Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-10-01
Along the New Railroad.

patch who followed tne line OF tht new
railroad from point on the Allegheny
river to Saxonbarg, last Tuesday, writes
as follows:
The only tunnel on the road is q small
one, $50 feet long, which is being driT II
by contractor Simon Herrold under Brim
stone Corners This hamlet is the only
tewn on the road between Butler and the
river, and its sulphurous name was Ocea-
stoned by the collection of roughs that
once infested it, the farmers say. 1t seems
peculiar and fated that the Butler and
Pittsburg Railroad should sToid it By tun
nelIng % feet beneath it.
This tunnel is one OF the most important
contracts on the line. It Is almost two
miles long, with its approaches, aud -, 600
feet of earth and rock viii be taken out of
the approaches alone. Work has been be-
gun i-om both ends, and a monster steam
shovel, with its great steel teeth, has been
tearing its way into one end. All tne earth
from this excavation is hauled | miles
10 a deep ravine toward the river.
Little steam locomotives were putting
fussily about yesterday, and | gained some
idea Of wha. the finished road will looG
like. The rayi inc is bridged with d high
rongh trestle, and the earth is dumped
from this until the wood work is buried.
G l. d a. W. Mcdonald, the general
contractors. have cut 80 feet deep and
500 feet long az Birthstone Corners over
half done, and the digging is being pushed
with great speed. Spellacy d Ellwier, of
Columbus, .zhO have almost two miles oil
digging, have 80 men at work with scra-
perS and D. A Sanders has l40 men and 40
horses taking out The earth from his half
mile of work. The cuts in these portions
are heavy, deep and rocky, and the ad-
vance made is necessarily tedious.
The greatest and most important con-
tract on the entire road is that at the Sum
NIT cut, which Contractors Mcdonald are
themselves doing. Over 162, 900 cubic
yards of earth will have to be taken out,
and 200 laborers are employed night and
day. 1t is at this point that the best idea
can be obtained of the progress made on
the line. This cut, with a few breaks. is
I-2miles long, 80 feet ,.eep and has fills
So feet high The organic alton ofthe men
snd the equipment could not he surpassed.
Great long trenches, 16 feet wide at the
base, 10 feet wide at the top and 20 feet
deep have been gouged out of the solid
rock by two monster steam shovels, ana
the work is only half complete. Temper
ary tracks have been laid for four and
half miles TO the great ravines at either
end of the work, and four little steam loco
motives are kept constantly hauling back
and forth the s. cars loaded with earth.
And sill another 90 feet deeper must be
dug. One and one half miles in this cut
alone will cost over 100000.
Figures cannot convey en- idea of the
vastness of the work. A personal visit
simply amazes those who have been read
ing of the road building. The line cuts
through the highest point OF the county.
The camp seems like small city, and
tie hustle and activity only strengthen
that impression. One of the great steam
shoyels worked for time yesterday. The
earth for several rods before it had been
loosened to depth Of 20 feet. Holes had
been drilled to this depth, and powder
placed to the bottom. The charge was
only sufficient to increase the size of the
hole to that of a barrel. Five kegs OF pow
der and dynamite were then lowered in
this well, tamped and exploded. The
earth for rods was lifted ten feet IN the air
in one mass. As it fell the rocks were
shattered and the earth lcosened.
The steam shovel began its work. Great
wagon loads were taken at one mouthiul
and loaded in the long train of cars wait
ing. They were filled in few minutes
and the little engine pulled away with
them almost two miles to the big fl at
Davis run. Another train was ready for
it's load as soon as the first left, and IL was
not many minutes until more dynamite
was necessary to feed the greedy monster
Over 150 Italians are deprived of living
by its work, and its average daily duty Is
900 Yards OF earth and rock.
The big fill at Davis run is So fees high
and 27O feet at the base. Over 1,500 yards
of masonry have been used in the culvert
Of
rary trestle is only carried out short dis
tancs, bet it has proved q source of great
danger.
Only las. week one of the snorting min
iature engines backed over the high bridge
with its train and crew. One of the brake
man was killed and another probably fatal
ly injured. The engineer escaped only by
jumping down the steep embankment
The disaster was equally as thrilling as a
railroad wreck.
The camp life at the summit and at the
other locations are interesting features.
Ali of the Italians live by themselves in
bachelor fashion. Some live in mud dug
outs, Others in cents and many in rough
board structures. All living frugally with
but one ambition and hope-that of re
turning 20 Italy with fortune. Some
manage to live a week for 10 cents. The
American live more pretentiously. At
the summit they were camped in beau
tiful grove in neat frame dwellings erect
ed by the contractors They live well are
happy and the caterer CT the camp, Jim
Moss, is their guardian angel. did not
see a woman in one of the camps nor a
child. 1t is great village Of bachelors.
Every comfort and convenience is fur
nished on the summit IT costs the con-
tractors $40 day for water alone and $50
more for fuel, but, ,fhay have each in abund-
auce. An abandoned oil well was leased,
ard the water pumped from this 10 large
reservoir tanks.
Each camp has its company store. op
Grated by the contractor, and black
smiths forge is kept bnsly running. AT
the summit A. W. Mcdonald keeps his
blooded horses, two cows and everything
that will cater to his enjoyment. 1t Is
an ideal out door summer life.
Two contractors have the last IA miles
of the road, and both are rushing ahead.
Breen d Butler have four miles OF work
of la, 600 cubic yards, and keep 100 men
employed. AT the Butler end the Fergu-
son Contracting Company has 10 miles,
with 500, 900 yards of excavation. over
500 men are at work, and the place Is
more than half done. Every employment
Is at nanu. Although cut up Wy bASStioS
and fills, it is now locking as if this strip
would be finished first.
The scenery along the route was grand.
TIE leaves were just turning yesterday,
and the wild country added beauty. | saw
but few places suitable for village sites,
This will probably be just to Chairman
Reeds liking. He wants freight exclusive
ly. The line was either above or below
grade for the first Ia miles but at the
summit the location is admirable. The
is fiat and rooliDg, and the land
rich. 1t was the prettiest place on the
entire line.
The grade is wonderfully lew for the
hilly country. 1t will doubtless startle
those who have claimed success for the
road impossible, 1t can scarce be SUR
passed for fast, through freight service.
and Pittsburg may expect a revolution in
freight rates on its completion.