The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-29
GREAT TRACK WEATHER
Beats the Recollection of the
Oldest Inhabitant.
TRAFFIC IS VERY HEAVY
Great Strain on the Track - An Inno-
vation-The Unique Sun Cure Train
on the Bitter Root-The Much
Talked About Cutoff

Missoula. Nov. 2S.-Providence and
the weather clerk have allied them
selves with the construction depart
ment of the railway service this year.
Even the trusted emplUye who came
| into the country with the railway" is
unable to recall a season in the roads
history when the fall weather was as
/ favorable for track work as it is this
! year. The seasons record of work ac-
complished by the track department
Will be big one. Last year the frost
called halt on extensive operations
as early as Nov. II, but this year the
department will have about month
longer than that in which to finish the
work that has been begun since spring,
IL Is true that the season was little
short on the other end, but that short
age is more than balanced by the fine
ana open weather of this fall The
amount of work that was undertaken
by the department this year was re-
markably large, but it has been ac-
complished in good shape and the
roadbed and track Of the Rocky noun
tain division are this fall in splendid
condition.
1t is highly essential that both road
ped and track should be in good shape.
as the long trains and heavy engines
test the work of roadmaster and sec
ton man severely. A section foreman
from enc of the mountain districts, in
talking of this subject to a Standard
man the other day., Eaid that in all the
years that he has been on the road
he never saw the time before when
such close watch was necessary On
the part of the section men, The ire
mendous weight of the new engines is
great strain on the track and the
most careful vigilance is necessary to
Keep things in shape for the heavy
traffic that characterizes the business
OF the Northern Pacific these days.
The recent tour of the division su-
perlntendents over the line Of the
Northern Pacific was an innovation
1T has been customary to assemble the
division superintendent in st. Paul
each year that matters of interest in
connection with the operation Of the
road may be discussed and a general
and uniform policy adopted This year,
however, Tacoma was the point of rem.
devious, and the superintendent in.
spected the western portion of their
system before visiting ST. Paul 1t is
announced that this change of plan
was made in order that all of the SUI
perintendents might become in meas
ure familiar with all parts of the sys-
TEN. This undoubtedly had something
to do with the new arrangement but
it is said that there was something
more than that behind it.
In all of their tour It is not likely
that any of the superintendent had
anything to show on their local divi-
slons that would compare in originality
nniCnanaSC wi
Cure train on the Bitter Root branch.
This altogether unique train continues
its leisurely run up and down the Bit
ter Root valley. Nothing worries this
train. Sometimes the passengers are
annoyed by the lack of enterprise and
energy on the part of the train, but
the train runs as it will, and if the
passengers are in a hurry they have
the privilege of walking. That is all
there is to it. If a man isn't satisfied
with getting six or eight hour ride
for the same price that he used to pay
for an hour and half he must be
hard to please.
There are a good many people who
would give as much as six bits to
know what the superintendent said
and heard in regard to the completion
of the cutoff between Missoula and the
Columbia river. 1t is a topic that pos
straight tip would be received with
much satisfaction here. Since the an
nouncement in the Standard a few
weeks ago of the receipt of informa-
ton that the cutoff will be completed
at once. there has been semi-official
confirmation of the report. This comes
from man who has been prominently
connected for years with the new work
of the Northern Pacific. and his state
ment, made very recently, was that he
believed that the road would be built
to Missoula next year
There is no fuss being made about
the extension of the Bitter Root
branch, but this work is going ahead
and will be completed as soon as pos
sible. This extension is to be used as
has already been stated, for logging
purposes for the Hamilton mills, but
t is presumed that it will also be avail
able for farmers in the upper valley
who wish to ship produce. The con-
struction of the road means much to
Hamilton. as it will make it possible
% operate the big sawmills the entire
year if this Is desired. The condition
If the river will no longer control the
'unning season of the mills.
Children's underwear at the Golden |
z y1la 81 &c