The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-06
LAYING NEW STEEL RAILS
The Northern Pacific Has Taken
Adv antage of Fine Weather.
WORK NEARLY COMPLETED
The Track Was Never in Such Good
Shsps-New Engines Giving
the Best of Salts
faction.

Missoula. Nov. 5.--The fine weather
of the past 10 days has been most ac-
ceptable to the construction depart
ment OF the Northern Pacific railway.
1t has enabled the trackmen to make
a big advance toward the completion
of the work Of laying new steel that
has been delayed so long by the nom
arrival of the rails. Roadmaster Mayne
has practically completed the steel
work on his district and his men are
now at work ballasting and surfac-
ing. The track on the Missoula noun
tain was never in such good shape as
it is now. The new standard section
of track and roadbed makes a hand
some trsc ok and this section has been
made on almost the entire hill dis
trict. To even a novice, in track work
the change in appearance and in car
ryins qualities is at once apparent. No
road in the country would be ashamed
of the new track that has been made
this year. Roadmaster Hartman on
the west end has made good progress
in the laying of his steel and has three
or four miles only to complete. This
is between Plains and Perma and the
work is being rushed along as rapid
ly as possible. On the east end the
work that is being done now is the
finish of the seasons work. The gangs
of construction men are distributing
ballast and surfacing, so as to have the
track in as complete shape as possible
when snow flies. The advent of win
ter will find the track on the Rocky
mountain division in the best condition
that it has ever been in since the road
was built. Under ordinary conditions,
with the construction work finished.
the running time on this division viii
be much shorter than it has ever been
before, To look at the completed track
is pleasure to those who are inter-
ested in railway work. 1t looks as reg
ular and even as a gravel driveway
in a park and the new steel adds the
weight and stability that makes good
track. Superintendent Russell and the
heads Of the local track department
are receiving deserved compliments
upon the amount of work that they
have accomplished this season. 1t has
been unusual and is not confined to
the main line alone. Recently in these
columns mention was made of the
great improvement that has been made
on the Occur dAlene track This
branch, which has not in past years
received as much attention as it de-
served, has this year been made over
for many miles and is now an excel
lent piece VI IOdu l. HS improved tlIIle
that is made ever the line is evidence
that the work has been we'll done.
1t is evident that the Northern Pa
ciiic company is following a policy that
has for its ultimate purpose the re-
duction of time in crossing the con-
tinent. The work that has been done
on this division alone in the past three
seasons is said to be good for a reduc-
ton of more than an hour in the run
ming time of passenger trains. 1t is
certain that it has more than cut in
two the cost of transporting freight.
The trains are three times as long and
are handled by the same number of
men that used to take through the
short trains. While it makes the old
time railway men shake their heads
and look thoughtful, it must be very
satisfactory to the management. This
result has been accomplished by the
general reduction in grades that has
been made all along the line. Curves,
too, have been revised till the road is
practically new one for many miles
of its length. A man who ran over
this division five years ago would
hardly know the line in its present
condition. And when he saw for the
first time one of the 60-car trains come
down the track behind one of the new
class Y engines he would think that
he had made mistake and had struck
the wrong place. 1t is not the old
Rocky mountain division at all.
These new engines are giving the
best satisfaction of any motive power
that has ever been used on this d.
vision. They are exceeding their guar
anteed limit of hauling capacity and
are doing it easily. They make good
time and then haul big loads One of
these engines starts a 60-car train with
as little effort as the old engines used
to get away with train of 20 cars.
1t is noticeable when one of the long
locals stops at a way staten. In the
old days conductor and rear brake
man would stand on the station plat
form when their unloading was fin
ished and wait for the caboose to
pass. Then they would swing on
jauntily, wave goodbye to the oper-
ator at the station and calmly walk
into the caboose. They don't do that
way now. The conductor gives the high
sign to the engineer and then climbs
up on to the first car as quickly as he
can. Then he walks back over the top
of the cars. When the ca busse passes
the platform it is going 40 miles an
hour and the conductor is thankful
that he didn't get left. This is only
one Of the minor changes that have
OF things.
The Standards suggestion regarding
the adaptability of the present Bitter
Root branch service to health resort
purposes seems to meet with general
favor. If the railway company is wise
it will at once proceed to fit out a
health car the sides Of which will
be of glass, so that the invalds who
take the Bitter Root cure will receive
the full benefit of the sunshine as the
train slowly meanders along the beauti
ful valley. Medical attendants will, of
course, be provided and there will have
to be buffet car. but these will be
easily secured. Such a plan would ul-
| doubtedly receive liberal patronage,
Consumptives and other invalids would
flock to this part of the country for tie
relief that would be afforded by the
sun Cure" train. One good feature CT
| this service would be that, in case
| patient died en- route, there would be
no delay or inconvenience to other pas
! Sengers, as the present stops at sta
| tons are of sufficient length to afford
| ample time for a decent burial and the