The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-25
|CAvE-|hs HAVE BEEN
ENTIRELY RESTORED
MUCH INTEREST HAS BEEN SHOWN
IN FILLING THE
CAVITIES.
BREAKS WERE ARCHED
ATTRACTIVE UNDERGROUND CAV
ERN WILL PROBABLY BE
OPENED FOR Eek
HIBrTHON.

STAUNTON. VA, November as
Staunton has about seen the last Of
the cave-ins, at least from the top of
the ground. AZ work Is nearly over in
restoring the breaks.
The whole amount of earth that
went into the cavern was estimated by
the general manager at 1900 cubic
yards. OF which $500 cubic yards
went down In Baldwin street, and A.
900 on the property OF Professor c.
l.. Wilson and Hon. Jacob Yost.
Repairing the breaks has been an
interesting subject to many people
who have watched the work from day
to day. Investigation early showed
that there were limestone wallis on
each side OF the breaks, running
down not perpendicular. but at an
angle OF about IA degrees from the
perpendicular. These walls were
struck at distances below the sur
face varying from Is to 80 feet; and
the two walls were from to ~ feet
apart at the top. approaching each
other as they descended until they
approached to within about three feet
and maintaining this distance all the
way to the bottom.
IL was an easy enKlneGElnH
problem, therefore. to arch over the
breaks. using the limestone walls as
bases. and this was done on Baldwin
street using reinforced concrete about
a foot thick. Two "a inch manholes
OF sewer pipe were left on Baldwin
street. syphon will connect the
cave through one manhole with Lewis
creek. 30 that II It In desired to draw
the water out Of the caverns II can
be done TO any desired depth by ex-
bending the. yphon on down the
creek to lower levels. Earth was
hauled In dump cars over the street
car tracks and dumped into the holes
and rapid progress made. Baldwin
street Is now restored, except paving
and removing some rubbish. and
leyeling OFF a little. II Will not 10
repased until the made earth has set
tied.
Lewis street did not cave in. but,
as the cave extended under IL across
II was dug up down to the limestone
walls and 4 similar arch constructed.
and then the earth which had been
lifted out put back. This work Ia com
piete except building a wall on one
side along the line Of the property
lof the Hon. Jacob Yost from the
limestone wall foundation up to the
surface of the ground to hold the
earth in Mr.. Yost's property. and pre-
vent Its slipping into the cavern under
the arch constructed insthe street by
the city. his arches being on q lower
level. This street Is ready for the
resumption OF traffic and for relaying
the street car tracks, except for q
little cleaning up.
private contractor is restoring the
property OF Professor Wilson and Mr.
Yost, and he too In arching over and
nlling on top. This work will b
completed within a few days
An interesting feature OF this work
Ia that large opening will be left
In the yard OF Professor Wilson. and
1t Is said that 1t Is contemplated TO
pump out the water. explore thorough
iy and possibly open up for exhibition
purposes an attractive UNDERGROUND
cavern. Where this opening IL being
left the water in the cavern now
measures 100 feet deep. Possibly
this water may gradually drain out
OF itself leaving the cavern clear for
exploration.