The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-09
SOUTHERN RAILWAY IMPROVE
MENTS.
Two Million Dollars Being Expended
At Lynchburg, Va, on Seven Mile
Double Track and Tunnel and
Bridge to Reduce the Grade at That
City.

Lynchburg, Va, April 3.-One of
the biggest pieces of railroad i'm
provement ever attempted is now
nearing completion here-the build
ing by the Southern Railway Com
pany Of a seven mile double track line
through this mountain capped city TO
attain which it was necessary to dig a
tunnel 1900 feet lorg, largely through
solid rock, and construct a steel
bridge 1860 feet in length and tower
ing $50 feet above the waters Of the
James River.
This work which means an entire
change of the main line Of the South
ern from Winesap, north of this city,
to Durmid on the south will involve
an expenditure Of two million dollars
and will include besides the digging of
the tunnel, the building of the bridge,
and the heavy grading necessary, the
erection of a handsome new passen-
ger station and the building of a via
duct to span the railway tracks at
Fifth street, one of the most impor-
tant thoroughfares Of the city.
The completion of this notable
piece Of work will result in better ser
vice for every point on the Southern
system. At the present time every
freight and passenger train on the
main line of the Southern, north and
south bound, has to climb a heavy
grade going out of Lynchburg on e.
count of the drop practically to the
rivers edge to cross the bridge now
in use. When the new line is COM
pleted trains will pass through Lynch
burg without having to climb a grade
exceeding 40 feet per mile which will
greatly facilitate the moving of the
freight on the main line and hence
benefit every point on the lines of the
Southern Railway.
Instead of crossing the James Riv-
er at the foot of the hills and passing
through very restricted section on
the east side of the city the line will
run through the western portion of
the city on much higher plane,
avoiding the heavy grade, which is
now such an obstacle to through traf-
fic. The local freight terminals now
in use will remain as at present but
the passenger station, located much
higher on in the western part Of the
city, will be much more convenient.
The last piers for the bridge are
now being completed and gangs Of
bridge workers are engaged in put
ting the great girders in place. About
one-third Of the bridge has been COM
pleted and work on the remainder
is being rushed in order that mater
ials for the concrete work in the tun-
mel may be taken by train to the
northern end. From lower Lynch
burg this bridge will present a mag
nificent sight and it will be one of
the country's notable railroad struc-
lures.
In the tunnel alone, which will be
one or the finest specimens Of work
of this character to be found in the
country, 250 men are at work and
greater headway is being made than
at any time since the gigantic task
was undertaken. Excellent progress
is being made. Materials are being
hauled by train to the southern end
ana the same will be done at the
northern end as soon as the bridge is
completed.
1T is confidently expected that all of
this work will be completed in time
Tor the passage of trains by October
1St.