The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-10-18
the ROCHESTER EXTENSION.
a Complete Description OF the Work
Now Almost Completed,
a Busy Scene That Spectators Al,
peerlng Park Will Enjoy.

1t Is said that the railways of the United
States, IL placed continuously would reach
more IMAM half way to the moon, and that
their bridges alone would reach from New
YORK TO Liverpool. Precisely how much Of
this endless space our own Maine family of
railroads and bridges would traverse, the
writer does not remember, but he knows
that it would extend several thousands of
miles, and that,-what is more comforting.
If the moon were no bigger than the CITY of
Portland, we might hope to encircle it when
the Portland d Rochester extension is COM
pleted. That will help to form belt of rails
around the city.
10 comprehend this more clearly, to get
practical lessiCn in the great art of railroad
building, go down to the westerly end of
Deering Park one of these fine October DAYS
and see what is going on. Take very long
tape with you If you doubt your ability to
measure distances with your eye, or better
still, see Mr.. Stephen l.. Stevenson. the civil
engineer, who from his plans on blue and
white oiled paper can give you many inter.
esting measurements.
The extension branches from the Roches-
| ter railroad six hundred feet from Green
street and passes over the city line, over the
Mitchell lot, the land owned by Treasurer
Conant Of the road, d strip of land owned
by the Deering heirs, Surrender street loot
yet built, other land of the Deerings, Grove
street, the old Tannery lot now owned by
President Wescott, the city of Portland lot
(uear the spot where the pest house stood.
another lot Of President Wescott's, across
ST. John and Portland streets, over still an
other lot of President Wescott's, over the
horse hailroad lot to the Maine Central near
the Union Station. The distance is 1000
feet; the width between fences is sixty-six
feet.
The grade from the point where the extern
sion leaves the main line is slightly down.
ward for 1000 feet, thence it is upward one
foot In 100 feet for the next 1900 feet; it is
level across the ST. John and Portland street
bridge and downward to the Maine Central
rails. There are two cuts, one at Grove
| street, the other near the sight of the pest
house, the former being eighteen feet deep
at the centre and calling for the disploce.
ment Of 12,2269 cubic yards of earth, the
latter being somewhat deeper and requiring
the displacement Of 1884 cubic yards of
earth. This has been hauled both to Elm
street. to be used as foundation for a new
union depot and to Grove street to grade the
| public highway.
Of the two bridges required perhaps that
| at Grove street will be the more interesting.
as it will be used by the public. The gran
lite abutments and sides retaining the high
way are already firmly cemented and ND.
The side nearest the park is 2S4 feet long
and two feet wide ON top while the opposite
side is GA feet long and two feet on top. The
foundation Is very strong, being in some
places twelve feet in thickness. The courses
or layers of this masonry are two feet thick.
while the blocks vary from four to eight feet
| 10 length.
The appearance of the street here will be
| much improved. Instead of the narrow road
which allowed but two teams to pass with
| difficulty, there is a road 49a feet wide,
which gives room for three or four teams to
pass in safety. The grading too, is changed
from seven and one-half in 100 feet to six in
100 feet. Besides having plenty of room in
which to turn out, people who drive will
have better view of the landscape. The
buildings and railroad over by the Union
station can be seen clearly and the noble
oaks and Deering fields will look more beau
tiful than ever. The Deering mansion, for
merly hidden from this part of Grove street,
will be much palmer to the eye.
When the iron bridgework, expected to ar
rive every day, is put in position the re.
| quirements Of beatty and comfort will be
| more complete. This iron bridge, built by
the Pittsburg Bridge Company, will be of
the latest style. To cover the double tracks
1 IL will ha "a feat cnon opd 70 prauaot ooa;
dents to men on the cars it will be 20 feet
deep from the top of the rails, leaving the
distance from the top of the ordinary car to
the bottom of the bridge eight feet; he will
be rather tall man who can be hit then.
There will be 20 feet of passing distance for
teams inside the chords of the bridge, and
there will be two sidewalks, each eight feet
nine inches wide, for foot passengers. An
open angle lattice railing of iron will run
along the sides of the bridge, extending on
the side towards the park about 200 feet
The part Of the railing going down the high.
way will be fastened into the granite wall
through coping, leaving the top of the wall
two feet wide, making firm walk to which
the city may join other hard material If It
chooses.
The st. John and Portland street bridge.
also of iron. built by the Boston Bridge Com
pany, will be of tasteful pattern. 1t will |
be set into the granite abutment now ready
for it, will be 33 feet from center to center of
the trusses, ITO feet span. and it will leave II
feet clear for teams The grade of the high
way beneath it will be changed somewhat,
as three feet of earth will be removed.
OF the labor of grading and excavating |
and of building the stone work there are
some interesting particulars. Mr.. Richard
d. Shannahan, the contractor. states that he
has employed from 100 to 200 men, though
he now employees but 100 on this new work.
With the exception of few expert granite
cutters, who came from Biddeford, where
the granite comes from, the workmen are
citizens of Portland. as President Wescott,
In his contract, called for them. Some of
these are old men, who perform their tasks
as faithfully and as we'll as many CT the
sturdy younger men, whom one might ex-
pect to be more efficient with the pick and
shovel. AS much of the work as possible
| that has been done on the granite
has been done here, such as cutting down
the blocks to the regulation size and trimm-
ing them. Forty teams belonging in Port
Shannahan's men will be through here in a
few days, as he is pushing the work rapidly,
person may still see a lively spectacle IL he |
observes the proceedings,-a continual click |
ing and scraping with tools. an endless pro-
cession of strong horses hauling the earth up |
the banks. 1t is plain that the laborers are |
benefited from this enterprise, palmer If it |
be remembered that the largest item is the |
cost of labor. The various items of cost |
would be given were not President Wescott |
absent from the city, but it may be stated |
that the amount expended on earth and ma
sonry up to October LIST is estimated at $685.
600.
The part of the labor done by the Portland
and Rochester is the trestle work, culvert
masonry and track laying. The trestles or
iron bridges will come in sections on freight
he