The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-01
A BLASTED MOUNTAIN.
Great Mass of Rock Moved by a
Ton Of Powder.
FEAT ON MONTE cRIsTo ROAD.
Reduction In Freight Rates-viilard Not
Selling Out New Road to
San Francisco.

MoSf8 Csr~ro, Sept Especial. Probably
the largest single blast yet made along the line
of the Everett 4 Monte Cristo railroad was set
of last week by p II. Smith & Bro, who have
the contract for the construction OF the last ten
miles of the road. About five miles below
Monte Cristo. Just before it reaches the "sum-
nit or divide which parts the waters OF the
sauk and stiiiaguamlsh. the line of the rail-
road skirts . rocky promontory several hundred
feet above the level OF the river. The survey
lines run along kind OF natural bench for
considerable distance to a point where il is
abruptly broken by sharp projecting side of
the mountain Through this projecting "nose
It was necessary TO make heavy cut in the
solid rock in order to reach the bench again on
the other side. The cut Itself would have
formed a huge in the cross section OF the
mountain.
The contractors determined, a. a far cheaper
means OF securing passage, TO blast away the
whole side OF the mountain. The "nose" was
perhaps 80 feet through: to throw it cut two
tunnels were run from either face Of the clih.
each about fifty feet in length. At the end of
each o. these tunnels a s.T'' was eut-that Is,
large T-sbaped cayern-and these eaverns were
loaded with dynamite. To cut these tunnels
through the solid granite, which is the con-
stituent rock of the mountains round about
here. required rather more than q month, and
1900 worth of dynamite, giant and Judson
powder constituted the "load." When the ex-
ptosives had been stored in the rs ana tarnpcd
the tunnels were again carefully filled up,
electric wires reaching from battery to the
mine. Between the two ends Of the tunnels
more than fity feet of solid rock yet remained,
the theory being that this would also be carried
out BY the blast.
he set-on complete success. p. E
Smith closed the circuit on the wires: there was
low. oBiinoas rumble. the mountain trembed
Gni It's side rose few feet in the air aud fell
back The whole mountain side seemed lifted
by puff OF blue smoke. There no sky
rockets. The huge mass of rock seemed raised
almost gently anu then to fall back Ike the
"aop'' Of kettle of boiling mush: yet il
weighed hundreds OF tons. The blast drove
Clean cut about 80 feet in length, lifting body
Of rock above and to the side OF the tunnel about
seventy feet high and forty feet IN thickness.
As the rock rose from the force of the percussion
daylight could be seen beneath IL. Upwards OF
5001 yards were 9izlocated.
Much blasting will still he required to clear
out the cut Huge segmsnts OF the mountain,
rs big as small houses, were broken OIL and left
standing In the cut. Heavy blasts will be re-
quired To blow these into the Iavine below. The
totai cost of the cut. drilling the tunnels, blast
ing aud clearing out wilt probably reach ;,0o0
The work Oh this end OF the line of the rail-
road, o. the contract OF r. H. Smith 4 Bro, is
progressing welt could be expected with
the force OF men obialnable and the heavy rains
OF the past week Smith Bros will have their
work completed by the last of November, far
ahead of the tracklayers. The contractors hope
for two months more of reasonably open
weather before the SHOWS set in 10 stop
work. But the great need is men. San Fran
cisco agents have orders to kend on all the meu
obtainaoie Many oil the men are going to the
cities or over the mountains, leaving the gangs
short-handed aud seriously delaying the work.
Unless enough men can be secured to fill up the
gangs it is doubtful If the road can be CON-
pleted through to Monte Cristo this winter. Il.
X. Palmer, chief of the engineering corps for
the upper division, in an interview today, how
ever, expressed his belief that the ears would
be running by Christmas.