Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-27
MISCELL.ANEO
How the Pacific Railway is Built.

- :
cinuati Gazette, who accompanied the sena-
torial party, we learn the modus operandi of
the construction of the great trans continen-
tai road, which is steadily progressing at the
rate of two miles per day. NJ
"There is really little known by the peo-
pie Of the character of the enterprise. Most
think that a company of capitalists are has
tily putting down a rude track, over which
cars can be moved with care for the purpose
of securing land and money from the gov
ernment. That 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 i'm
press the nation, simply because it is not
believed. But let the facts tell their plain
but wonderful story. .."t
General ]. s. and d. G. Easement, of
Ohio, grade the road, lay the track, and put
up the telegraph. The graders go first.
There are two thousand of them. Their ad-
vance is near the Beach Hills. They protect
themselves and are digging the great forti-
Rcation which makes the future sure for US,
on through the Indian battle fields while
the daily fight goes on. Their work is done
to Julesburg.
"Of tie-getters and wood choppers there
are one thousand five hundred. Their axes
are resounding in the Black Hills, over
Laramie Plains, and in the passes of the
rocky mountains. They have one hundred
thousand ties in these hills awaiting safe
guards 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, however, the engi-
neers set their levelling stakes at distances
of one hundred and fifty feet on the straight
line and fifty feet on curves. At each Of
these points sawed ties are placed and lev
elled by them. Then come two men with q
| measuring rod, marking off spaces equal to
| the length of 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, and
the bed is then ready for the iron.
| "Now 60 back twenty miles on the road
\ and look at the immense construction 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. These are
the second line. Next. near the terminus,
and following it hour by hour are the board
ing 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 kitchen, store room
and office. Under the whole those men who
prefer fresh air have swung hammocks.
Rifles are hung over head, plentiful in num-
Der, loaded and convenient. The party
protects itself without attention from the
government. The track-laying gang num-
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; d
construction train then runs up, unloads its
material and starts back to bring. another
from the second line. The boarding train is
then run back till it has cleared the unloaded
material. r.. Or gHa1 ....t '....
"Three trucks, each drawn by two horses
ply between the track layers ard their sup
plies. The horses run outside the track
pulling with long tow line, as boats arr
moved on canals. They must be out of thu
way of the workmen. One of there truck,
takes on load of rails, about forty, will
tile proper proportion OF spikes and chairs
making load, when the horses are starteC
off on full gallop for the track layers. Or
each side Of these trucks are rollers to facili
tate running of the iron. On reaching tn
end of the last rail the truck is stopped. A
single horse is attached to move it owe
each successive rail- Meantime, the tract
last emptied has been turned on its side t
allow the loaded one to go to the front. Tn
two horses released are started back on
keen gallop for another supply. The thirt
one moves up in like manner, and thu
through all the day are rushing .forwarC
with their iron load. To see them, and re
, fleet what their rush and roaring means, i
I. as exciting as it ever was to watch the bat
terY thunder into position ata needed mo
meht, at the vital point in its line.
"The rails within reach. parties of fiv
men stand on either side. One in the rea
throwsa rail upon the rollers, three in ad
vance seize it and run out with it to tn
proper distance. The chairs have, mean
time, been set under the last rails placed
The two men in the rear. with singl
swing, force the END of the rail into tn
chair, and the chief of the squads calls ou
-, down" in tone that equals the ''forward
+ to an army Every thirty seconds ther
. came that brave "down,' "down,n on eithe
i. side of the track. They were the pendulum
d beats of a mighty era; they marked th
'r time of the march and its regulation step.
a zone of the rear men drove the cars
d addition to handing the rail, The horse
n started as each rail fell into its place, an
"a the truck rolled on to the end of it a secon
Of rail was projected into the wilderness, wit
d the same precision and haste then can
II the magic "down," the car moved on agail
70 and another length was accomplished.
n 1.-TWO spikers followed each rail, one pa
I. ty a little in advance OF the other. Or
1t rail was fastened at the end and at the mic
:. die. The second party then drew the o.
4. posite rail to the exact guage, and fastene
!. it at the middle and end. Then came 9th
ae squads of spikers, moving along with IL
'F precision of a military drill, each having
so particular spike to drive, and no one int
d. fering with another. Track liners follows
gu these, and with their crowb rectified Il
ou line. The sfllersy came last D One party
=. these filed and packed the spsces at Il
cd ends and middle Of. the rails the 9th
completed the intermediate intervals, al
Of the job wins left till the squads of track
70 pairers should como up aud finish the bi
n lasting. But as the filters leave it, {,
y train trains ssp s 5S1 Pvsftfish 'atsty at TWEEN
II. ..'These are the dry details. Let the rea
v. er picture the scene. The rush of the loa
syt cd truck the successive dropping of rs
iIv IN ,,laca the rattla ~ tha ar,ik ~ hay