,
which now runs from Gayton to the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway at Lor-
raine He said yesterday evening that
the extension would be largely through
the properties already under his mar,
agement, and make connection with
the Southern railway at or near Midlo-
THAN, in Chesterfield county. at which
point the Midlothian mines would also
make connection with the Southern rail-
way. and enable the production from
the collieries on the Chesterfield side &c
also reach Newport News over the
Chesapeake and Ohio. Mr.. Gay stated
that up to the 1st of July Of this year
the mines had made more contracts fos
immediate and future delivery than In
any three years combined since the
mines have been opened; and said thai
extensive improvements were now be-
ing made, which would very largely In
crease the output OF the mines
Mr.. Gay mentioned that tho parties
handling the coal in Washington, Bal
timore and other points are reporting
that the coal is very popular. and tha
outlook for the Richmond coal-nelds cer-
tainly seems much brighter than at any
time for many years.