Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-09-30
Railroad from Staunton through Highland
into v. Va.

lllU n. Yd.
We publish this week the second ar
ticle of Mr.. E. G. Vincent giviDi
the data in regard to his work In con
nection with railroad through High
land into the West Virginia coal fields
Last week in regard to an appointment
the words taoo gears appeared when i
should have read taOo days. The fol
lowing is,the report:
Having made arrangements during
the month of April. with the Hon
Henry G.. Davis, President of the Wes1
Va. Central and Pittsburg Railway
for his Chief Engineer. Mr.. James Par
sons. to accompany me through the
mountains of Virginia. and West Va,
to examine the feasibility of a railway
from Staunton, to some point on the
West Va, Central and Pittsburg Rail
way, at, or near Elkins. West Va, with
a view,of connecting Staunton with the
vast bodies of coal. and lumber of West
Va.
Owing to unavoidable delays, was
not able to start at the time first agreed
upon, and other professional work
prevented Mr.. Parsons later on from
going with me. 1t was then consider
ed advisable that 1 examine the line
alone, and have Mr.. Parsons accompa-
ny me on the return trip. &c, &c. But
owing to the many difficulties and
drawbacks continually met with, rains
high waters, timbers &C., &C., the time
consumed was much longer than first
anticipated. Mr.. Parsons was not at
Elkins on my arrival, but somewhere
in the mountains of Pocahontas coun-
ty, making surveys. A messenger was
Immediately sent for him, which re-
quired several days. \
The disbursement of funds, placed
in my hands you will see from the
itemized statement herewith inclosed,
and is a part of this report.
Starting from point in the city of
Staunton most convenient for a Union
Depot, thence by light broken grades
to point beyond, but near the cor
porate line, then by the maximum
grade 80 feet per mile to the divide be-
tween the waters of Lewis Creek, and
Poagues Run, 24 mile from Staunton.
As the line is now proposed, there will
about one mile of broken grade to the
head of Deffenbaugh's Draft descend
ing "a miles-80 foot grade to Bollens,
II miles 35 foot grade crossing Middle
River at a point west of the lntersec-
tion of Jennings Branch, and Middle
River, requiring a 100 foot Howe Truss
Bridge, with it's approaches. From
Middle River passing through Church
Vile. 6 miles 20 foot grade to jennings
Gap, crossing Jennings Branch on a
60 foot bridge. Two miles 65 foot grade
to the junction of the Warm Springs
and aarrisonburg pike, passing Buck
horn mile-45 foot grade, mil es-80
foot grade to summit Of North noun
tain, the divide between waters to Jen
nings Branch. and Calf Pasture river.
$50 far this is the deepest cut on the
line, being Is feet deep,) situated 194
miles from Stauntou, miles of broken
grade to the divide between the head
of Calf Pasture River, and the waters
of North River, 81 miles-8O foot grade
to the summit of Shenandoah noun
tain, crossing this mountain with cut
of 80 feet.
Descending on grade of 80 feet per
mile. we encounter sharp spur, known
as the Horseshoe Bend, which will re
quire very deep cut. or a short tun-
mel passing around the head of Brushy
Run, miles-80 foot grade to Shaw's
Fork divide, Il miles-25 grade to sum-
NIT of Shaw's Ridge, 81 miles-S0 foot
grade to Jones' divide, above Palla
Alto, ST miles-80 foot grade to Bull
Pasture summit, 3 miles
80 foot grade to Doe Hill divide, Z
miles-S0 foot grade to summit of Jack
mountain, 8 miles 80 foot grade to
Straight Creek, so foot bridge,
(65a miles FROM Staunton,) 81
miles-SO foot grade passing
Crabbottom Mills. Heavener's
Scales, and near New Hamdon to Hard
Scrabble, 81 miles-SO foot grade
Straight Fork passing down Straight
Fork 4 miles-62 foot grade, rs foot
Bridge to North Fork OF the Potomac,
1871 miles-SO foot grade to summit of
Allegheny mountain, (954 miles from
Staunton,) 70 miles light broken grade
to divide west of Sinks, (near Occola
Post Office, 1074 miles from Staunton,)
6 6miles-60 foot grade to Laurel Fork, 80
foot Bridge, 81 miles-80 foot grade to
summit of Middle mountain. 10 miles
80 foot grade passing around the end
of little Beach mountain, to West Fork
of Glady, 24 miles-80 foot grade to sum-
nit of Shaver's mountain, above
Flints,) 8 miles-80 foot grade to Cheat
River 15O Howe Truss Bridge. Here
met Mr.. Parsons surveyed line and did
not further examine, beyond what
could be seen from mountain trail, 3
miles-S0 foot grade to head of Craver's
Run.
By surveys made by Mr.. Parsons in
the last summit mile, there are 8 deep
gorges, 60, 80, ITO feet deep. From Sum.
NIT to Elkins. 4 miles. 80 foot grade,
1451 miles from Staunton.
The route from StauntOn to .Jennino,s
Gap passes through fine agricultural
district, accessible to the surrounding
country by numerous roads, and follows
along the principal outlet to all this
district lying North Of Staunton. From
jennings Gap to the summit of Shen-