The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-12
THE M|SS0ULA CUTOFF.
II Runs Through a Rich Mining
Country From Mlssoula 10
Cnur d'Alene.
Built to Avoid the Expensive
Hauling Over the Clark's
Fork Route.
The New Road VIII DO Turned Over to
the Operating Department
In May.

h Operating Department
In May.
From Mnllan the Northern Pacific broad
gange begins and runs up the South Fork
valley about five miles, TO what In known ~
Pottsyille, n village of fifteen or twenty
huts, which became famous during the past
fall on account OF n few reckless diver
sions which compelled tho coroner to make
frequent visits to the place, says the Wal
lace, idaho, Free Press. Happily for the
country tho "vilIe' is almost deserted. 1t
is n romantic spot and the railroad almost
encircles IL. just above "Pott" the road
crosses the valley and runs southwark up
Willow creek. Here is where the grade
to within three miles of tho summit, when
the grade grows to 212 feet 10 the mile, or
lou per cent. to tho hundred feet-that Ia,
four feet rise in every hundred feet. Along
Willow creek tho road forms Il big v, or
what is known as a switch-back. The
road runs to Il point near the head
of the creek and then comes back again
with nm ascending grade, the train be-
ing run from this point backward up TO
the summit. This, of course. ia not perm
anent. A bridge will be thrown across
Willow creek, the piles Of which are already
driven, and this will admit of a sufficient
curve to run trains on without danger.
Then the reversing will be avoided. Unless
the snow falls very heavily the bridge is ex-
pected to be completed before spring.
From Willow creek to the summit, a dis
lance of about six miles, the road winds
along the mountain sides, and this necessl-
tates quite n number of t~restles, running
from 30 TO $50 feet in height. These are all
substantially constructed, and scarcely let
a creak as the trains pass. Except one. all
are completed. The unfinished one is near
tho summit. A temporary track with q
twenty-four degree curve has been laid
around it, and this serves for temporary
purposes. It is extremely dangerous for big
engines, however. The trestle will be a
large one and will probably not be finished
before the middle of February, it then. The
timbers for this work and the bridge to be
built on Willow creek were cut at the rail-
road c%ompany's saw mill about two miles
above Mullans where there is q fine saw mill
plant and huge lumber piles.
As already stated the grade is m easy
one to within three miles of the summit.
Only one short TUNE was necessary. The
earth and rock cuts are not very deep, and
there will be little dangerfrom land or rock
slides after the ensuing spring, as the
mountain sides are not very steep. 1t il a
substantial grade and will require but very
little surfacing to admit of it's being turned
over to the operating department. In fact,
the track was surfaced as the work pro-
| crossed, ample time being given on account
Of the numerous %trestles, which were slow
Of construction. On the Montana side
there are no ~trestles, and this admitted of
much more rapid construction.
(lri0iun1lu tho ipfanfi0n Uaa tn Iriva q
tunnel through the mountains at the
summit to avoid the four per cent. grade
for three miles. but, we believe, this project
has been abandoned, at least for the pres
ent.
The scenery on this side from the summit
down to the valley equals, if it does not sur
pass, anything that may DO found along the
direct route of the Northern Pacific. Shortly
after leaving the divide the upper South
Fork valley unfolds like a panorama far be-
low, with a succession of hills, ~rayines n
canyons running along in every direction.
Gradually the hills give way to imposing
mountains. covered with SNOW and fringed
with dark evergreens. The view reaches far
out into the horizon IN the north and west,
and runs along the crest of the Bitter Root
range on the east. Suddenly a tunnel with
its waste dump down the hillside strikes
the vision. II is the Daisy, n mile or so
above Mullan. 1t is the first sign OF mining
liz ctF UiuFCiFl "All AN IA III
the Cnnr d'Alenes by this route. A
distance down the grade the
village of Pott is again brought to
view, and it hardly gets out
of sight until it passed down the valley.
This il due to the tortuous winding of the
road and the switchback, all of which are
to get the grade. The road does
make a loop, but simply a V, II then
winds around the draws. 1t required con-
siderable engineering skill to find a route
to the pass, yet we are Informed that the
original survey has been followed without
deviation.
There can be no doubt but that the North
crn Pacific contemplates making this line
tcalled the Csur d'Alene cutoI) it's main
route from the east to the west. The
CIark's Fork route is much longer and is
very expensive to maintain, and there is
very little business. 1t is different along
the Occur d'Alene cut off. II runs through
a rich mining country all the way from Mis-
soula to Lake C1ur d'Alene, with an inn
mense way traffic. and with the exception
of some six miles, has an easy and substan-
tial grade very easy to keep in order.
Except the trestle near the summit and
the bridge across Willow creek, nothing re-
mains to be done but to surface and
strengthen the track. The woodwork will
all be done during the winter, and If the
spring ia IN early one the road will be turn
ed over to the operating department by the
first of May. Before that time all the
narrow gauge tracks i'll the Cnur d'Alene
will be widened to the standard gauge.
This will give the South Fork excellent rail
road service and our mining interests a
yeritabIe boom. No camp ever had a
Great clearing sale this month, at New Eng