Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-08
SPREADING ITS ARMS.
The Duquesne Electric Railroad
Octopus is Assuming Form.
WORK ON THE LINE BEING PUSHED.
Roadbed Complete From Soho, and From
Point Breeze to the Line.
THE MAMMOTH POWER AND CAR HOUSES

When the Duquesne Traction ordinance
went through Councils with rush at the
first meeting after its organization in April,
the public was astounded at the gigantic
undertaking. At first it was looked on as
something that should be swallowed with
grain of SALT" and further developments
awaited before speaking of "the new road
to the East End and Williamsburg" How
ever, the public was not left long in state
of bewildered uncertainty, and to-day the
progress of the work on the new system is
watched with more than ordinary interest.
The plans for the building of the new
system had evidently been we'll worked out,
as the progress made since the first pick was
struck into the pavement in the middle OF
May has been phenomenal. The road has
been called an octopus, but that word
hardly describes it, and yet does in some
respects. The octopus moves slowly, but
the traction road is mushroom like in its
growth.
On the other hand, when one traces its
snake-like windings through the heart Of
the city and out to Williamsburg, fairly sur
rounding the most choice sections, it does
not take great stretch of the Imagination
to compare it to an octopus, with its long
arms stretching in every direction.
DOES NOT STOP THE WORK.
Commencing at the downtown end Of
Forbes street. the roadbed is finished to
Soho. The workingmen employed by the
city are following the line up, and soon
Forbes street to Soho will be completely re-
paved, and the line down with hardly any
one outside of the residents on the street
L Tho oif iC lor
water pipe from Soho out Forbes and the
work cannot be pushed along its line until
the city gets the pipe down, but this does
not stop the work, by any means.
Last Monday the Forbes street force COM
menced work at the junction of Penn and
Ellsworth avenues, and now has one track
laid to Roup street, and the thoroughfare
partly paved. At the same time the exca-
yations are being made for the second track,
which will be laid this week. The residents
along the street would not be surprised il
they heard the cars go by in another week
or 80, such is the progress made. Over 200
men are working on this section, and all
goes like clock-work.
While one force of men has been at work
on Forbes street and Ellsworth avenue
another has been working on the Wilkins
burg branch. The roadbed is now finished
junction of Fifth avenue. and the work be-
yond that point is going on like magic.
The force of men that commenced work
on Highland avenue was stopped by an in
junction, but it did not stop the work on the
street. The city is going on tearing up the
sides of the street to repave it, which is
practically the same as though the traction
force was working, the only difference being
that otherwise the city PAYERS would follow
the road-layers.
AN INTERESTING SIGHT.
It is interesting to see the different gangs
of men at work along the line. Down at
Roup one gang is digging up the street.
Another gang is filling in and laying the
ties, and another putting. down the rails.
The PAYERS follow and leave the track COM
plete.
Yesterday Chief Engineer Rice went over
some parts of the completed road, and was
well pleased with the progress, but said the
work must be pushed. September has been
given out as the time when the road will be
completed, and the contractors will push
the work all along the line, to have it done
at the appointed time.
The downtown route, from Forbes street,
has not yet been decided on, but 1t will not
take long to put the road down as soon as
the route is mapped out. Work will soon
be commenced on the Negley avenue line.
The power house at Ben Venue will be a
mammoth building of brick, built very
substantially. The eight high-speed en-
gines to be placedin 1t will have combined
horsepower of 1000. The plans for the
power house have not yet been definitely
decided upon. The color of the cars and
other minor matters also have not vet come
up for settlement, but all will be decided on
in due time.
The car house at the corner of Ellsworth
avenue and Neville street will be 14Ox4OO
feet, built of brick, and after the latest
designs.