The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-01-12
Work on the New Dock.
From the Inter-Ocean.

From the Inter-Ocean.
An Inter Ocean reporter took occas-
ion recently to visit the site of the
Eastern Minnesota Railway eompany's
proposed dock, since the contractors
have gotten under Roadway with the
work One cannot but be impressed
with the magnitude of SO great an I'M
dertaking as building and equipping
of this dock and the attendant work of
grading for trackage, which is very
heavy. To fully appreciate the fact
that the largest coal dock in America
is now in process of construction in
IVES Superior, one must visit the scene
of operation on st. Louis Bay, and see
for himself the lines that denote its
magnificent proportions. The grading
for trackage in this instance, viii re-
quire the removal of an immense
amount of earth which IS being util-
lied as filing for the dock.
The contractors are at present work
ing backward from the base Of the
easterly and smaller portion Of the
dock, extending as they go a cut twenty
feet IN depth and about one hundred
III width. Wheel scrapers are being
used for the time being to transfer the
earth 10 the dock, but when the haul
becomes longer, dump cars with ca
pacity of a cubic yard each VIII be used.
The haul viii eventually become very
long, as the excavation which serves
the double purpose Of furnishing mate
rial for dock filing and yard room, eX-
tends back nearly mile.
The other portion of this great deck
which viii be situated l45 feet TO he
west, SO as to furnish a slip of sufficient
width to accommodate vessels upon
either side, viii be built in like man
ner, and the excavation at its base con-
verge into the first one on the east side.
y triangular piece Of virgin soil viii
thus be left at the base of the slip as
VIII be seen by the description but as
it VIII in no way interfere with the OPP
erations Of the contractors, it viii be
disposed Of at some other time. The
width of the cut viii depend upon the
amount of trackage that VIII be re
quired for the handling of cars i'll con-
nection with the business of the dock,
and any one can readily perceive that
it viii be considerable, and add largely
to the already extensive yard room for
transfer in Superior.
Dear & Hayes, the contractors, have
the entire work except the dredging,
which VIII be done by Williams, Up
ham s Co, Of Duluth. MI Hayes di-
reefs the work personally and can usu-
ally be found upon the works nearly
every hour Of the day.
The contract for the completion Of
the dock covers term Of two years;
the only stipulation being that they
finish 4 poT ton Of each dock for peXt
seasons business. 1t Is needless to say
that they are pushing the work with
vigor and making the most of fayora-
BILE weather, by working a night and
day force. The cut at night is illumin-
mated by locomotive headlights, and by
the light Of them the men are enabled
to work to almost as good advantage
as in daylight The scene is inspiring,
to say the least.
For the accommodation Of the large
outfit of men ana teams now on the
work, comfortable camps have been
built which leads one to believe that
the employers take some interest in
the welfare Of their men while looking
after their own The nature Of the
work partakes Of railroad construction
but the men fare better in every res
pect than IS usual upon that class of
work Seventy men and forty-three
teams are now employed upon the
dock and they having been favored
with good weather have accomplished
much work The dock viii be equip
ped with a steam derrick outfit similar
to that upon the Lehigh Coal compa-
ny's dock, which is the most improved
machinery in use for handling ceaL