The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-08
CLOSING UP THE GAP.
Great Northern Tracklayers
Hurrying Together.
THROUGH TO SPOKANE IN MAY.
Increase of Business From Seattle East
ward-BuiIding Brooklyn Electric
Road to the City.

EALIsPELL, Mont, April THE track
layers have now passed Sterling. siding
sixty-four miles west of here. They are
working twelve hours day, and are laying
over two miles of track day. Work is being
pushed to the extent of the endurance oil
the crews. and every effortis being MADE
to reach Spokane at the earliest possible
moment. The crew working west from
here will lay track to point ten miles
west of Kootenai, 104 miles from here,
where they will meet the gang working
east from Sand Point, Idaho. At the pres
ent rate the engineers expect to meet the
other crew about the Goth of this month,
and they feel confident that the gap be-
tween here and Spokane will be closed
not later than May 20.
Going west from here the line lies along
Ashley creek, going up Smiths valley,
the grade being heavy one until Marion
is reached, twenty miles west. Six miles
beyond Marion is Tuohy's tunnel, nearly
one half mile in length. At railway
headquarters this tunnel is called Has
kell's pass tunnel, and the siding at the
last approach to the tunnel bears that
name, but locally and with the engineers
it is known as Tuohy's, for the reason
that Tuohy Bros. constructed it. Haskell
is the engineer who discovered the pass
through the hills west Of here. A number
of beautiful and picturesque lakes
lie along the route between here
and Libby creek. The scenery
through the mountains and valleys west is
even more grand than through the
Rockies, but there are no gigantic trestles
or bridges to excite the admiration of the
traveller like those east. though the engi-
neering feats are none the less wonderful.
The stations, or rather sidings, west of
Kalispell, are named as follows; Batavia.
Pana, Temporary, Spur, Marion, Haskells
Pass (tunneD Pleasant Valley, Lake
View, La Clede, Atlanta, Sterling, Gemo-
ma, Jennings, Libby and Kootenai. Sec
ton houses, water tanks and other neces-
Bary structures are being constructed
along the line, so that when a passenger
service is established to Spokane every
thing will be in shape to make good time.
Three trains are kept busy hauling ma
terial from the yards here to the front
Where track is being laid now the grade is
down, being Is per cent. Eighty pound
steel is being used.
General Manager A. L. Mohler, accom-
panied by Engineer Miller and Chief En-
gineer Becker, was looking over the line
last week. The trip was ostensibly a
tour of inspection, but the meaning of it
could more truthfully be said to be with
view to turning the road over to the oper-
ating department. The best information
is to the effect that passenger service is
to be established between st. Paul and
Spokane as soon as the road can be COM
pleted to the latter point, and that ar
rangements have been made with the
Union Pacific for communication with the
Coast until the Great Northern is COM
pleted to Seattle. Passenger trains are
now run twice a week each way between
kalispell and Havre, connecting there
with the present main line, but trains are
moving daily each way, of which passen-
gers can avail themselves. The track is
being put in splendid condition, and, for
green track and roadbed, has no equal.
When the road reaches Spokane and the
event is celebrated as contemplated by the
citizens of that place, a delegation will go
from here by special train 10 join in the
jolliiication, as its completion and the es-
Enlistment of passenger service is of I'M
told significance to the Flathead valley.