Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-31

miles of steel rails have been laid in place of
iron, making about 80 miles of steel track.
All renewals of track are to
be hereafter made with steel.
Large renewals of bridges have
been made on the main line in the most sub
stantial manner-stone arches and iron truss
bridges. At Minneopa, in place of bridge
$50 feet long and eighty feet high, the gap
has been filled over q stone arched oulvert of
twenty feet span, 1875 feet long which is be-
lieved to be the largest arched oulvert in this
part of the country. An iron bridge, 100
feet span, has been erected over the Des
Moines at Window. And three iron spans,
each of 100 feet, have been erected over the
Blue Earth river near Mankato. The design
in these and all renewals and repairs, is to
make the main line in every respect equal to
any railroad in the United States.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.
During the year this company has. entered
upon an extensive work of improvement in
st. Paul-the providing of shops and other
terminal facilities on grounds purchased in
the Fourth ward. The grading of the
grounds has been about two-thirds COM
pletea and the railway line leading to the
grounds from the main line on the upper
levee is about all graded except two rock
cuttings at which the work is being prose-
cuted this winter. All the arched culverts
but one, which is under way, have been I'm
ished. The largest of these is 100 feet long
with ~ feet span. 1t is intended to have
the track laid to the shop grounds early
in the spring for carrying the ma
terial to be used in building, and the
grading of the grounds will be resumed and
finished as soon az the weather will permit
The structures to be erected on the shop
grounds the coming season are as follows
A round house with forty stalls,iron machine
shop, wood machine shop, blacksmith shop,
car building shop, paint shop, boiler house,
water tanks, sand houses and coal sheds, and
side tracks and switches, with residences or
quarters for yardmaster, Waterman, etc. The
shops will employ about 800 men and the
plan contemplates additions, as required,
which will considerably more than double
the establishment. The expenditure on the
grounds and structures during the coming
year may be estimated at 100000.
THE STOCK YARDS.
In association with the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul company, the st. Paul &
Sioux City company will build early this
year spur track to the great stock yards To-
Gated and being built on the river fiat oppo-
site the upper levee. The line has been To-
Gated and estimates prepared and the con-
struction will be begun as soon as the
weather will allow. The yards have to be
approached by long pile bridge.
... The Northern Pacific. .. .,
This great enterprise of the Northwest is
in good hands and is being prosecuted with
steadfastness which promises the COM
| pletion of the road, from St. Paul and Du-
luth to the Pacific. within few years. On
the Pen d'Oreille division beyond the noun
tains, for the coming seaeon of construction,
contracts have been let for building 200
miles, from the mouth of Snake. river to
Lake Pen d'Oreille, and steel rails for this
contract having been going forward from
New York for the last three months. On the
eastern, Minnesota and Dakota division,
during the past year 40 miles have been
graded west of the Missouri, on which the
track has been laid for 60 miles; and the
rails and ties are on hand for laying 40 miles
more. The work of grading is being con-
tinued through the winter and the contracts
let require the grading to be finished to the
Yellowstone by Sept. LIST next, and provide
also for steel rails, ties, etc., to complete the
road during the season to the Yellowstone.
| PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.
During the past year the company has re-
laid its track from Brainerd to Fargo, with
| steel rails, distance of 1873 miles, and has
made extensive Improvements to the road.
way generally by renewal of bridges, ties
ballasting, etc. 1t has recently completed a
new shop, engine house and freight house al
Fargo, all of brick and most substantially
built. It has also erected during the year
new depots at Verndale, Aldrich, Fort Rip.
ley, Motley, Casselton, New Buffalo, Towe,
City and Valley City, and made additions tc
passenger and freight houses at several Other
points. Grain houses have been erected by
private parties during the year at sixteen
stations.
The company has increased it's rolling
stock for Minnesota and Dakota during the
year by the purchase of 10 locomotives and
100 freight cars, and has contracted for IL
more locomotives and $50 box, stock and fla
cars, to be delivered early in the coming
spring. ........-
I LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.
At the recent NEE ting of the directors in
New York, General Manager Sargent was
authorized to begin grading for the head.
quarters building in this city, and also the
filling of its grounds upon which to erect
freight houses. The headquarters building
is to be of brick, four stories high, and the
freight houses will be extensive enough te
give full accommodations for the immense
local and transfer of the company. The ex
cavation and filling alone, to be begun Of
early as preparations can be made, will cost
it is estimated, not less than 100000. Ar
4 engineer is to arrive here this week, who is
8 to have charge of the St. Paul Improvements
and the piling, etc., for new elevator at Du
luth. Other improvements and additions al
i St. Paul are contemplated by the company