The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-05-30
RACING WITH time.
Continued from page ID

lCOHIlnueQ from page IL
which is the terminus of the Big
Sandy branch of the Chesapeake &
Ohio, which branch joins the main
line at Catlettsburg, KY, on the
Ohio River. The extension of the
line from Dante, now we'll underway
Involves construction even heavier
land more costly than any encounter
ed south of that point, The engin-
eering problems were not so great.
in so far as presenting questions of
grade and curve that might be set
tiled one way or another, and were
FINALLY settled so as to make the
line one of such notable excellence,
because on this extension there was
but one route practicable-a tunnel
through Sandy Ridge, and from the
north end of that down the waters
of the Mcclure Fork of the Russell
Fork of the Big Sandy, and then
| down that stream to this place. The
engineering was therefore compare
lively plain. But the question of con-
struction within a given short time,
was one of prodigious proportions,
for the route lies through section
known as the Breaks of Sandy"
than which there is not rough
er, more rugged stretch of country
to be found anywhere.
Beginning about eight miles above
this place, and extending for six or
seven miles this way, the river has
cut its channel through solid rock.
which stands in beetling cliffs on
either side, rising in places for hun
dreds of feet sheer from the wat
/ er's edge, or lies in boulders of
thousands of tons weight in mid
stream, or rises like stately towers,
mute in their solitary grandeur, here
and there along the rivers roaring
course. The scenery in the Breaks"
Is picturesque beyond pen portrayal.
and the railroad when completed will
doubtless become route highly fav-
ored of those who enjoy travelling
amid scenes of great natural beauty.
Graduated from that thorough
Sandy Ridge. mile north of Dante,
which will be mile and a half
long, down to those of a few score
feet. there will be 81 tunnels on the
35-mile extension, their combined
length being 10000 feet. One thou
sand feet of tunnel for every one
and three-quarter miles of road is
about the average.
Many of these tunnels-probably |
most of them-will be cut through /
solid rock. and from some the .rat.A
must run directly onto bridges
across the river. OF these brides
there will be number across main
streams, and one at least will have
single span of 900 feet. The grade
for miles must be cut into the
flinty face of cliffs, and throughout
the entire length of the extension
the work is heavy and the mile
cost great, the estimate being close
to $4,000 per mile
One of the big items OF cost in
construction is that of getting equip
ment and appliances to the points
at which work is to be done. The
contract for building the road calls
for its completion in time so
short that work must be carried on
at number of places along the line
simultaneously, and to do this 1t
has been necessary to convey steam
shovels engines, boilers, power drills
steel rails and other
articles of great weight across al
most impregnable mountains, over
almost impossible roads into al
most inaccessible places. Riding
along about the beginning of the
Breaks" the other day | saw a
gang of men working big steam
shovel along the road. 1t had been !
brought up out of the gorge at a
place over which tyro at such I
work would have been willing to ,
swear it could not be brought. and
was being taken along a course
where 1t would seem impossible that :
It could go. And yet it had not
reached the worst of the road, and
The descent into the gorge was to {
be at more precipitous place than
that at which 1t had been brought (
up. have been informed that 1t {
reached its destination in safety and
Is now busily performing its func-
lion in making grade.
In drilling a tunnel through
only certain number Of {
men and Il certain amount Of equip
ment can be utilized and progress