The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-03
CROWS NEST PASS.
Inc Country Is booming During the
Building of the Railroad.


Great Falls, Jan 2.-Among those
who have returned from the country
through which is building the Crows
! Nest Pass railway is Joseph Herring of
TINS city, who has sub-contract there
He says that the country is booming.
being filled with men and teams who
are all at work and drawing pay. He
VIII remain in this city few days be-
fore returning to his contract.
Another gentleman who has traversed
the entire length of the route writes
the Following interesting account of the
enterprise. The construction of the
wagon or tote road, running almost
parallel with the railway line from the
/ west bank of Old Man river right
through the pass and mountains. away
out west of Fort Steele, distance of
l5o miles or more in a little less than
three months, is simply phenomenal
ana in keeping with the progress made
on the whole construction. Many old
tlmers VINO have spent the greater part
| OF their lives in hauling logs and tim
Der over brush roads in the eastern
provinces say the tote road is well
made and the creeks and rivers sub
stantial1y bridged where necessary.
gang of men started out from this
end the day after our arrival to fill up
the deep ruts made by the recent rains
ana heavy traffic and keep the road
permanently in good repair, so that any
other contractors coming out West need
not rear they will get stuck on the way.
Regarding construction of the rail-
way itself, | have just heard the rails
are laid right up to Pincher creek
bridge. and that the bridge itself will
be completed in about 10 or II DAYS.
from TINS point the road is graded
right up to the lake.
Some heavy bridging and extensive
trestle work occur over the Old Man
river, but as the timbers are all being
made and shaped out in the shops al
Macleod very little delay will be expert
enced in extending the track laying
right up to the heavy rock cuts. which
are being vigorously put through by
Major .Bowles, O'Neil & Ferguson and
birmingham & Godfrey, after which
the line enters into a 60-mile belt of the
hnest timber country to be found any,
where The right of way through this
timper valley running parallel with the
river and about six miles west of the
summit, between two continuous ranges
OIL mountains, almost perpendicular and
away up nearly as high as the clouds,
is being cut out 80 feet wide for the
whole distance right up to the Elk river
bridge by Messrs. Godfrey. Gray and
DINERS in charge of the G. p. r. camps.
me picturesque scenery and the autumn
nal green and gold foliage of the
spruce, pine and many other varieties
of timber along this part of the line
over comparatively level country, is
simply grand.
The bridge over the Elk river will be
4oo rect long in two spans of $50 and $50
feet, respectively From this point the
location has been changed by w. S.
Cranston, civil engineer, who found
new, and it is estimated at $250.DC0
cheaper route to nthe north of the orr
glnal location, which it again Joins
about three miles west of Wardner.
This new route shortens the line about
half a mile and avoids an S00-foot tIin-
mel, 1OO-foot high trestle over Rock
creek and a 1500foot trestle 60 feet high
over Sand creek. 1t is comparatively
free from heavy cuttings fills and other
engineering difficulties, and taps all the
valuable mining properties. coal. gold
silver and copper in East Kootenay."