, 1872-03-14

survey of the N. P. tracks, OF switches
to and from the Docks.
On Monday, the able and experienced
Chief Engineer of the n. P. r. R.-Col.
w. Minor Roberts-reached Duluth,
and has spent the week with Col. Cav.
the Engineer in charge of the dock work
reviewing, counselling and p,rfecting
the plans. This gentleman has been all
summer on Puget Sound, superintend-
the N. P operations at the Western ter
MINUS. He comes to our city now, how
ever, direct from Philadelphia and New
York, and will leave us in short time
for an inspection trip to the Red River
Crossing returning, we suppose, about
the time of the opening of the Dock
construction proposals on the End Of
February In the spring he will proceed
probably, to Montana to supervise the
N. P. surveys in that direction.
Thursday last was signalized by the
driving of the first experimental pile in
the construction of the Northern Pacific
Docks at Duluth. A small hand-driver
belonging to the temporary contractor,
Northup, was used. and the pile was
driven by the orders and under the per-
sonal direction Of Col. Cav himself
the spot selected for driving it being on
the eastern end Of the middle Dock. We
learn that the pile was driven into and
through the firm sand bottom underly-
| ing the muck to the distance of some 81
feet which we understand, will be the
ordinary depth of driving whatever of
piling is used. The driving of this pile
demonstrated the fact that the bottom is
| OF such character as to admit Of the
best kind of holding, and sets aside the
opinion some had entertained, that pile
driving in Duluth bay would be diff
cult and not very practical operation.
On Friday, yesterday the dri, ing of
piles continued and on said day-Fri-
day, Jan. 2G. 1872-actual operations in
the construction of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Docks in the Inner Harbor of
Duluth may be said to have been COM
menced.
Chief Engineer w, Milnor Roberts, of
the N. P. r. R. Chief Engineer and
Superintendent, w. W. Hungerford of
the l.. S. & NJ. r. R. and w. B. Cav,
Dock Engineer of the N. P. r. R., were
present to witness the formal commence
ment.
About twenty piles were driven yes
terday but the small hand-driver only
being in use at present, progress is ne
cessily slow. t,-...
This will soon be changed, however,
as we notice ON the Point near our resi-
dence, that mechanics are at work get
ting out the timbers for half dozen or
more drivers (; which, from the great
length of the leaders," and their width
between, calculated for enormous ham
mers to ply in, we judge will be very eff
fective machines.
The amount of dockage to be built this
winter will be just about half the whole
dock frontage contemplated-that is, 8,
900 feet.
The N. P. LOAN IN LONDON SUCCESS.
In our monetary dispatches yesterday
occurred the following very significant
lines
Private cable dispatches from Lon.
don state, that over Sc, 600. 600 of North
ern Pacific 7-30 bonds sold during the
first five days of the introduction of the
loan."
This fact is corroborated by advices
recently received in this city, and there
is no doubt that the Northern Pacific
loan is being successfully and rapidly
placed in the markets of Europe. This
will be good news to the whole country,
which is deeply interested in the compile
ton of this great national hi9hway-but
it will be specially good news to Mime
sofa, in whose soil and on whose lakes
and rivers a mighty enterprise has its far
spreading roots.-S. Paul Press.
The Press is right. The news is cheer
ng to all Minnesota and especially so to
Duluth as it renders the completion OF
the road to the Missouri next summer a
certainty and once to that river the
trade of Montana, by way of the 1,3OO
miles of Missouri up-river navigation
will compel its $S,0OO.O0O annually OF
freights, to contribute to the revenues
of the road. Things is workin'.
RED-RIvER-oF REGION
We have it from good authority that the
southern portion of the Pembina branch
line will not be built above Sauk Centre
during 1872. The point of junction OF
this branch with the main line will be
ascertained, and the road built from
there on towards Pembina, leaving that
portion between Sauk Centre and the
main line to be permanently located and
built when and where further develop.
ments may seem to require.-Otter Tail
City Record.
From the Alexandria Post, Jan. 13.
Capt. Whitcomb's s land examining par.