New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-15
NEW RAILROAD LINK. |
Connects Portions of Wabash En-
tension to TidescGter.

/ the Western Maryland Railroad not only marks
the finishing of the most important link in the
GouIds' Underwater extension Of the Wabash
, Railroad but also opens up independent
line to the West Virginia coal fields, which have
been compelled to depend on the Baltimore and
Ohio and the Pennsylvania roads for a tide
water outlet.
AT Cumberland the Western Maryland Rail
road now has direct connection with the West
Virginia Central and Pittsburg road. which 1t
also controls. This road traverses some of the
best coal and timber lands In West Virginia
and has always been a source of profit TO those
who promoted 1t. These included former United
States Senator Henry G. Davis and his brother.
Thomas B Davis: United States Senators
Stephen B. Elkins and Arthur P. German, James
G. Blaine John A. Hambeton, former banker
of this city. and many others of prominence and
influence in the political and financial world.
The fight over the Western Maryland de-
veloped here three years ago in the administra-
ton of Mayor Hayes and was waged vigor-
ously The contest for it's requirement was par
ticularly directed by what known as the
Fuller syndicate" the ostensible head being
". H. Fuller. of Scranton Penn. It was soon
ascertained that Mr.. Fuller backed by the
Gould interests. The purpose in acquiring the
Western Maryland to secure tidewater
outlet at Baltimore
This whole matter was fully gone over, and
bids for the Western Maryland made. One
came from the Reading Railroad and was
nearly 100000 in excess of that offered by
the Fuller syndicate. At that time it was
matter Of general information that the Bati-
more and Ohio and Pennsylvania roads were
closely allied AMI II was also a matter of COM
mon belief that these two systems dominated the
Reading.
A strong public opposition to the sale Of the
Western Maryland to the Reading developed.
despite the fact that its offer larger than
that of the Wabash interests The Western
Maryland was finally sold the Fuller syndi-
cate or. more properly speaking the Wabash
interests. at little less than IS 100000
These same interests had previously acquired
the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg road.
When Baltimore closed the deal for the Western
Maryland it became necessary TO connect these
two properties. The Western Maryland line had
its western ending at Cherry Run, a station on
the Baltimore and Ohio road, while the West
Virginia Central had no independent outlet from
Cumberland. To make this link distance of
about sixty-fve miles was essential to connect
the properties in order to carry out fully
the purposes of the purchasers.
This Is the work which was at once begun
and the completion of which is now announced
II has been arduOus task to make this link.
Engineering skill of the highest order was re-
quired. and the cost of this road is perhaps in
excess of that of any line Of the same length
The Goulds' Western Maryland officials have
said repeatedly that the roads would be con-
nected early this month. Their predictions have
been fulfilled and they are receiving Congratu-
latious on all sides for the work accomplished.
The engineers in charge of this construction
work have overcome some seemingly almost
insurmountable objects in pushing the project.
The promoters have steadily urged them for
gardless of expense. IF the physical diticulties
can he overcome" il constantly said the
financial end will he taken care Of"
1t has been pointed out by the Western Mary
in making this connection that, with perhaps
the single exception of the line over which the
Wabash enters Pittsburg. its construction is
the most expensive of any railroad In recent
years. The cost of building the first five miles
from Cumberland averaged about $4,000
mile. and the average cost for the sixty-ffve
miles is 100000 a mile. In building this con-
Meeting link the Western Maryland had to con-
tend with an unusually large number of oh
stacles of d surprising variety, some the work
of man. others the work Of nature
Until the Western Maryland planned the line
il was supposed that there no feasible
route through the narrow gaps in the noun
tains between Cumberland and Hancock, a dis
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. Work was started more
than two years ago and there has been no cessa-
ton Of labor. There have been nearly three
thousand men engaged on the work at one
time.
An idea of the difficulties encountered in
building the road may he formed when It Is
stated that the line in forty miles crosses the
Potomac River nine times, the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal three times. passes through noun
tain ranges and spurs by five tunnels varying
I'm length from 700 feet 10 400 feet; through
the ridges and hills ny many cuts many OF
them 30 feet deep: through solid rock almost
mile. and that a great portion of the road was
cut out OF the rocky sides of the mountain
ranges directly above the canal. One of the
unusual difficulties in railroad construc-
ton, and one OF the most serious in this case,
was the disposition of the earth removed In
making the roadbed. While waiting for legal
right TO cross the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
il was necessary 10 push the COnst ruCtion, and
TO do this some striking methods were EN-
played. At Welton tunnel, a mile south of
Cumberland large wheel placed on top
Of tho mountain above the tunnel entrance,
cables were run from this across the river
and canal the low lands. where filling
necessary. and the rock from the tunnel
carried over In a large iron bucket suspended
from the cables
In order to cut roadbed through the masses
of rock that rise straight UP from the bed of
the canal il necessary to wait until navi-
cation closed last year. In the mean time the
holes for the blasting prepared, and
about a month later. when the water with
drawn-nearly a month later than before
exploded in these holes. and the canal
miles.
The first work done on this connecting
link on July u. 1903, and the contract called
for its completion in eighteen months. The
delay and extra work oCcasioned by trouble
with the canal rendered its completion within
the contract time an impossbity.