The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-02
WORK is BEING PUSHED.
The Times Dispatch Bureau
1417 G Street, N. W.,
Washington, d. June list.

| tractors, with large forces Of hands, can
| push 1t. The rails have been laid about
| half the distance between Alexandria
| and Manassas, and trains Will be handled
on u double track between Alexandria
/ and Manassas Junction before the pres
ent summer shall have passed.
The new line between these points will
be as nearly an air line us 1t Is possible
for It to be made across a country SO.
full of hills and valleys. Tho engineer
ing is nothing short OF distinctive
| triumph In the rairoud builders art be-
| tween these points. AS one who has,any
idea Of railroad engineering passes
| through this section and views the pres
ent line In comparison with the new
! one, he realizes what strides have been
made In railroad engineering since the
old Virginia Midland was built Riding
along on the present grade. first one
| finds himself on a level with the new
one. then he finds himself ns high as
an usual length telegraph pole above it,
and In little distance he Is na far be-
low It MS he just was above It, and 80 1t
is every few miles between Alexandria
| and Manassas. Meanwhile the new
grade has eliminated tho curves. ana
with only the general slope OF the coun-
try as a grade, runs through hills. is
filled or bridged over hollcws, and In
short curves about as near being up to
Frederick the Greats idea of railroad.
a straight line--ns the conformity OF the
country will permit. Summing 1t up, the
engineering seems 10 be about as fine an
example OF railroad engineering as one
may hope to see. When the work is
completed !. and the finishing touches are
put on, Southern trains will glide Into
Washington as II on the wings OF the
wind. All heavy grades will have been
eliminated, all dangerous and jolting
curves will be left on the old road-bed
and with clear track showing In the
semaphore, the Southern traveller can
find the acme Of comfort there.
The work between Manassas and
Orange Is not so far advanced, but 1t is
being prosecuted with a degree OF energy
which betokens mn early completion of
the work The present location Is a very
good one between these points. the topo.
graphy Of the country through which 1t
passes being such that curves and grades
were practically eliminated when the
present line was built. A few cures will
be made with straight lines and few
grades converted into level stretches but
for the most part the work will consist
OF simple parallelng OF the present
track. When that is completed the con-
gested traffic between Orange and WASH /
ington will be relieved. and the South
will be moved at least an hour closer to
the national capital by the operation.
After the work is finished between
Orange and Washington the Southern
South to relieve another congested dis
trict by adding the second track. The
DOUBLE tracking OF this road and the
Washington Southern means better train
service and insures to Southern Vir-
ginia and North Carolina all the COM
forts Of modern railroad building when
they travel It, Thus the work becomes
none the less important to the travelling
public than to the railroads themselves.
MIR. HAYS VIEWS
Representative Hay came down to
Washington Sunday evening and spent |
to-day here looking after some minor
matters among the departments. This
evening he and his law partner, George
j.. Browning went to Harrlsonburg,
where they have some cases pending be-
fore the United States court. Judge Nc
Dowell presiding. Among the things Mr.,
Hay did while here was to SEQ the Post
office Department and ask for the es-
Establishment of postoftlces at Nassanutta
Springs Rockingham county. and at
Mt. Vernon, Greene county. He also at
tended to sending out some publications,
from the Census office to some Of his con-
stituents.
Discussing national politics for Tho
Times Dispatch, Mr.. Hay said;
II think 1t Is too early yet TO make
guess as to who the Democrats will
choose to lead them In 1904. AS matters
are constituted 1t looks as II German
and Parker are the favorites to-day, but
that doesn't necessarily mean that they
will continue to be. But 1t may be de-
pended on that neither Bryan nor Ceye-
land will be the nominee. It would be
folly to nominate either one of
them. What the Democrats want
lis good. conservative leader,
ono who can command tho conf
dence of both capital and labor With
these qualities to back the leader we
I,,I,o M
win In 1904
IT think that Democracy win be re-
hnbilitated under the wise and conser-
vative leadership Of Senator German and
John Sharp Williams. 4 think Williams
is as good leader ms we could hope 10
get or could expect. and we all know
Gorman's qualities too we'll to discuss
them Il look for rejuvenation OF the
party and her ultimate ascendancy, With
an old-time platform to stand on, Demo-
cracys chances :, VII pr1gh me eyofywhefe
Judge William q. Riley, ex-consul-gen-
eral to Cairo, Egypt, who is known
throughout the length and breadth OF
Virginia, has received letter from an
English lady whom. as q child, he res
cued from a watery grave IN the Indian
"I,ondon, Eng, April 9Th. 1908,
'tHon. ", q. Riley,
washington us. A.:
''Sir,-My husband, and three children
and nurse will leave here on the tenth
of May to visit America, and hope 70
make the entire continent before our
| return.
~ wrote you one year ago and received
your beautiful letter In reply MY hus-3
| band, Colonel summerville, has been re-
| tired from the army In India, with the
! rank of colonel.
II have always felt grateful to you
for saving my life in the indian ocean in
1876. You are still in Washington, the
capital of your country, where hope to