The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-01-10
VISIT TO THE CAMPS
Actual Work on the Construction Line
is Progressing Slowly.
TUNNEL NEARLY COMPLETED
The Prevalent lnelement heather Seriously
nandieaps 0peratioas--Liie at the
camps--The Tunnel.

"wednesday morning, through the cour'
losy VI Mr Watts, superintendent OF tho
construction Of tho Astoria and Columbia
River Railroad. a representative OF tho
Art0rian was afforded an opportunity OF
visiting tho railroad camps near Tongue
Point Tho trip was made In the steamer
Harvest Moon. Captain James ". Day,
and Engineer W, c. Glenn. This steamer
makes regular trips TO tho camps. leav-
lnE Astoria IN tho morning with supplies,
and stopping at tho Tongue for barge
load OF rock after which she proceeds
~ tho river 10 the varioua scenes OF
operations.
The trip was anything hut enjoyable.
owing 10 the inclemency Of tho weather.
which practically caused suspension OF
all work on tho grade. although n few
camps were working. After taking the
large In tow nt the Tongue. the ttenmer
became almost unmanagcahle. owing 10
tbs strong wind blowing OF shore. and
tho bottom Of tho river insisted upon
jumping up and striking the steamer
causing considerable delay. iiy dint Of
sklllfu navigation. however, the steamer
finally made camp No. /. al which point
dinner was served,
Camp No / consists Of about 100 men.
Tho Italian portion Of the camp II very
interesting feature on the construction
line "A general rule, the italian la
borcrs board themselves. and the cvena
constructed for cooking purposes are
unique. Tho oven II. In reality. hollow
mound of clay. around which tho nre Is
built II II said these ovens answer the
purpOto. and bake as Soll as those OF
tho best Kitchen ranges. The cabins are
all very low. and are constructed OF un-
dressed spruce lumber As result OF
the recent storms mud Il In evidence
everywhere. and In large quantities. No
work was being done at Camp. No. !. on
Wednesday. as II was almost impossible
10 walk
The most interesting portion Of the
construction work IL the ,unncl. work
on which II progressing rapidly. THIS
undertaking n under the supervision OF
Mr johnson. who has twenty inen and
four wagons at work. The tunnel II
cut through a blum OF solid sandstone.
and when completed will bo about i55 feet
In length. From the floor TO the roof IL
distance OF q feet. with a width OF
nineteen feet The work ip carried on
by means OF blasting. and Is moro than
cne-halr completed. tho head" being n
distance OF 10 feet from the mouth Of
the tunnel. The main tunnel IL at pres
cnt io0 feet long. tho result OF but six
weeks work. The tunnel is through a
sandstone point which projects into the
Columbia river. and will bo completed
IN about four weeks time. u is, without
exception. tho most interesting piece OF
work on the line OF construction-on a
rainy day.
Work In several stations between Camp
No, and Camp No, . was being pushed,
despite the fact that the mud ls Knee
dccp, and, considering the conditions. Is
progressing In a most satisfactory man
ncr one OF the contractors said that.
with few months OF good weather, Il
would 10 surprising what an amount OF
work could he done. Even somo OF the
oldcrs railroadcrs admit that thls IL the
mos, severe weather they have ever had
tho pleasure OF working in, A real good
idea OF the depth OF the mud. and the
difficulty attending attempts at work
therein can only be obtained by working
with pick and shovel In this construc.
ton work. a slight idea. however, can
hr had hy visit 10 Camps No. | and
.. ON some rainy day; and this slight Idea
Il may he said. viii come very nearly
convincing the most skcptical
The prevailing bad weather works n
grcat hardship on the laborers. as II Is
very seldom they work moro than two
days a week, and some weeks probably
not that much They receive as u COM
pcnsaton FOR their services si.s5 and 81. 20
per day while their board costs them
81 per week The board Is exocllent-all
wholesome, substantial food. and in lib
cral quantitles-and clothing Is also sold
cheap nt the several stores" on the line,
and, altogether, the only possible kick
coming Il " nature. With the opening
OF spring. all the return OF good wealth
er. rapid progress may be looked for.
Altogether there are ten camps on tn,
lirc. In which there are over 500 men.