The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-15
Winter Working OF the Pacific Railroad.

The San Francisco Bulletin says:-
II used 10 be thought that the great difficulty
in The way OF a railroad to Il e Pacific Ocean was
in the Sierra Nevada-hrst, as to the engineer
ing difficulties it presented, and next in The
obstacles TO regular running presented by its
winter SHOWS. The eng neefing difficulties have
been triumphanty overcome, ard 1t Is nov be-
coming apparent that the snow obstacles are
much less on the California end of the road,
from Sacramento to the Wasatch Mountains.
than on the eastern end from Omaha. The snow
belt on this end OF the line is narrow. West OF
the Sierra there is no snow at all, and very
htle falls at an elevation OF 5000 feet. About
22 miles OK shedding protects the track from the
deepest snow OF the high Sierra, and there is 10
reason 10 doubt this protection will be adequate,
with the use OF the snOw.plough at intervals.
/ ascending the eastern slope, and across the
plateau OF Nevada TO Salt Lake, the climate is
dry and very little snow fails, the elevation
ranging from 1000 to 5000 feet, with a much
mllGeT climate than goes with the same altitude
east OF salt Lake. Thus the only trouble from
snow in a lie OF C62 miles, from sacramento to
the ICrth end of Salt Lake, Is the narrow belt
in the high Sierra, which is mostly rooted in.
The Union Pacific Railroad, on the contrary,
runs through a snow country for its whole
length OF 927 miles, from Omaha to Echo sum
nit. At Cheyenn 516 miles west OF Omaha,
The road has an elevation of 7040 feet, which ls
eight leet more than the highest point OF the
Sierra Nevada crossed by the Central Pacific.
Only % m les further west tne elevation Is S424
teet; or 1892 feet more than the highest point
on the Central; aud for about $50 niles further
west, TO Echo summit. the average elevation is
over $500 feet. Bearing these facts in mind it
is easy 10 understand the late reports of the
road being blockaGed by snow since December
4, west o. Cheyer ne, and of construction labor
being impeGed in the mountains this side OF
| Green river. The president of the Central
| Pacinc gives 1t as his opinion that the distance
| ct grt at elevation on the Union Pacific is too
| long to make covering practicabe; hence it Is
| not in pronable that nearly every winter there
will be more obstructlons from snow on the
| latter road than on the former.
1.-The foregoing facts also explain no " it is
| that the Central Pacific is now making such
| rapid progress. Siuce the first of July, when
transportation across the Sierra summit fairly
| began, the company has built three hundred
| miles OF road. The rate at which grading and
track.laying progressed has not been lessene l
| since winter set IL. Al Though the climate in
the gleat basin is cold, 1t is very dry, leaving so
little moisture in the soil TO freeze that grain
| l. going on as usual the plough being used as
easily as in the warm season. By tue first OF
| January the grade will be finished to the head
! OF Salt Lake. 662 miles east Of Sacramento, and
| about 200 miles east OF the present end OF the
track. The iron for 40 miles of track is already
| on cars along the farther end OF the road; loo
| miles more of tracking is on hand ia this city
| add at Sacramento, and more is constantly ar
| rvng by sea. The company has increased its
| motive power through orders by the Isthmus,
| and has made such progress in forwarding its
| own road material that 1t is now able to carry
| more general fright, and the shipments by boat
| from this city have been resumed as usual"