The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-11-14

over the open sea from the mainland
half way to Cuba. The railroad goes
to sea from a point below Miami on
the east shore and after crossing sew,
enty-fve miles of open water by
bridge or viaduct, and traverslnR
forty-two islands or keys, terminates
at Key West.
It will soon be possible, says The
New York Herald, to enjoy the speed
and luxury of modern railroad travel
practically out of sight of land. A
great harbor is to be built at Key
West, where trains may be run direct
ly upon great floats which will carry
them to Havana in unbroken pack
ages. This direct connection with the
mainland, with it's saving of eighteen
hours time in transportation, it is be-
ieved, will make Key West, with
the opening of the Panama canal,
one of the greatest seaports OF the
country.
Engineers of the new road from
the first have been confronted by
new and battling problems. Much of
the road being far out at sea, will be
exposed to all the storms to which
these tropical waters are subject. A
wide swath must be cut through
many of the islands, while others
must be laboriously built up from be-
low the sea level. Much of the land
crossed consists of almost impene-
trable swamp. Although a single
track road, the cost of construction
will probably exceed 100000 mile,
or about SIS, 5,O0O,o 900 for $50 miles
of construction. The idea Of this
ocean railroad originated with Henry
M. Flagler, who will spare no ex-
pense in making it a success.
One of the most interesting parts
of the work to the lay mind is the
precautions taken to safeguard the
exposed viaducts against the sea.
The viaducts will be built of rein
forced concrete, resting either on
deep piling or solid rock. It has been
found after careful examination that
the maximum height of waves
throughout these waters is twenty
five feet. The railroad will be kept
at a level of more than thirty feet
above high water. The highest waves
known to this coast, therefore, could
not break over the top of the viaduct.
The engineers count upon com.
pa-atively smooth water because OF
the coral reefs which parallel the
track practically throughout the en-
tire distance. This natural barrier,
although in many places below the
level of the water, forms break
water which turns back the roughest
seas.
The longest of the viaducts over
the open sea, that at Long Key, is
nearly seven miles. There are at
present twenty five hundred men en-
ployed on this viaduct alone, work
ing both day and night. This army OF
workers is comfortably housed in a
camp at the western end of Long
Kew. The viaduct will consist of 186
arches and of these seventy are al
ready complete.
Some idea of the proportions of
this undertaking may be gained from
the statement that this viaduct will
use up286, 900 barrels of cement, IT.
600 cubic yards of crushed rock, 1O6,.
600 cubic yards of sand, 612, 900 llneal
feet of piling, 5,700, tons of reinforc-
ing rods and $500, 900 feet Of dressed
lumber for arch forms.
Every possible precaution is being
taken to anticipate the action of the
wind and waves against this ocean
going railroad. The support of every
one of the arches rests upon twenty
eight piles driven deep into the coral
inc limestone which forms the bed
of the sea. After the pile drivers
have passed to the next pier a great
Golfer dam is lowered from catam-
aran into place around the piles. A
long pipe is then used to lay concrete
to a depth of three feet. AS soon as
this has hardened the water is pump
ed out and the pier forms are set in
place around the piles, which have
been cut down to low water level.
A great barge containing the cement
mixing machine is then towed into
place loaded with cement and crush
ed rock. The steel reinforcing rods
are put in place and the cement is
poured in. 1t is allowed to stand for
three weeks before the frame is re-
moved. When completed the via
duct consists Of thick shell of &C.
ment which is in turn filled in with
earth and crushed rock to the track
level. The water varies in depth
from thirteen to twenty feet. The
tide under normal conditions flows
at the rate of four miles an hour.
The 156 miles of constructive work
between Miami and Key West pre-
sents practically every problem
known to the railroad engineer. The
construction on the main land from
Miami. distance of twenty-nine
miles, presents no unusual difficulties,
Beyond this the road passes through
2 heavy nnanprOve swamp, a distance