The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-13
AT THE COLUMBIA.
Great Northern's Gap Is Only
Ninety-Three Miles.
TRACK ENTERS ROCK ISLAND.
The q. I. Company VIII Fight Great
Pacific After Sound Trade.

The gap between the ends of the Great
Northern yesterday was about ninety
three miles. The line at this end is thirty
three miles from the summit, and that at
the other end is at the Columbia. Track
laying at the other end has been delayed
by the washing out Of the bridge in Lynch
coulee. The grade this side of the Column
bia is finished for several miles and the
transfer across the Columbia is all ready.
At this end the supply of steel has run
short and there will not be much track
laid for two or three days, until more rails
arrive.
The following special from Rock Island
tells of the arrival Of the Great Northern
railroad there:
RocK ISLAND, Oct. 12-fspecial THE Great
Northern track reached Rock Island yesterday,
having covered three miles day after crossing
Moses coolee bridge. Trains will be delayed at
the transfer over the Columbia river until SRtur-
day, when work will be pushed westward. The
grade 10 finished for q considerable distance up
the Wenstchee river, and serious delay is
anticipated between here and the summit OF the
Cascades, which viii be reached early in D,cem-
Der II the weather fs not too unfavoraole. as
work is prosecuted in the most systematic mau-
ner, with large crew of skilled men and the
best time-saving appliances A iargS force is
now engaged 10 laying extra sidetracks for ma
terfai yards 10 facilitate the transportation of
material and supplies west OF the Columbia
river. The boarding train and telegraph Offices
have been removed 10 this place an for the first
time Rock Island hes communication with other
points by wire.
Work on the approaches for the grest steel
bridge over the Columbia will be resumed
soon as men can be spared from construction
work west Of here all the available forces hav-
Ing been sent forward to prepare the grade for
the track, in order 10 make connections through
10 the Sound this winter. L. c. Gilman. man.
ager OF the Great Northern towns. is due here
tomorrow 20 arrange for water works. street i'm
provements, wagon roads iato the Big Bend
country. and grain warehouses, and to uvesti-
gate the feasibility of electric railway from
Rock Island 10 Waieryille- This is in further
apee OF President HIPS plan 10 provide facili-
tics for the accommodation Of traffic with
points off the line and to secure as much as
possible OF the business of the agricultural and
mining regions iraversed by or scee, sible TO tho
Great Northern large portion of which will
thus he directly tributary to Seattle.
The Rock Island Sun of last Friday said:
The grade is In readiness, with the exception
OF little sandpaperlng. and within a lew days
the track will be laid through town to the
transfer over the Columbia. where the transfer
boat. Thomaa L. Nixon, is waiting TO convey
materials 10 the west side. The material yards
At Beasicys VIII be abandoned and the supplies
moved to Rock Island, material yards to be
maintained there for tho line westward. The
gravel trains and surfseIng gangs are following
behind the trackiayers and finishing the road
bed as rapidly as possible.