Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-05-17
Increase since 1890
the COMM RAILROAD.
from the Ledger.

M.. Nounnan, who spent "A day o. two
here last week, while on his way TO Port
land on business connected With the
work, readily gave all information
asked regarding the line, its proeress
and difficulties. He said that the grad.
ing was practically Complete, with the
exception of a very few portions which
had to be left unfinished where swamp
interrupted the line. All wofl. on these
had to be abandoned until the dry sum
mer weather should make the task Of
grading in them lesa difficult. Within
the next sixty days ut latest, and proba
bly, within thirt :, be anticipates that all
these portions tins Temporarily aban-
doned, will be finished, the present force
OF men, consisting Of $50 Cinnamon and
$50 white men, being judged amply SAT-
ficieut to carry out the contract. From
the Puyal!up end five miles of track are
com pleted and ready for traffic, tlis con.
strnctfon train making daily trips from
the junction with material 10 the point
of operations. which is one mile in the
Stuck swamp. This swamp presented
proAsefn 10 the contractors at the outse4
which promised 20 be somewhat diff
cult II nos impossible, Of solution. The
plan adopted by Ar- Neuanaa has, how
eers, i1rsse3 oat compete "a Cess, IL
fting qGile impossible 10 convey any
material over the isorass b. slsafss ef
horses aud wagons, La proceeded 10
buId toe perm nenl road on piles from
the edge VI the marsh. As fast as the
piles wese risced IN position by the pile
driver. q gang II carpenters and track |
layers followed Close upel the machine,
and thus providing an easy aud rapid |
means OF conveying all materials aud |
supplies 10 where they are required |
There are still iwo miles 10 bs completed |
Of this trssiie work and track is being |
laid at the rate of two hundred feet per |
day. Dir. Nounnau expresses himself |
highly pleased with the quality md RI |
pidity OF tbs work. On the other side |
OF the swamp, from the completed por.
ton of the tfestle work. and working |
towards IL, is n gang of l50 men with 75 |
teams, engaged In filling up the swamp. |
an o; Grafton which will materially has
ten the completion Of the work. The
Stuck river will be crossed by the track
about the first day OF July. and in about
ten days thereafter White river will be
reached.
There are -four Howe truss hridcA on
the line. The first, which crosses tho
Puyallup river. consists of txo shans,
each lG0 feet. This bridge will be- fin
ished and ready for traffic this week.
The second crosses the Stuck river and
consists of single span of $50 feet.
The timber and iron for their structure
ara ready. and by the time the river is
reached. the bridge will be framed and
ready TO place in position. The third IL
over tho White river. the material for
which IL also ready. The last in order,
AZ well as tue last 10 DO put in position.
~ tho bridge over she Black river,
which VIII be framed In Seattle and
shipped up.
speaking generally of the work. Mr..
Nonnnan said that Though twenty Que
m'ies OF track might seem but a small I
Job. the unusual difficulties arising from
the imprs cticabie nature t,f the country
traversed made II very serious ana 4
necessarily tedious undertaking, Ar
idea OF what Is meant may be gathered
from the fast that in those twenty-oue
miles there are not less than I've MILES
OF trestle work. In fact il il what rail |
road men would call "a biz little lob.
This will account for the delay in the
completion OF the contract about which
tue SEATTLE papers made the growing.
However, Mr.. n, unnan says that he is
quite satisfied that. il there be no other
obstacle IN the way but the completion
OF this road, Mr.. Willard will failll his
promise Of riding in his own private
Gar into Seattle by tho LIST Of September
next.
@a-es-a-a -. !
Tux DEAD EsaIHiaa~ G.
knapp, chief engineer Of the Misssssir
pi. who was burned 10 death SUNDAY
morning last, came 10 this coast n.
1861. having been engaged in Now York
by John Birmin2hans, Superintendent
OF the North Pacific Transportation
Company, as chief engineer of the Pa
cisc. His first trip was in that steamer