Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-12

dummy line from the river 10 lHe
Southern railroad. This was COM
pleted a few weeks ago. the junction
being effected at point just across
Kings creek, about half a mile from
Kings creek station. The purpose of
this. of course, is to carry supplies Of
all kinds. more especially heavy ma
chinery from the railroad to the work
at the river. The line Is five and a
half miles long, and running as it does
through very rough country, across
numerous bridges and small water
courses, its construction was no small
1t was over this dummy line that
our representative made the trip from
the railroad to the river Wednesday.
A part of the distance he went on
foot and the balance Of 1t, he went on
the "dinkey," as they call the little
engine that plies between the river
and the junction. The track being
newly constructed, and not yet sur
faced, except for a short distance, the
riding Is pretty rough at present: but
there is a big squad Of hands at work
putting the roadbed in good shape and
within a week or two more II will be
all that could be desired.
The first scene Of extensive activity
encountered on the way from the juno
ton is at big quarry, about mile
from the river. This quarry Is located
on what was formerly section Of the
south bank Of Kings creek. The creek
ran through a deep gorge. The chan
nel however, has been changed, and
now a hundred or more workmen are
blasting out rock from what was once
the bed and bank Of the creek about
a hundred yards above the Borders
old mill. Already hundreds Of tons
Of rock have been blasted out, but the
work has only fairly begun. This
rock Is to be used in the construction
of the dam and power house and will
be conveyed to the river on a dummy
line that is to be constructed down the
bed Of the creek.
Taking the railroad again at the
quarry, and proceeding on toward the
gets pretty nearly at glance COM
prehensive idea of what has been go
ing on during the past four months.
There is the point of Ninety-Nine Is
land in front. Formerly 1t split the
river in very nearly two equal halves
Now, the east side Is dry, all the wa
ter Is running around the west side,
the diversion having been accomplish
ed by means Of a Golfer dam about a
quarter Of a mile up the stream. Just
opposite the point Of the island, on the
east bank Of the river, there is a tre-
mendous steel derrick, with a mast
115 feet high, and a boom Of 100 feet.
It Is being used to lift cars Of earth
out Of the excavation that Is being
made for the foundation Of the dam.
A dinkey engine with several cars at
tached, is hauling the excavated dirt
up the side Of the river to strength
en- the Golfer dam. Clearings on high
promontories on either side Of the riv-
er show the points from which the
dam Is to stretch over a distance OF
about an eighth of mile, and on some
high trestling near by stands a struc-
ture completed, in readiness for the
mixing of sand, stone and cement into
concrete. There are number OF
hosting engines scattered about over
the work, and steam drills are pecking
into the rocks at various points. There
Is a big machine shop on the river
bank Just below the site Of the dam,
In which fifteen or twenty workmen
are employed and scattered about are
numerous pieces Of heavy machinery
and implements that are to be brought
into service at different stages OF the
work as needed. Altogether Oh the
job, including the quarries, there are
325 people at work, and the under
standing Is that within the next thirty
days the number will be increased to
from 500 to 600.
The commissary Is in q big stone
building down on the bank Of the riv-
er, short distance from the machine
shop. About fifty yards up the hill
to the east is two story building, In
which is located the executive head
quarters Of Resident Engineer Cornell
and staff. Further up the hill hand
some three story hotel building, con-
tanning twenty sleeping rooms is near
ing completion and still higher up on
eminences overlooking the entire
grounds and commanding magnifi-
cent view for a mile or more down the
river, are two handsome cottages that
are to serve for the present as the
homes of Chief Engineer Cornell and
DR.. w. A. Broomfield, the resident
physician. At present these gentlemen
and their families are occupying tenn
porary quarters within short dis
tance Of the cottages into which they
hope to move within the next few days.
The lob" as the engineers call 1t,
is in charge Of Mr. A. L. Cornell, an
engineer of many years experience and
splendid reputation. He is modest,
gentleman, who thoroughly
his business, and Is as
much at ease in the complete grasp OF
all the varied details Of the vast under
taking as II he were only engaged In
locating a preliminary line for BLUM
railroad. His orders are given in a
quiet, easy-going matter Of fact way
as though they were Of no more au-
thority than volunteer advice; but
every man on the work seems to un-
derstand that the suggestions are
neither to be ignored or misconstrued.
His staff consists of E. w. Hobbs, su-
perintendent; J. ]. McGady, assistant
J. ]. McNeel, superin-
tendent Of quarries; ]. G. Kaigler, as
sistant engineer; S. G.. Wylie, rodman;
R. R. Liggett, Office assistant; w. L.
Davis, cashier and accountant. From
the remarks made about these gentle
men at different times during the
part of the day our representative
spent in his company, 1t Is evident that