The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-16
SkAGWAY RAILROAD WORK
GENERAL MANAGER HAWKINS Ann
CONTRACTOR HExEY HERE.
Eight Hundred Men Vow Employed
and she Force 4. to BE Increased
to 2.ooo-The H~adauarter. and

esevezl hours day grading the right Of
way for the Skagway railroad through 10
the summit Of the White pass. Within
her VIII be Increased 10 over 2eo This
small army VIII be directed in the work OF
grading the bed az the roadway by E c.
Hawkins. genera. manager of she Pacific
& Arcgice Railway and Navssafion Gem
pany. who has established his headquay-
tiers IN this city.
Mr.. Hawkins arrived Tuesday from
SSagway on the steamer City OF Seattle.
He went directly TO the office OF Edwin b
Hussey, the civl enginser in the Dexter
Horton building, ard was bussiy engaged
in consultation with Mr.. Hussey AMI
others who called during the afternoon.
Mr. Hawkins has secured four rooms In
the Dexter Horton Bank building as the
general Offices OF the company. After III
sialliag his force Of employees and transact
ing great deal of other business incident
10 the operations OF the company, Mr..
Hawkins VIII return TO Skagway 10 re-
sumo The personal direction OF the work.
Nj. u.
Heney. the contractor. who is 10 furnish
the iabore-s required by the company.
and under whose supervision the
work is done. Mr.. Heney has be-
fore him the task OF raising
an army of nearly 2.ooo iaborers and he
is In communication with San Francisco
parties and with ST Pau ard other East
ern points in the hope of securing the de-
sired number Of men. The oompany's de-
mand for work.nsmen on the Skagway
railroad VIII probably clean out the Seat
tie labor narke. Of dlsengaged wnrkmen.
The company employs and pays the men.
Contractor Heney being merely required
20 furnish the laborers. The current rate
Is thirty cents per hour and the usua!
working time per day is eleven ho-srs
Board costs 81 per day at the camps Of
the company
by the first of September" said Mr..
Hawkins yesterday. I'VE hope to have the
first twenty miles OF the road. which will
take us to tie summit, completed and
ready for operation. In order to accom-
plish this. we shall need a very large
number Of men. We have been unusually
successful thus far in getting iahorers who
are anxiouF to work ard who are steady.
The men take a great interest in the
road ard this feeling has been to the
advantage Of construction. We have
about so now working. but I, is my in
tent.on 10 increase this number TO 1900 or
more II We can secure them.
Three miles of the road bed from Skag-
way is now ready fer the ties and rails,
and within a few days this work viii
be begun The completed road bsd extends
from Skagway TO the crossing OF East
Skagway river. Twice III this distance we
cross the r.ver. the first time a. the north
emu or Skagway and again where the right
~ way crosses the East Skagway river
We have nearly completed the first bridge,
which will be 800 feet in lergth. Work on
the second bridge is now in progress. Both
VIII be pile and trestie bridges. and will
be used for false work when permanent
structures are erected.
Just before the steamer Seattle sailed,
took trip inso the interior going as
far as Toochi lake. l am thoroughly sat
isfied that we have secured the most adj
vantageous route for a railroad into the
= -
from Skagway TO the summit of the White
pass is orly four per cent. and except for
the first seven miles from the summit
thers VIII be no difficulty In the oneration
OF the road. we shall have TO build snow
sheds for seven miles from the summit TO
protect the tracks from snow blockade
in the winter, With these sheds and ro-
tary plows. helieve Ne can keep the road
open practically all the time during the
Writer.
''You can say that Seattle VIII be the
base OF operations for the company This
Will be my headquarters. although of
course. shall be engaged AT Ssagway
during the greater part OF the Tina Our
general offices, Including draughting rooms
and the accounting Office. viii be located
here. We shall have another office In
Skaeway for the operating and conxtruc-
ton depart flcnt.'
Mr. Hawkins said in conclusion that the
company now has about 100 IONS CT rails
or she ground with aboai 5000 tons in adj
dIsion contracted Coz. Heavy purchases OF
tImbsrs for the bridges have recently been
made here.
To a Post-Intelligsrcer reporter yesser-
day Mr.. Heney. who has the contract 10
provide the labor for the railroad com
pany. SAID:
Our greatest trouble 50 far has been
TO get as many men as we could use We
want 219 more men and are going 10 get
them at once II was TO arrange for this
ard 20 hurry up some supply orders that
cams down on this trip. we have an
enormous amount az work 10 Co and
very short season to do IL in. BY the first
OF August We must have our track butt
10 he summit Of Waite pass. From tha.
point 20 the lakes We can work during
The late fan ard winter. The rush work,
however, viii DE 10 get the track to the
summit before fall.
We guarantee TO employ every Indus
,rtous faboriug nan who viii eone 20
Skagway II We doat give him a Job ~-e
viii pay HIS fare 10 and from Ssatsie
We do not pay fhe,r boat fare North be-
cause Of the fact that 20 many men
would jump as after getting thar trans
partation ard 20 on into the interior We
are not Interested in tiopdnE the klor-
6ike We have arranged for a spscss.
fare os SIS on the steamer from Saattsa
20 Skagway ard al WHO desire 10 20
North ard work for Us can take advaa-
;sxe of the rate.
Il an row trying &c arrange with t5e
Northern PaG.fc railroad for low fars
f-oya Minnesota 10 Seattle thar We may
bring several hundred Isbr Fers from there.
a rs1-zfsss~ ~ men are gaw On their