The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-03
AROUND LIBBY,
The Great Northern Making investigation
of High Water Conditions

paftment of the Great Northern rail-
way has been carrying on a careful
investigation of the conditions brought
about by high water in the creek with
a view to putting in improvements
which would make the bridge and
embankments at the crossing safe The
railroad crosses Libby creek lust at its
junction with the kootenai river. The
bridge has been washed out by high
water three times since the completion
of the road in 1892, and the company
has now determined To put stop to
this expense. Typographical conditions
prevent the selection of any other place
for a crossing, and the new bridge will
be built on the site of the old one
steel span of $50 feet in length will be
put in, and the abutments on both sides
will be protected by heavy cribs, which
Will be 800 feet in length on each side
Of the creek. These cribs will be built
Of tamarack logs, and will be 20 feet
in width and about II feet in height.
The foundations will be sunk below the
surface of the stream at low water and
the cribs Will be filled with rock. A third
crib of considerable length will be built
about half mile above the bridge To
prevent the stream from changing its
course by washing away the west bank
Having once decided upon this plan the
railroad is proceeding to execute it with
characteristic energy
Within the last few DAYS about 100
men have been put Ia work here on the
excavations and getting out lumber and
rock for the cribs, and the piledriVer is
busy pounding in the foundation of the
piers. The steel span for the bridge will
be shipped from the East this coming
week. This work will involve an eX-
penditure of about $50, 600 a very large
part OF which Will be paid out here for
labor. Those in charge of the work hope
to have it finished in 90 days.
The railroad track between here and
kootenai Falls has been fixed up so
that traffic Is not delayed. and nothing
further Will be done with il until the
weather is more favorable. These slides
continue for a distance of four miles.
and are the worst ever seen in the his
tory of railroading in this state. In
some places the side of the mountain
has slipped for a distance of two miles
back from the river, and rushed down
to the river with tremendous force,
carrying boulders of many tons weight,
cutting a clean path some hundreds of
feet wide, through heavy pine. fir and
tamarack timber, and stripping every
thing down tn the country rock which
is left bare. A great deal of work will
be necessary to put this in order but
1t will not be begun until next spring.
1t is given out that j. p Rogers, SUI
perintendent of this division of the
Great Northern. has rendered his resig-
nation and will shortly be relieved.
Mr.. Rogers WAS for long time chief
dispatcher at Kalispell and was APP
pointed superintendent little over
year ago To succeed i. Ryan, deceased.
He has a very extensive acquaintance
along the road, and his resignation is
regretted by all who know him.
The New school House
Little progress has been made in the
erection of a new school house for
which the wea Their has been principally
TO blame. The money realized from the
sale of bonds has been paid into the
hands of the trustees, and the building
site selected has been cleared of trees
and stumps The plans for the building
were made by Spokane architect, and
the local builders declined to build on
them, claiming that the building could
not be put up for the amount on hand.
$500. The plans have been remodeled
and the trustees are again advertising
for bids with a prospect that the con-
tract Will soon be let
The refusal Of the Great Northern
railroad To pay the special school tax
left this school district without any
funds to carry on the school. and the
people took the matter into their own
hands. A ball was given on New Years
eve, which yielded S1i, and Immediate
~ thereafter the Pastime Social club
was organized in order TO keep the
school going. j. II. Geiger is president,
Charles Sheldon secretary. and +. NJ.
Plummer. treasurer, while the eXecu-
tive committee is composed OF j. 4.
Clark, John Cowell. and NJ. Shanahan.
The club gives a dance every Saturday
evening, and the proceeds are used to
support the schools. There has been no
deficit so far, and if one should occur
ii will be made up from private sub
scription.
Uncle Sam has recognized the grow
ing importance OF Libby by establish
ing a money order office here. This
makes considerable additional work for
Postmaster Mccarthy. but as it adds
TO his revenue he is not kicking about it,
Tie Making and Logging.
Tie making and logging constitute
the principal business of Libby during
the winter. y. r. Birmingham and
William Criderman, the proprietors of
the two saw mills. have forces of men
getting out logs for the spring trade
and will put in several million feet be-
fore they get through. Fifty or sixty
men are also busy In getting out rail-
road ties and about 10000 have already
been delivered on the right Of way and
are awaiting inspection.
First Church in Libby.
The Methodist church society has be-
gun the erection of the first church al
Libby. 1t is situated on the corner OF
Fourth street and California avenue.
William Christie and John Coweli are
just completing tasty little cottages.
which they viii use as residences.
Libby has not entirely escaped the
Alaska fever. though none have gone
as get. Tom Shaughnessy, one Of the
owners OF the Buzz Saw. expects To
start shortly and will be accompa
by II. l.. Van Wyck. who is now in
California. Mr.. Horton. one of Libby
pioneers, has sold his ranch a mile east
of the town. and will make the north
ern trip. Mr.. Horton is getting along
in years, but is hale and hearty. and
being essentially a pioneer, cannot keep
away from mining excitement. James
Pond. who has been rauching on Upper
Libby creek for seven years. and VINO
used 10 get 10 cents a pound for his
potatoes also intends leaving and
John Cowell will probably depart next
week for the klondike. These men are
all used To frontier life and If there is
ANYTHING in the Alaska country they