Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-02-16

to the Kentucky line. From Bristol to
Elkhorn City, Pike county, Kentucky,
the distance, via Little Moccasin Gap,
estimated at n miles. From Elkhorn
City. over the Chesapeake and Ohio,
to Catlettsburg, 127.7 miles. From
Catlettsburg to Cincinnati, over the
same system, 1903 miles, making a to-
tai of 355 miles from Bristol To Cincin-
matt. being but few miles in excess Of
the distance, by rail. between Bristol
and Richmond, Va; also it may be well
to note, that the distance from Bristol
to the Ohio, at Catlettsburg, is the same
as the distance between Bristol and
Lynchburg, Va.
From the main line branch could be
thrown off in Poor Valley, leading up
same and the North Fork of Holston to
the Mathieson Alkali Works, making a
total distance of about 81 miles from
the alksli works to Dumps Creek, and
about 34.4 miles from Bristol to this
same point, where connection could be
made with both the c., C. & o. and the
N. & w. roads; and, furthermore, have
direct access to the Goals of Clinch VAL
ley. The c., c. & o. company, at the
present time, has under construction
the link from Clinch River to Elkhorn
City, KY. The distance from johnson
City via Bristol and Little Moccasin
Gap, to Dumps Creek, about 60 miles.
From johnson City, via the c., C. & o.
and N. & w. roads to Dumps Creek,
81 miles, being an excess of q miles
over the Little Moccasin Gap route.
1t must be understood. however, that
in overcoming such an obstacle, con-
sisting of the backbone of one of the
most important of the Appalachian
range of mountains, that serious physi-
cal features must of necessity be en-
countered, and such exist in the Cross
ing of the North Fork of Holston; where,
in order to save distance and retain
grade, high visduct would be required.
This not equaling in height or in length
many structures of this class, several
of the same in this country exceeding
three hundred feet in height and of
great length.
There would be three pieces of heavy
grade, of 116 feet per mile each. Eight
miles of this grade ascending from the
Clinch River, at mouth of Dumps Greek,
towards Little Moccasin Gap. About
five miles ascending from the North
Holston towards Bristol. The success
full operation of like grade is illustra-
ted in the working of the mountain d.
vision of the Baltimore & Ohio main
line, west of Cumberland, Md.
The information given in this writing
of that part of the route from Little
Moccasin Gap to Clinch River at Dumps
Creek is obtained through instrumental
survey. The information on the portion
from Little Moccasin Gap leading to-
wards Bristol through reconnaissance.
The cost of grading would come with
in the limits of usual mountain work,
and an excellent alignment is an impor-
tant feature which can safely be in
cluded.
For prudential reasons it may at pres
ent be considered advisable not to de-
scribe more particularly the said routes.
Remarking, in conclusion, it can
plainly be realized as a demonstrative
fact, that this work would make part OF
one of the main arteries of trade be-
tween the Ohio Valley. the Middle West
and the South Atlantic Seaboard, and
holding a commanding situation which
rivalry could not supplant; Furthermore.
it would also be a link in one of the
prospective trade routes, these routes
demanded through the great work of
the Panama canal.-O. Barrett, Abing-
don, Va, in Big Stone Gap Post, Feb
ruary 1st.