Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-04-22
is A COSTLY BIT or WORK
New Wabash Extension Foots Up
$3.50, 900 For Each Mile.
IS MOST EXPENSIVE OF ROADS
Wonderful Feat of Engineering and
Difficult Work of Construction
Noted In Every Mile.

The building of the SO mile line bv
the Wabash connecting the Western
Maryland at Cherry Run with the
West Virginia Central at 'Cumberland.
to bring nearer realization George
Gould's dream of making the Wabash
All ocean TO ocean system is the most
EXPENSIVE railroad construction in re.
cent years with the possible exception
of the entrance of the Wabash into
Pittsburg.
The cost of building the first five
miles from Cumberland averaged
$3.50 600 mile and the average cost
for the 50 miles is given at 500. 600
In building this connecting link the
Wabash had to encounter obstacles OF
surprising variety TINT ara good Illus
trations of what it means to bnild new
steam railroads nowadays.
Until the advent of the Wabash it
was supposed there was DO feasible
route through the narrow gaps in the
mountains between Cumberland and
Hancock, 40 miles, save those follow.
ed by the Chesapeake & Ohio canal
and the Baltimore q Ohio railroad.
1t was this belief that has kept life in
the old waterway, life sustained by
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. /,
TO bar out any possible rival. Davis,
then owner of the West Virginia
Central railroad, had route surveyed
through the country followed by the
Wabash, but it was given up as i'm
practicable. AS result, it is not sur
prising that the construction of this
road is proving one OF the greatest
undertakings of wears, requiring ap-
plication of almost every method
known in railroad and the ingenuity
of contractors, who have built rail.
roads in almost every state in the
union. has been taxed to the utmost.
Upon 40 miles of this line there are
engaged 2,629 men, 800 animals, 8
locomotives and steam shoyels. For
is months there has been no cessation
of labor.
An idea OF the difficulties enconn.
tered car be formed from the fact
that this line in 40 miles crosses the
Potomac river nine times, the Chesa.
peake e. Ohio canal seven times. the
Baltimore q Ohio railroad three
times, passes through mountain range;
and spurs by five tunnels, varying il
length from 700 feet to 4,400. feet
through ridges and hills by innumer
able cuts, solid rock. and some almost
mile in length. and that a great per
tion of the road is being cut nut OF
the rocky sides of the mountair
ranges directly above the canal. One
of the most unusual difficulties in
railroad construction and vet the
most troublesome on this line. has
been disposition of the earth and
rock removed in making the roadbed,
a difficulty arising from the fact tina,
the Wabash follows closely the canal
route. While waiting for legal
right to bridge the old waterway il
was necessary to push the construc.
tiop work and to do this the contrac.
tors employed some striking methods.
:. The first work was done ON this con.
Meeting link ON July 81, 1903. and the
contract called for its completion in
Is months. The delay and extra
work occasioned by troubleswith the
canal rendered its completion within
contract time an impossiDilitv. Now
October l is the date set for the open.
ing of the road. but it is claimed Jan.
nary 1. 1906. would be nearer date.
RETURNS AFTER az YEAS