Article taken from The Evening Telegraph, Elyria, Ohio, July 25, 1917
Three States Celebrate
Portsmouth, O.Three states celebrated a closer union here, recently. Representatives of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia gathered here and at Sciotoville at the formal opening of the new Chesapeake and Ohio Northern railroad bridge--the longest and heaviest continuous type truss bridge in the world.
The 35 mile stretch of track which necessitated the bridge connects the C & O on the Kentucky side with the Norfold & Western railroad. This will give an outlet to the great lakes region for the products of Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia. Regular C & O trains will use N & W track to Columbus.
The new branch cost approximately $500,000. That businessmen believe it will mean a great deal to the three states is indicated by the elaborate arrangements made for today's celebration. An attempt was made to get the governors of the three states here.
The bridge presented many serious engineering problems. The design, though not new, is unique and seldom used. The main span is 1,550 feet long. With two approaches, the bridge has a total length of 3,463 feet. The highest point is over the central pier where the truss towers 129.2 feet above the pier.