Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-06-30
TINE OREGON saORT LlNE.

The Salt Lake Tribune of recent date
gives the following account of progress
of this company's Oregon Short Line:
Starting at Granger, the track is al
ready laid westward a distance of 50
miles. Tracklaying has commenced in
earnest from that point, and is going
down at the rate of about one mile per
day. In track sying they use MOOre's
improved tracklaying apparatus, which
insists simply of a trough or sided track
in which are many rollers, over which
ties and rails are sent to the front. This
is attached to one side of the fiat cars,
so that ties and rails can be placed ON
the rollers. and then showed along rapid
ly by men either on the fiat cars or walk
ing by the side on the ground. At the
front end of the train, this track or
shute extends forward quite a distance,
being supported by crane. As fast as
the ties are sent to the front they sre
taken by men and put in place then
the rails are dropped and spiked, and
the train pushes over the rails Just laid,
SO as to be ready for the next length
The engine is at the opposite end of the
train. and pushes the car back as fast
as the rails are laid, until the 20 or 30
cars are unloaded. The machinery saves
hauling the ties ahead by teams, and is
economical in work. especially as there
are many places along the road
where teams could not reach the line of
grade.
"From Granger it ia 149 miles to Soda
Springs, upon which the grade has been
completed, 81 miles Of track laid and
many Of the bridges put in place. From
Soda Springs to Portneuf, where the limo
crosses the Utah 4 Northern, it is GO
miles, making total of 2l5 miles from
Granger. On this gap between Soda
Springs and P0catellO, graders are now
at work, and already portion is CON-
pleted. West of the Utah 4 Northern
the track Is laid sixteen miles. and in
about three weeks will be completed to
American Falls, six miles further. The
track west of the Utah l. Northern 10
laid with broad gage ties and rails
placed TO accommodate narrav gage
rolling stock, and when the line is COM
pleted from Granger to Pocatello, the
track westward viii be widened TO stan
dsrd gage.
"west Of Snake River graders are
strung out for q distance of 80 miles,
and between $50 and 800 teams are at
work. This portion Of the road ID across
the the desert, there being q stretch of
50 miles between the American Falls
and Little Wood River having NO water.
and hence men and and teams have TO
be supplied by hauling water from these
rivers. At present the contractors,
Messrs. Collins 4 Stevens, have about
1900 teams aud 1000 men employed, and
are anxious TO get all the uIen and teams
they can for pushing their work. Sow
eral large outfits are now on the way
from Colorado and Nebraska, hut they
prefer getting laborers here Sd Al 70 save
transportation. Orders have been issued
by the IN ,nsgement to push the grading
through to Baker City as rapidly As pos
sibIe, and this will be done. The enRen-
GERS are locating the line, keeping all
the time far ahead Of the graders, and
there il now an energy shown by the
company unsurpassed BY any former Pc
Rod. Ties, rails, bolts, spikes, ETC., are
in store ample for all present uses, while
orders cover all the material required,
to be delivered as fast - wanted. The
road il being built with steel rails and
first-class in every respect"