The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-25

this mysterious invader The emigrant
wagons we passed, those "desert
ships," which, until now, had served
the purposes of our great march to the
West, seemed to belong to a plodding
past. So swiftly did we sweep by them,
that the faces of the men could scarce
ly be distinguished, or the marks on the
wagon covers read. For the first time in
our history the railroad was preced-
ing civilization itself. Projecting it
self into desert, it was drawing VII
lagos, towns and cities after it. Before
it the wilderness was unbroken; be-
hind it smiled fields of grain and pleas
ant homes.
Every step trod revealed new wou-
ders. The great achiement grew up
ward toward its real proportions with
every throb of the engine. But all we
saw was common place and natural be-
side the scene that awaited US where
the track was being laid. If the rest
had excited amazement, this new Won
der took all the attributes of magic
Fictions of the East must be rewritten
to match the realities of this West.
HOW THE ROAD IS BUILT.
The plain fact will reveal the magni-
tude of the work. There is really little
known by the people of the character
of the enterprise. Most think that a
company Of capitalists are hastily pat
ting down a rude track, over which
cars can be moved with care, for the
purpose of securing lands and money
! from the government. The fact is that
one of the most complete roads of
which the country can boast, with
equipments that surpass many, is being
laid with speed that fails to impress
the nation, simply because it is not
believed. But let the facts tell their
plain yet wonderful story.
Gen. J. S. and D. C. Basement, Of
Ohio, grade the road, lay the the track,
and put up the telegraph. The gra-
ders 60 first. There are 1000 of thenA
Their advance is near the Beach Hills.
They protect themselves and are dig
ging the great fortifcation which
makes the future sure for lis, on through
Indian battlefelds, while the daily
fight goes on. Their work is done to
Julesburg.
Of tie-getters and wood-choppers
there are 1000. Their axes are re-
sounding in the Black Hills, over Lara
mie Plains, and in the passes OF the
Rocky Mountains. They have 100000
ties in these hills awaiting safeguards
for trains to haul them.
A mile in advance of the track-layers
are the squads which place the ties.
There are three of these. First, how
ever, the engineers set their dwelling
stakes, at distances of 100 feet on the
straight lines, and fifty feet on eUrTes.
At each of these points sawed ties IRE
placed and leveled by them. Then
come two men with measuring rod,
marking of, spaces equal to the length
of a rail, and also the half of this space.
These sawed ties are laid by the second
squad, to give firm support to the ends
and middle of each rail. These are
placed by sighting along the guide-ties
already laid The third squad then
place the intermediate ties, and the bed
is then ready for the iron.
Now go back twenty miles ON the
road and look at the immense .construc-
tion trains loaded with ties, and rails,
and all things needed for the work. 1t
is like the grand reserve of an army
Six miles back are other trains of like
| character There are the second line.
Next, near the terminus, and following
it hour by hour, are the boarding cars
and construction train, which answer
to the actual battle line. The one is
the camp; the other is the ammunition
used in the fight.
The boarding cars are each eighty
feet long. Some are fitted with berths
two are dining halls; one is a kitchen,
store room and Office Under the whole
those men who prefer fresh air have
swung haminocks. Rifles are hang
over head, plentiful in number, iea6ed,
and convenient. The party protects
itself, without attention ffem the Gov
ernmenssss The track-laying gang NAM
bers 400. On the $50 miles already
built there are 1000 track repairers
constantly improving the road bed.
The boarding cars 60 in advance.
They are pushed to the extremity of
the track; construction train then
runs up, unloads its material and starts
back to bring another from the second
line. The boarding train lis then sun
back till it has cleared The unloaded
material.
Three trucks, each drawn by two
horses, ply between the traGk!layers
and their supplies. The horses run
outside the track, pulling with a long
tow line, as boats are moved OH canals.
They must be out of the way of the
workmen. One of these trucks takes
on a load of:rails, about forty, with the
proper proportion of spikes and chairs.
making a load, when the horses are
started off on full gallop for the track
layers. On each side, of these trucks
are rollers, to facilitate running off she
iron. On reaching the END of the aast
rail the truck is stopped. A single
horse is attached to move it over each
successive rail Meantime, the truck
last emptied has been turned ON its side
to allow the loaded one to go to the
front. The two horses released are
started back on keen gallop for an
other supply The third one moves up
i'll like manner, and thus through all