WEST VIRGINIA. 85 



tain, witli the chocolate-colored stream far down at its base, and a similar range 

 on the opposite side, presenting to a distant observer a scene aptly represented 

 by a walk furrowed around the spire of a towering steeple. Cheat river is 

 crossed by a viaduct based upon abutments and a pier of solid freestone. A 

 mile further westward, Kyer's run, 7G feet deep, is crossed by an embankment 

 of solid masonry; then Buckeye Hollow is bridged by works 108 feet in depth; 

 and last, but not least, the famous Tray Run is crossed, at the height of 150 

 feet, by a viaduct 600 feet long, a huge net-work of iron upon a massive base i 

 of masonry. At the west end of the viaduct, from a broad ledge overhanging 

 the precipice, an impressive view of the great chasm of the Cheat river is ob- 

 tained, with the stream itself three hundred feet below, winding northward and 

 disappearing among the mountains. , 



Soon another barrier is reached. Projecting spurs have been circumvented, 

 deep ravines overleaped, aspiring knobs bisected, and the height thus persever- 

 ingly overcome ; but here confronts the road a peak yet 220 feet higher still, 

 and nearly a mile in breadth, of solid earth and rock. The work of tunnelling 

 progressed three years ; a year and a half more was consumed in arching it 

 with brick and stone, and it was finished — the Kingwood tunnel, 4,100 feet in 

 laigth, costing one million dollars — a monument of engineering skill and a tri- 

 umph of patient labor. 



Grafton, nineteen miles further ou, is the point of intersection for the Par- 

 kersburg branch, which is 104 miles long, Avhile Wheeling is 100 miles distant 

 by the main stem. Near Fairmont, just below the junction of the Tygart's 

 Valley and West Fork rivers, forming the Monongahela, is an iron bridge 650 

 feet in length, which has been destroyed during the rebellion and since rebuilt. 



The mountain scenery of West Virginia can better be appreciated by actual 

 vision than described by the pen of the traveller. 



The Hempfield railway is completed and running from Wheeling, east, to 

 Washington, Pennsylvania, thirty-five miles. It is to be continued to West 

 Kewtou, fifty-six miles from Wheeling, on the Pittsburg and Connellsville 

 road, and thence to Greensburg, on the Pennsylvania Central road, seventy-six 

 miles. In the route to Philadelphia, this Avill save the distance from Greens- 

 burg and twenty miles additional — in fact, nearly half the present distance be- 

 tween Wheeling and Greensburg. It will also shorten the route from Ohio, 

 especially eastern Ohio, to Philadelphia. 



These are the only railways at present in operation. Others are in contem- 

 plation, and will undoubtedly be built at an early day after the return of peace. 

 One has been organized and partially constructed. 



The Covington and Ohio railroad, designed to connect Ilichmond with the 

 Ohio river, was completed in 1860 from Covington to the AVhite Sulphur 

 springs. The work upon the road was continued, and a large sum of money 

 expended in grading, tunnelling, and piers for bridges. The tunnels between 

 the springs and the Gauley were approaching completion, and from Charleston 

 to the Ohio the road was in an early state of forwardness. It was designed to 

 connect at Catlettsburg, on the Kentucky line, with the road thence to Lex- 

 ington, which was graded and intended to be promptly finished as a section of 

 a through line to the west and southwest. A road through the Kanawha 

 valley, without reference to through business, was recognized as a necessity in 

 the development of the interests of this inexhaustible depository of natural 

 wealth, and credited as a paying investment. In a normal condition of afiairs 

 the road would, at the present time, have been completed and in receipt of a 

 heavy trade. It must eventually be built ; when, it would scarcely be safe, 

 just now, to predict. 



Another, and, under present circumstances, more important line, may first be 

 built — a line intended to intersect the State centrally and longitudinally, to 

 connect the Ohio river and Kanawha valley with the Baltimore and Ohio rail- 



