, 1872-04-04
Railroad News.
From the Kalama Beacon

From the Kalama Beacon
The RA1LRoAD.-The fine weather of
this week has made an activity along the
line.
Mr.. Shannon has about seven miles of
the road gravelled, which he has accom-
plished by at first limited force, through
as much bad weather as ever work was
witnessed in.
At the rock-cut this week there has
not been so much done as formerly, be-
cause hurry of contest with Cowlitz
floods may be considered over for awhile
which furnishes an opportunity to con-
tinue rip-rapping with more intervals,
of other labor for the gang on repairs,
etc.
Eng. Hale made fine progress this
week in his line of repairs, at which
duty the season of rain and food kept
him busy; and it was sometimes hard to
tell which was getting the best of it
Hale or the storms But if this pleas
ant time holds on, repairing will pro-
ceed to seclusion in short while; and
followed by Shannon's proverbially per-
feet railroading," another season is
likely to see line of track that may
stand good deal of " Oregon mist :"
without melting awav
The Montgomery ten mile extension,
under Capt. J. F. Kidder's superintend-
ence, is about to show an extended
spring campaign.
Between the end of the twenty-five
miles and Pumphrey's is distance of
about four miles which has as much
work to be put on it to make railroad as
almost any other four miles in America.
In the first place, northerly from the
road finished, there is piling in one line
to the extent of three-fourths of mile;
then there is cut of sixty thousand
yards around point mainly composed
of rock, upon which force has been at
work all winter when it was possible to
labor outside. This point has become
famous as the "Big Cut" and though
receiving early attention, is likely to be
about the last finished part of the job.
The mode of proceeding with it is by
three terrace cuts to the required extent,
upon each of which sledge and drill
music will be most likely played all
summer.
The next big item on the road to Pun
phrey's is the Cowlitz bride of two 100
feet spans, which is to be a structure
specially of strength to resist the noted
Cowlitz floods. There are five other
bridges to be built on the ten miles,
some of which are large Jobs. but hold
no comparison to the first mentioned.
Mr.. Al. Hastings has the pile driving
contract on Montgomery extention-the
street talk is, that he gets zoe. per foot
below the caps, and to furnish the piles.
He will commence driving next week.
Capt. VIM. A. Nichols is to work for
the contractor at driving piles for bridge
abutments at the Cowlitz; said to be a
couple of months job. He also goesto
work Immediately.
The contractors large steam sawmil
at Humphreys is steadily employed at
saving bridge timber for frames, a good
part of which is ready.
Mr.. Montgomery, the contractor has
spent most Of the winter at the East
he is expected back within couple of
weeks.
1t is reported that W. W. Hungerford,
Esq, Superintendent of the Lake Su
perior and Mississippi road, has been.
or is to be, made General Superintend-
ent of the North Pacific, including all
branches and connections.-Minneapo-
lis Tribune.
A correspondent writes as follows:
Having noticed many articles in the
newspapers of Montana, locating the N.
P. R. r. route, we think it would be ad-
vantageous as well as interesting to jot
a few facts concerning the different pas
ses and routes with which we are famil-
lar.
1t is conceded that the road will pass
up the Yellowstone and come in at head
Of fGa]latin Valley. Now, the great ques-
tion is where will the railroad branch
We contend that Bozeman is the most
available point. By passing across the
valley and following up Spanish Creek
to the divide, then down small stream
which flows into the Madison River just
above the mouth of Meadow Creek "a
distance from Bozeman to the Madison
Valley of not more than thirty miles)
a good road can be had with an easy
grade running through comparatively
level country. From this point to the
main range we have an immense scope
of agricultural and grazing land which
is second to none in the Territory. The