The Arizona sentinel., 1878-11-30

miles ahead, showed where graders were.
Here track-laying was going on in Il
methodical way, fascinating 10 look upon.
Two or more of the little track-laying
cars are loaded with rails, ties, ETC., from
the piles beside the track and ahead Of
the train. On top of the load perch the
twenty odd leaders. To each car is at
tacbed, by long rope, a horse which
drags it along at a brisk trot Arriving
at the end of the rails, the men alight and
rapidly bear the ties along on their shoul-
ders, dropping them across the road-bed
between ropes stretched on stakes, al d
as nearly as convenient at regular inter-
walls. A man with a pick pulls and turns
them into proper position. Other men
follow and with tongs drag a pair of rails
end-wise from the car, and lay them into
temporary position across the ties; on
these the cars advance until their load is
discharged, when the leaders jump on,
and the horses draw them back, at Il trot,
for more material. As rails are laid over
ties one man sets them with measuring
| join abuttng ends with tish-plateS,
inserting bolts, and loosely placing
nuts. These two are the only
Cinnamon now employed in track
laying: they are professional "strarpers,"
as their peculiar occupation is callt d, and
| have been i'll the cOmpany's service. at the
same business, for about ten years; they
are co. sid.rcd experts. After the strap
| DerS come Two mel with wrencheS and
hammers, who tighten is and bolts
they are accompanied 10y IL III with bar
and measuring txr, who keeps just abe.
and urips the rails into unvarYing distance
apnrt Following these come two men
| who lay TOUR spikes on each tie, two near
each rail- Then coIn3 another with meas
urinv bar and TWO with hammers " @
drive spikes, two-ihirds down, into eve J
third tie. After them come others setting
sl,ikes into the intern .diate ties. They
are followed Ivy still more men, who drive
the spkes home. each being attended by Il
man who shoves lever under the end OF
TIE tie, and steadies it to receive the blow
! Behind all these are scattered small gangs
of men who straightcn out little bends III
the track, level up little depressions and
cut down little elevations from under the
flies. The track is still far from finished
hut il allows the construction train to be
moved along nearer to the scene of Oprr-
ations. While we were out there such Il
~ We was made. The whistle gave signal
fnr hauling Stro-ladierS aboard and for
lnadiug on everything ahDut camp; not Il
hit of lumber nor nail was left behind
The train came slowly along to almost the
last rail. Then ties. rails, etc.,w ere dump
ed off. md the train was slOWlN drawn
tack till the little cars at ITS head were let
oonosite the piles of material. Then track
LAYING was resumed as before. The tee
urtnn wire WAS soon stretched over The
half mile lust covered, and connected will
the Chiefs car. Teams of eight and ter
fine horses were hauling supplies To The
camps ahead. and lumber and ties for cul
verts and temporary trestIes across drain
age ways and gullies.
GRUB.
Receiving an invitation to dinner VI
passed into the dining-car aforesaid
All hands take meals in common an(
without regard to rank. We might take
exception to lodgings in this Village OF
wheels" but the board seems excellent
Nice bread, choice h'tter, fair sugar
syrup, pickles and condiment: accom- pam
every meal Dishes of roast beef witt
plenty of potatoes and onions, pslatabl'
stew, beans "a la mode Boston" ~ d ap
pie pies were scattered over the tables
intrrspprspd with fishes Of Goldfish ii
heinr Fridav) for eIHaloverS of Demo
: cratic procliviti,.s Everything tasted
good. even to our editorial n';n'c, so ~
could READILY upd.~-ta y tie Z"st wit
! IL, Il! q