Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-05-13

rs anu IWO CdTS VI Cdttft, 1QSoddl. | II
Tim Finch shipped three cars of
title to Kansas City the first of the 3
on top Of the mountain above the
tunnel entrance, cables were run
from this across the river and canal to
the low land, where filling was neces-
sary, and the rock from the tunnel
was carried over in a large iron buck
ct suspended from the cables. The
laborers' camp was located on top of
the mountain and the men construct
ed 150-foot ladder leading up the
precipitous face of rocks from the
mouth of the tunnel, and this ladder
they assembled and descended many
times a day.
In the construction of the Indigo
tunnel, a method never before employ
ed in the East, and rarely elsewhere,
is being employed. This is the great
est tunnel on the line, being 400
feet in length. 1t passes through a
Siding Hill mountain range and
makes the Wabash a straighter line
and almost a mile in three shorter
than the Baltimore & Ohio. 1t is being
made by drilling the heading (the full
width of the tunnel, twenty-four feet,
and nine feet high) through from the
bottom or at grade level, and the
rock will be blown down until the
required height is reached Old con-
tractors, accustomed to driving the
heading through from the top, shake
their heads and pronounce this meth
cd a "costly experiment" but Nc
Arthur Bros. say the strata, Indigo
shale, is just right at this tunnel for
this method and are confident it will
driven from both ends at the same
time and the men are within 100 feet
of each other, nine feet a day being
the progress made from each end.
The men working from the eastern
end have penetrated only eleven
inches further than those coming
from the western side.
The "Stick Pile" Tunnel.
In order to cut a roadbed through
the masses of rock that rise straight
up from the bed of the canal it was
necessary to wait until navigation
closed for the year. In the meantime
the holes for the blasts were all pre-
pared and when the water was with
drawn, about a month later than ever
before, thousands of pounds of pow
/ der and dynamite were exploded in
InSSS uOIcS anu luc Canal DeU was
| filled with earth and rock for many
miles which must be removed within
| the next two months.
The only place where the Wabash
leaves the canal and river for any
| considerable distance is at Bayard,
| thirty-five miles east of Cumberland.
| After crossing the Baltimore & Ohio
| railroad the river and canal, at a dig.
| zy height on a 1,370-foot bridge, five
| 150-foot channel spans with viaduct
approach, it strikes boldly into the
mountains. After running through
| tremendous cuts, over deep ravines
and through the Stick Pile tunnel
| 1000 feet in length, it emerges from
| its fve-mile run through the heart OF
the mountain at Orleans, w. Va. This
| is considered one of the heaviest
| pieces Of work on the line, but here
as at many other places, a compare
lively straight line is secured with
moderate grades and with a saving
| Of almost a mile over the Baltimore
Ohio route.
The first work was done on this
| injecting link on July 81, 1903, and
the contract called for it's completion
in eighteen months. The delay and
extra work occasioned by trouble
| with the canal rendered its compile
ton within contract time an imposst
bility. Now, October 1, is the d6te
set for the opening of the road, but 1,
is claimed January 1, 1906, would be
a nearer date.
From Cherry Run to Hancock, ter
miles, the road is completed and trains
are running on it. For ten miles cas-,
of Cumberland the roadbed is ready
for the rails and the three bridges
are in course of erection. At numer
Gus other places there are four and
five mile stretches completed, but
| there remains a great amount OF
difficult work to be done. 1t is only
the fact that work is being rushed
day and night. regardless of weather
conditions and without regard to ex
pense, that makes safe the prediction
that not later than January L, 1905
the Wabash will have this line oper
| for traffic
Endurance of the Jap.
In the orient there is a new art OF
war depending upon a new style OF
ply sique of a race which has never
before been put to this work. The
Jap is short, stocky and blessed with
muscles big enough for a much taller
man. He is consequently able to dc
more work than a European of equal
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