Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-25

DOUBLE TRACKING SOUTHERN.
Work Progressing Rapidly and About
Twenty Five Miles Of Track Laid.

Work Progressing Rapidly and About
Twenty Five Miles of Track Laid.
Few people in Spartanburg fully re-
alize the great work that is going on
along the line Of the Southern railway
and especially along the Washington
division of this road, where the double
tracking Is in progress. Four thou
sand hands are now at work between
Alexandria and Manassas. OF this
large number, 1000 are on the day shift
and the same number work during the
night hours.
1t is the intention Of the Southern
railway to complete this enormous un-
dertaking as quickly as possible and
agents are now going throughout the
south getting together as many able
bodied men as they can possibly Sc
cure. The contractors. for this work
are exceedingly anxious to increase
the number to 5000; half to do day
duty and the other half at night.
To the traveller on a Southern rail-
way train between Manassas and
Washington the sights to be seen bring
to mind the stirring scenes that were
enacted on these identical fields during
the great conflict Between the north
and the south. 4
To facilitate the, work Of double
tracking tents are pitched all along
the line Of the road where this work Is
under construction. Not only have
tents been pitched but in some in
stances houses have been built for the
bosses" of the construction gang.
The farmers along the way and in
fact for miles and miles from the road
way, practically feed this great army
Of workmen. All the products Of the
farm, such as vegetables, milk and
meats are taken to these camps and
ready sale is found for all such.
The farmers are extremely happy
over their good luck and they will feel
it very perceptibly when these camps
are moved farther south.
Up to the present time there has
been completed about twenty-five miles
of this double track. The work has
been slow on account Of the big bridge
that had to be constructed over Bull
Run creek. This work has required
large number Of hands and on account
Of the immense amount Of trestle work
leading to the bridge, the work has
been necessarily slow.
Bridges will have to be built over
the Rappahannock and other smaller
streams. This will require some time
and will delay the removal of the
camps for some months.
In constructing the double track the
Southern has made 1t point to lower
all grades almost to level. In doing
this the old track, In some places is
ten to fifteen feet higher than the new
one. At a number Of these former
grades. temporary tracks have been
constructed and the speed has to be
greatly diminished. In fact these tenn
porary structures are In many instances
the causes Of the lateness Of trains to
and from washington.
The hands who are at work on the
double track are paid off monthly and
q large number of these are saving
their money simply because Of the fact
that they have nothing to spend money
for. They are fed by the company
and their only expense is for clothing.
AS the winter draws near the tents
that now shelter the large army of
workmen will have to give way for
more comfortable habitations. Just
what character of houses will be con-
structed has not been determined
Spartanburg Journal.