Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-13


cago, and George r. Peck OF Topeka
Kan.
Sc. Louis Il San Francisco.
Correspondence Of the Gazette
FORT SMITH, ARK, Nov. 9.--Youi
correspondent recently went over tn,
line of the extension OF the st. Louis 4
San francisco railroad south from thit
place, and the following Is the result OF
his observation: The road leaves Fort
Smith In the northwestern portion OF the
city near the river, and, crossing CARR
son avenue, 1t curves to the southeast
passing through the northwestern corner
OF the old fort, and leaving the old quar-
tcrmaster's building on the outside next
TO the Arkansas river. Passing on, the
road takes general southerly course,
the curves but few, until Backbone
mountain Is reached. Here tunnel
is being cut through the ridge. "Back.
bone" is a singular formation Of rock
rising some $50 or 300 feet above the val
leys on either side and extending from
the Choctaw nation on the west to the
Petit Jean mountains in Yell county, this
state, distance of nearly 100 miles from
the eastern boundary of the Territory. AS
It's name indicates, this ridge has the APP
pcaramce of huge backbone. At a
point, not exceeding three miles west of
the state line, the tunnel is being bored,
and when completed Il will be about 1900
feet In length. The drills are working
over 600 feet from the north end Of the
tunnel and about 800 feet from the south
end, leaving nearly 300 feet to be drilled.
large force of hands is at work with
the most approved machinery, and there
Is no stoppage OF operations night or day
The sides OF the tunnel are finished with
heavy stone masonry, and the arch is
made OF brick, the whole being as fine
aud durable a piece of railway tuu-
nellng as ever seen on any line
In the West, and In entire harmony and
keeping with the solid character Of the
great corporation for which 1t Is being
ouilt. M0ssrs. Cameron and Rossiter are
the contractors on this great tunnel, and
their reputation Is sufficient guarantee
thai the work will be most thoroughly
and satisfactorily accomplished. A
"swtch-back" has been laid over "Back-
bone," qy means OF which men, mate
rails, tools and supplies are easily and
expedltiously transnoss-.s-by the con-
strnetlesr~ rfElbs TO the south side
Ing between "Backbonen and Winding
Stair mountain Is completed and ready
for the ties and rails, which are being
laid as fast as the large force Of hands can
do the work, and it will not be long ere
the construction trains are running to the
last named point, where the road win pass
through cut nearly fifty feet deep In the
solid rock. This is piece of work of
considerable magnitude, and the contract
ors, Ward, Mackin & Larry, are bending
every energyi to complete it by January /
next, and they will accomplish
II not retarded by Indictment
weather. Along the line within
reach OF the citJ, and the work so far
as well as that under way, is
OF the most substantial character, The
foaahaa-is flrsrcrdss In every Tespjecr-.-
and the culverts of the heaviest stone
The streams on the line of the
road are spanned by splendid iron
bridges, built and put up by the Union
Bridge Company of New York, and they
are the finest structures Of the kind ever
seen In the Southwest. In fact, the en-
tire construction of the extentjon is solid
In highest degree and with view to
tie demands OF the vast scope OF
country the road will penetrate and open
up.
The country on both sides of the road
Tor miles, both In Arkansas and the In
dian Territory, is as fertile a region as
can be found in all this broad land. The
soil Will produce all the grains and
grassesi cotton, fruit, and vegetables Of
all kinds, There IL timber OF all kinds in
quantities, while the coal
fields cover vast area. Near the tunnel
az "Backhonen Is flne bed of coal as
one wodld see Ia years travel, the
product OF which will be mined and put
on the markets of the West, as
soon as the road is completed. The
building OF the Frisco TO Texas VIII not
only attract the home-seeker TO the coun-
try through which II passes, but viii
build up numerous towns, and increase
the business and ultimate prosperity OF
those already established, and this city,
the little commercial giant OF the border,
already feels the fresh impetus given to
the trade Of this section by the prospect
Of the early completion OF the line. Great
results may be expected when such 8 pro-
gressive railway cooperation as the
FRISCO reaches out its arms of steel to
and through such magnificent agricul-
tural region as will be covered by the ex-
tension TO Texas. That the great and
popular Frisco may continue to grow and
prosper Is the wish Of the people In this
part OF the moral vineyard.