Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-04
WORK ON THE BRIDGE
a., Il. q c. CONTRACTORS HAVE BE-
Gun OPERATIONS.
PRESIDENT WlLLIASS Is BACK
He Discusses the Great Improve
nentS Being Made by the Seaboard
ss Booming.

Work on the bridge Of the Richmond.
Petersburg and Carolina railroad the
northern division OF the seaboard. has
been begun. ana Is progressing as rapidly
as possible.
Winston q Co., the firm which is con-
structing the dam and other work here
for the Virginia Electrical Railway ana
Development Company, is also the con-
u-cung firm for the erection Of the
bridge.
Pits for three of the piers on the south
side ~ the river have been excavated.
and pit for one of the piers on the
island has also been sunk
This work has reached a point where
nothing more can be done without der
ricks. These are being placed in position.
By Monday they will be ready for use.
From that time on the work on the
bridge Will be FASTENED to completion.
WORK on the piers I'm the river will be-
gin IN short time. The dams are framed
out ready TO be put in.
MUCH MATERIAL HERE.
There are now on the ground forty-four
carloads OF material for the bridge. Tbs
includes tho steelwork and false.stuff
Winston q Co. are having stone deliver
ed ready TO be used in the construction
Of the piers. Mr.. a. d. Exall. Of this city,
one of the best-known engineers in the
country, has charge OF the work for the
railroad company. His jurisdiction in
cludes all the work in this city and ex-
tends for a distance of three miles down
tho river.
a woll-known railroad man said yester-
DAY that he thought the ultimate extern
sion OF the Soaboard north from this city
was only question of time and OF COM
parativey short time. He thought IL GER
tain that however close be the arrange
ments made for a northern connection et
Washington, the Seaboard people would
not be willing to reach that connection
over another line. 1t is SAID Tho, tie
road already owns chartered rights from
this city TO within short distance OF
Washington. 1t Is said that preliminary
surveys Of a portion Of the line have been
made
RETURN OF PRESIDENT WILLIAMS !
President John SHELTON williams. of the 1
Seaboard Airline, returned yesterday /
from a trip South, INCLUDING Savannah, I
Ca. and Columbia, s. c.
These two cities are the centres around /
which the greatest amount OF work OF ,
tho Seaboard Airline system is being
Gone.
Mr.. Williams seems to have enjoyed his
Trip, and was gratined at the progress or +
the work al the various points and the
general business outlook I'm the South. os-
pecially as regards the Seaboard
Regarding the work on the great ter
minals of the Georgia and Alabama Di-
vision OF the Seaboard on the Savannah
river, Mr. Williams said IL was progress.
ing rapidly.
we have two gigantic steam dredges
az work there. excavating anj filing
he said. zone Of them IL among the
largest in the world. 1t IS estimated 10
DO the work Of 500 men. II win eXca-
waite and distribute for a distance Of from
100 20 200 feet per Dayton 500 10 TO-
% cubic feet Of earth.
The company's terminals at Savannah
SiNDiace more than one mile of water
-'onJ Mr. Williams continued. They
gre 10 De completed by about the Isl Of
January. Rapid progress is also being
maze on the line under construction
from Medium 20 Hutchlnsons Island. a
instance Of twenty miles. This road will
ne competed in October, including steel
oiaWprdse across the Savannah river.
WORK AT COLUMBIA.
AT Columbia the work is being pushed
forward on the new terminals Of the Sea-
BOARD system. These terminals embrace
lhirly acres in the heart Of the city OF |
oiumbia. whore the company's freight
ana passenger depots viii be located. The
-,Neessions which were granted by the
iy or Columbia are very valuable, and {
were cheeriuily and promptly given by
me city Council Of Columbia. which re- ,
.A1ed the great advantages that would
blow The entrance Of the Seaboard sys-
20 into that city. A great steel bridge
"Il be thrown across the COngaree river
u Columbia, and another steel bridge
'ver the Wateree. between Columbia and I
Aeraw. Contracts have been closed for a
~ u these structures. and the work OF
ling In the link between Columbia and y
.hefaw. 10 connect the Scaboard-Air |
line and Florida Central and Peninsular y
S being pushed forward, the line being >
AID with S0-pound steel rails"
THE CROPS ARE FINE.
President Williams reports great indus y
Hal activity all along the line The 3
Scion crop in Georgia has been almost y
AFIarsdCnfad- the faffau Qgap IL n fine