1907 - Work Nearly Completed

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Roanoke Times - December 7, 1907

WORK NEARLY COMPLETED

McArthur Bros. Making Good Headway on Alleghany Tunnel

   At the headquarters of McArthur Bros., in this city, it is 
reported that they are nearly through with their contract on the 
Tidewater railroad. The principal task which is now before them is 
the finishing of the Alleghany tunnel near the Merrimac mines, and 
this big undertaking is almost completed. The Alleghany tunnel is 
5,739 feet in length, or almost a mile, and all that the contractors 
have to do now is to clear away about seven hundred feet, this being 
the last "bench".
   McArthur Bros. expect to have their part of the road ready to turn 
over to the owners by next April. Their contract included altogether 
108 miles, all of which lay west of the city of Roanoke, running to 
and across the New River to a place called Rock. This 108 miles lies 
through a mountainous country, and much of the work was of a most 
difficult character, but the company has pushed ahead vigorously and 
are now in plain sight of their goal. The contractors do not lay the 
track, this work being done by the promoters of the enterprise. Much 
of the track East of Roanoke has already been laid and is now in 
operation, trains running daily from Norfolk to as far as Victoria in 
Lunenburg county. With the exception of a few stretches here and 
there, the Tidewater, so far as the grading is concerned, may be 
regarded as completed.
   It was reported in Roanoke this week that McArthur Bros. had 
discharged most of their men. This is denied by the officials here. 
 From the very nature of the work they are constantly laying off and 
taking on new shifts of laborers, and this report evidently arose 
from the fact that a force of men, who had completed a certain piece 
of the road, had been dispensed with.
   Exactly when the Tidewater will have trains running through 
Roanoke, no one seems able to state, but from all accounts it will 
not be very far in the future. This new and great system will 
necessarily be an immense addition to Roanoke's shipping facilities, 
and that it will materially assist in the growth and advancement of 
the city is clearly recognized by all who are familiar with the situation.

[ "5,739 feet in length or almost a mile" is what was printed in 
article. Something off there somewhere.... ]

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- Ron Davis, Roger Link