The Yellowstone journal., 1894-09-06
GREAT RAILROAD WORK.
The New Road Is Making Its Way Into
Montana at Very Rapid Pace.

nOntAua AT n very
To say that the Burlington q Missouri
railroad is making great headway across
the Crow reservation would be slander
on American ingenuity. and would hard
ly do the corporation justice. 1t is
simply flying over the ground at the rate
Of a mile and half day-a feat which
few years ago would haze been con-
sdered impossible. but in these days Of
improved labor saving machinery il has
been made not only possible, but prac-
ticable, and is being done day in and day
out.
Last winter the Burlington system let
a contract to Fitzpatrick Bros. Il Collins
to build the new line across the Crow
Indian reservation. under what is known
as the Paul Mccormick franchise, and
on April u, 1894 the first ground was
broken. BY the close Of the present
week the grading will all have been com
pleted TO the Yellowstone river, 100 miles
and the rails will have been laid on all
but about 20 miles Of the distance. True,
the country has been most favorable for
the work. and the weather has likewise
been most propitious, but even then 1t
has required great executive ability on
the part of the contractors to handle so
large task.
A reporter dropped down To the scene
OF operations on Saturday last, and was
shown around by the sub-contractors
and the clerks OF the head firm. 1t was
found that nearly go teams and over
1000 men were required to keep the
work moving, but this force is being
rapidly reduced as fast d. - subs
complete their districts. none of which
have been more than one 'wo miles
in length. The roadbed is Is feet wide
on top. and upon this the ties and rails
are laid. and then the track is ballasted
with crushed rock, the intertlon being
TO make it as. firm as possible. The
present contract ends at the Yellowstone
river, which will be bridged probably
during the coming winter at point
about 100 feet below the old ferry cross
ing at Huntley station. but Fitzpatrick
Bros. 4 Collins expect to do consider
able grading. etc, for the company in
Billings, where 1t is understood the rail
road will put up extensive shops and
yards. the ground having already been
secured.
The grading, ETC., is all done on the
old principle, but with an unusually
large force Of engineers, no man having
over six or eight miles to look after but
when it comes to laying track the prop
osition is different one, and it is sur
prising to see the monster steam engine,
running on the completed track, slide
out the necessary number of ties and
two 36-foot steel rails, and lay them all
in their proper places in two minutes, !,
while the spikers fasten the steel down
almost as quickly. This is the way 100
miles OF road have been built and will
be completed in five months from the
date OF breaking ground. The little con-
vas towns Of the different outfits dot the
| prairie every mile OF Two anu tue sisut
at night is particularly attractive. the
lights making the whole scene resemble
panorama.
1t has been necessary az all times for
the contractors to have labor agencies
busy rustling help for them in the east
and in this way the force Of men has
been kept up tc thefull requirement. The
hard work is now done, and it has beer
well done--so thoroughly that the Bur
lington will have track second to none
and with a irst class equipment. similar
to that on its entire system. it will soor
be bidder for popular favor.
All such works have comical side Il
them, and the last mile Of the grade
furnished this for the new route. 1t vii
be remembered that Q few days since
there was q little misunderstanding be
, tween the Burlington graders and th'
Northern Pacific people - to the righ
Of the former to 60 through the right o
way Of the latter, and Attorney God
dard came to Miles City for an iniunc