Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-03-29
Railroad News.

formed that the contract for grading the
Black Hills branch of the b. & NJ. rail-
road, from Dudley to Lead City, via
Custer, will be let on the 10th day Of
April at Omaha. The era of progress,
so long predicted by the CnRoSIcIE, is
about to dawn upon the denizens OF
this place, and we f%crvently hope they
may all be richly rewarded for theiI
patient waiting under circumstances,
which at times have been most dis
couraging.
We learn that on Saturday last the b.
& NJ. side tracks at Dudley were taken
up and renewed 10 the east side of the
river. One hundred men were engaged
all day in making the change, which is
said TO have been the result Of the ex-
orbitant price asked for the ground
upon which the tracks were laid. by the
party in possession, who, believing he
held the edge on the company, held out
for his price, and got left. Less greed
and more judgment on the part of the
Dudley Spectator might have averted
the change and been much more con-
dncive to his interests.
The b. & NJ. furnished the news Of
the day. Before ooE 1t became noised
around that the general superintendent
of the road had reached the city Mon
day night and quietly proceeded to the
residence of Jas. X. p. Miller, whose
guest he became. What his presence
means can only be c%onjectured, but the
fact that day before yesterday a con
siderable force Of graders started from
Newcastle to this city, where they are
due 10 arrive tomorrow, warrants the in
ference that he is here to point out at
what place in the city grading shall be-
gin. The graders may get in sometime
during to night, but probably will not
arrive until tomorrow. Significance ola
remark dropped a few days ago, that
De~adwoodians would be surprised to
awaken some morning and find a large
number of men at work on a
railroad grade in city limits now be-
come apparent. The B. q NJ. and .. c.
forces will work in harmony. The
former builds from Newcastle to the
Hills. The latter builds out to meet it.
A third rail will be laid on the narrow
gauge track for use Of the standard
gauge. The b. & NJ. has sought no as
sistance here it comes of its own Volt
ton, and is paying literally for all the
privileges it gets, and perhaps for the
generosity displayed, as much as
for any other reason will be given a
rousing welcome the day it reaches
Deadwood.-Pioneer, 20.
The presence in Hill City of John
Berry, right-of way man Of the FIRE.
mont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley
railroad company has set comment and
speculation loose, considerable import
is generally attached to his visit. or
course, no one knows the object of Mr..
Berry's visit, but theories are rife. Mr..
Berry may possibly be here for his
health, but personal appearance and
numerous sundry evidence would indi-
cate not. 1t is also evident that he is
not here on a pleasure %jaunt, and hence
when he disappears south Of town be-
hind a team of the Harvey Peak com
pany il is generally conceded that he
has business to attend TO. The Elkhorn
company has never exhibited any de-
cided inclination to build in this direct
ion, but the recent movements Of Mr..
Berry and other officials seem TO show,
at least, intention to become thoroughly
acquainted with the and
topography Of the country between here
and Hermosa and Rapid CITY. But the
Burlington and Missouri is crowding
the Northwestern system and it is yet
among the possibilities of railroad con-
struction that the Elkhorn road will en-
ter Hill City. 1t will be heartily well
come, "The more the merrier."--Tin
Miner.
CHE1ENNE W NORTHERN.
Last Friday Mr.. w. III. Fitzpatrick
LEFT Newcastle TO start the graders to
work upon the Cheyenne 4 Northern,
the firm of Fitzpatrick Bros. & Collins
haying secured the contract early last
fall. The dirt is actually flying at this
writing and a road which has been
built hundreds Of times on paper will
be completed in fact before July 1, the
contract time. Tins road is a branch of
the Union Pacific running north from
Cheyenne. The construction Of thirty
miles continues the road to a connection
with the f., L. 4 M. ". near Douglas
Newcastle Journal 81.
EALING A MARCH.
"That was a shrewd move Of the Dead
wood Central to nut force Of graders
in Whitehall, Fantail, and whitewood
gulches Wednesday morning" has been
remarked q dozen times and there is no
disputing the truth Of it. Railroad
companies as a rule let their gradings to
contractors and very likely the Dead
wood Central would have proceeded in
the usual way had it not been for the
presence here ofthe F. r. 4 NJ. ". folks,
with the evident intention of occupying
the same gulches with a force o7graders.
The gulchesare o narrow in fact that but
one standard gauge road bed can be- con-
structed through them. The first road.
therefore, TO acquire possession and
right Of possession. gains a great advant-
age belongs to the ID. G. When an
nounceIaent graders were to be At work
early that day appeared In Wednesday
mornings paper, il created consterna-
ten In the ranks Of the II. Il. 4 M. ".
Its representatives hastenel to ths tele-
- ~ - n ~. - = 49, y