The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-24
AMONG THE RAILROADS.
The Missoula Cut-On Completed-Lively
Track Iaying-In, portant Ruling.

The Missoula Cut-On Complsted-Lively
Track Laying--Important Ruling.
Yesterday morning about II o'clock the
last rail on the Coeur d'Alene road, connect
ing Missoula with Mullan, was laid. A
large number of citizens from Murray.
Wallace and Mullan were present, and for
time there was great rejoicing. The fact
that no delegation from Missoula was pres
ent is matter to be regretted. Tonight
at Wallace there will be a grand demonstra-
ton at the pavilion over the completion of
the line Many citizens of Missoula have
received invitations to be present, but it
will be doubtful whether it will be possible
for train to cross the divide on account OF
the track not being ballasted and heavy
snow. as Mr.. John Woods, who arrived in
tho city last night, stated that Sunday
night and yesterday a snow storm on the
divide was the heaviest of the season. The
distance from DeSmet. where the track
leaves the main line, to Muilan, is ~
miles. Messrs. Wood, Larson Il 20. had
contracted to have the road finished by
Jan. l, and they have done it with eight
DAYS to spare.--Missoulian, %.
The Great Northern company opened Tor
traffic on Dec. over eighty miles Of its
Pacific extension in Montana. Tracklay-
ing is progressing ut the rate of two miles
day, aud it il expected that the Rocky
mountains will be reached by Christmas.
Two Thousand men are at work. supplies
are being concentrated i'll the Flathead val
ley, west of the mountains. where force
! of several Thousand men will be employed
and the line pushed to its terminus on
Puget sound. The locating survey has been
! made for about 500 miles OF the extension.
It begins at Pacific Junction, new town
between Havre and Assniboine, Mont, ana
four miles west of the former town. The
route strikes across the rivers and valleys,
ton. The most important points
on tho located line are: Marias Pass, Fiat
head river, Flathead valley, Fisher river,
Kootenai river, Boomers ferry, Pend dor
ellie river, Diamond lake and Little sRo-
| lance is reported graded. The road IS be-
ing built with one per cent. maximum grades
and three degree curves. Awooden trestie,
I4O feet high and LOO feet long will be
built.
Surveys are still in progress on the Belt
proposed branches to Barker and Nlehart.
These lines will open up rich mineral re-
| Qion tributary to the silver and copper
smelters at Great Falls, Mont.
The Seattle Belt or Lake Washington
Belt. at Seattle. WASH, as 1t Is valiousiy
Calico. l6 now UOOub COluRlclcAs ~ 40 AC0a
! ~ branch of the Northern Pacific and
Puget Sound road diverging from that line
at Black river junction and skirtinR the
eastern shore of Lake Washington to con-
neotion with the Seattle, Lake Shore and
Eastern, near Gilman junction. The dis
lance is twenty-five miles and the entire
line will probably be ready for operation In
few days. The greading is about com
pleted with the exception of few places
where Injunction suits have not yet been
adjusted. At Black river junction consid-
cradle rack-layinR has been accomplished
and large amount of material 10 now N
hand. Work on the Seattle, Lake Shore
and Eastern, which comes IN from the
north, is also being pushed.
The grading is now about completed or
the entire line of the Tacoma, OLYMPIA a
Gray's Harbor road. About ixty-hyt
miles Of track has been laid: 1t e1tend'
from Centralia to Ocosta, WASH, with
branch from Harlowe Junction extending
through Olympia to a connection with tn
Northern Pacific at Lake View, one of tn
suburbs OF Tacoma. The total length Of
this line ia 1O6 miles.
On the Pullman d Lewiston branch vii
Moscow, Idaho. tracklaying machines ar
putting down the track at the rate OF ~
miles daily. Eight miles have been laid II
Washington and about twenty miles II
Idaho from Moscow south toward Lewis
J ton. Idaho.
Tracklaying on the Chehalis and Sout'
Bend branch is in progress from Chenalle
WASH, west.
The Illinois Railroad and Warehous
,, commission has rendered decision IN tn
complaint of the Union Brewing company
, of Peoria, against the Chicago, BcrllnR.o
, and Quincy for refusal to switch cars. Ih
respondent claims that it is not doing
general switching business. and cannot ;
} held to do that service. The commissio
' holds that the respondent is under legal OF
legation to switch cars for the complainant
because it performs that service for otht
patrons on the same tracks, and cannot I'LL
criminate against any of them. 1t appear
a that the complainant had previously r
fused to pay demurrage on two cars, an
this question of demurrage was still IN az
. pute. The commissioners do not undertal
I to decide whether this demurrage char!
y is legally collectable, but they hold that !
non pay ent cannot justify refusal
switch cars for the compliments.
q ANo marshmallows in half. pound tozes