HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 50

(By Delegates Marcum, McCuskey, Hicks, Perdue, R. Phillips,

                               Rodighiero, Westfall, H. White, Gearheart and Reynolds)

Requesting the West Virginia Department of Highways to install signs at each end of the Dingess Tunnel, located on County Highway 3/05, past Laurel Lake, in Mingo County, West Virginia, that boldly state "Historic Dingess Tunnel, 100 Years Old, 1914," commemorating the 100 years of history associated with the tunnel.

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel is located in the Old Northwest Railroad Bed Road, in

Dingess, Mingo County, West Virginia; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel was built in 1914 as the only way in and out for coal trains in the area; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel has been a vital artery to the coal industry because it opened up the area to a vast amount of coal mining; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel has been an asset to all of Southern West Virginia because it has been an avenue of transportation for thousands of tons of coal; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel allowed thousands of tons of coal to be mined, thus, allowing the employment of thousands of hard-working coal miners; and

            Whereas, The 100 year old tunnel was constructed largely by immigrant workers who decided to stay in Mingo County upon its completion; and

            Whereas, Many individuals gave their lives to the construction of the Dingess Tunnel; and

            Whereas, At least ten railroaders lost their lives in the Dingess Tunnel when two trains crashed head on in the tunnel on two different occasions; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel is one mile long and the longest tunnel in Mingo County; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel began being used as a highway tunnel in 1914 and thus allowed many immigrants the ability to access the very diverse terrain on the other side of the mountain; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel is known nationally as "America's Bloodiest Tunnel" and has been featured in many national publications; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel has ties to the world famous Hatfield-McCoy Feud; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel is a staple in the community; and

            Whereas, For generations, the people of Mingo County have lived quiet and peaceful lives, enjoying the fruits of the land, living secluded within the tall and unforgiving mountains surrounding them; and

            Whereas, The Dingess Tunnel has been vital to the timber and gas industry as it opened up this land to development; and

            Whereas, The citizens of Dingess and Mingo County honor the history of the tunnel; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That it is fitting that the West Virginia Legislature commemorate the history of the Dingess Tunnel; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed at each end of the Dingess Tunnel, signs that boldly state: "Historic Dingess Tunnel, 100 Years Old, 1914"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates, forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Mingo County Commission and to the Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.