The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-02-23
NORTHERN PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION.

have started pleasant system.
NORTHERN PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION.
Fiaishiss ~ Ciasks's F~ss Dssistss.
speeisl Correspondents Nss NORTH Wet.
On the morning Of tho issh Of February,
accompanied by friend, the writer left the
house Of u 4. Indian Agent Roman, At the
Jocko, or FIsthead, reservation, for visit 10
Hallrtts headquarters, the freut Of opera
tons OF the army of railroad constructors for
the Northern Pa.:ifc Railroad company al
vaacing from the west.
OUT INTO THE wEsT.
The day was delightful; . warm chinook
blowing from the south sent the melting
snow and thawing Ice in sweeping rivulets
down the mountai1 sides and Into the clear
waters OF the Jocko river, which ran through
that delightful valley unclaimed BY icy bond
age, ~ the several springs which aow into
the river keep ice from forming for many
miles. At the house Of our old half breed
acquaintance, Antoine Ksvis, on the Pen
and take a luncheon, and twelve miles fur
Their on We put up for the night 1T the camp
Of Mr.. Cfaudall, Q sub-c0ntraetor under
Washington Dunn, who is pushing q party
Of Mormon graders toward the completion
Of his contract on the reservation.
ON THE HATrLE's nARdR.
Our sleep that night was broken 10 upon
BY the Loud boom Of the blasts from the
rock workers az Hallett's froat, and a. we
travelled next morning the blasts reminded
one Of an artillery battle with laundering
boom Of roaring cannon. Down the Pen
d'Oreille river, on the 18th, We drove upon
the ice, and some four miles distant from our
stopping place, came to the third railroad
crossing, where y crew OF Haiiettis men
were At work erecting
STEAM PILE DRIVES
upon the deck Of an immense scow, which
had been built upon the fee, and Intended to
float upon the water when the ice gives
away. Five steam pile drivers will be In
operation 1t thus crossing on Monday or
Tuesday OF this week, and the work Of con-
structing the bridge pushed sheai.
NOW ROADWAY ~ MADE.
A few miles further on, up among the srAgs
overhansing the river, could be seen swarms
Of white men and Cinnamon striking drills
two strikers to one drill, and, in some in
stances, three. Others were engaged in
tamping and preparing for the blast, while
vast hordes were cleaning away the loose
dirt and rock Now the signal il given, and
away all scamper-hundreds Of men running
from the flying missiles, taking refuge behind
trees, crouching behind points and crawling
under shelving rocks. The shots arc counted
az they 20 of in quick succession, and then
all 60 to work 10 clear away the rubbish.
And SO along for seven miles were men,
horses, mules, carts and whceiharrows packed
~ close ~ bees in hive. The grade is now
completed up to the end Of Claxke's Fork
division, on the line of the Flathsad reserva-
ton, and Hallett's force, consisting Of some
FIVE THOUSAND NEE, AaK At WORK
on the reservation, on what was heretofore
considered and known - Dunn's contract.
learn that AN order from Headquarters in
Portland changed the line Of Clsrks's Fork
Division and extended Hallett's work up to
the third crossing of the Pen d'Oreille river,
which covers some seven miles Of difficult
rock work, and brings Hallett's force several
miles within the boundaries of the reserva-
ton. At point near the line Of the reser-
walton last week single blast was sent of
in which were used six hundred and twenty
boxes Of Judson powder, and tweuty-six
thousand yards Of rock we're blown out into
the river. On Clayks's FORK Division Mr..
Hallett has built eight miles Of trestle aud
used up eight million feet Of lumber.
WORKING UNDER WATER.
At Lynch's ranch, on Horse Plains, We
found the western end of the track, aad here
a trestle was being built across slough or
fork of the Pen d'Oreille river, where the
water was thirty-seren feet in depth. Upon
attempting to drive piles for this trestie it
was found that the bottom was aragged ledge
of hard rock. A diving apparatus and an sK-
pert were soon brought into requisition, and
here, for the first time in my life, beheld
the spectacle Of man 1t work thirty-sevea
feet below the surface of the water, and could
hear the steady strokes down in the depths
~ he drove home the heavy bolts with his
sledxe to SWAY brace" the structure It was
stated that the diver frequently remained
under water ut his work fer three hours COZ
sscutIvely.
VISITING AT HALLErf's.
At seven O'Clock in the evening, in conf
pany with Mr.. Halls.t, your correspondent
boarded the regular wostsrn-bound passen-
ger train and got of at that gentleman's
headquarters, sone three miles below Weeks
vile, where very enjoyable evening was
spent with his interesting family.
HOW GRAvEYARps ARE PROMOTED.
In the morning, while awaiting the arrival
of the approaching train FROM tire west, two
graves were noticed near the railroad track,
and at the head of one prosruded pair of
clutches. Upon inquiry, Mr.. Hallstt in
formed me shat few days before my visit,
upon coming out Of his quarters, he was
startled by observing the bodies Of two men,
hung by the neck to separate trees, spinning
around and svaying In the wind, which was
then sweeping up the cahep-a bitter cold
morning. ..s
'nrhe bodies ara in those graves. 1t was
getting too hot here" continued Mr.. Hallett,
"and in order to protect life and property
vigilance conRittse was recently formed,
and there are the graves of the two last vie
tins. One of the men," he continued, Tin
attempting to draw his pistol to commit
murder, accidentally hurt himself and was
compelled TO 20 on crufchss. The occupant
of the other grave was his partner in brood
daylight robbery aud crime Of other descrip-
tioa. They were ordered to quit the camp,
bus refused, and there are their graves, with
the wounded dssperade's crBtckes to mark
the sps4"
How many Of those desperate characters do,
you think have zset their fate at the heads Of
this vigilance eeamittss?
.Between shooting and stretching, be-
lieve about fifteen" replied Mr.. Hallett.
:. wEEKsvILLE FEScHD IN.
weeksville is thing Of tse past. With
the advance Of the railroad track the jewellers
of that place were compelled 10 move on In
order to ply their ayoeatieus, and new the
rising city is located within o stene's throw
Of the border e. this FiatAeaa reservation,
where there are already about one hundred
saloons and gambling houses doing business,
and, N . matter Of course, ehe new town,
which il called =
LAST CHANCE,
las Agent Roman has taken measures to keep
the horde Dir camp followers from locating
upon the sxcred soil ofouf red brethren) win
b. the last resting place for the SALOONS, until
IN. r~sarv~f;ny, n skinn~d n diseauce If INV