The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-02
BUTTE News.
REDUCING THE GRADES
Every Railroad Is Aiming for a
Straight and Level Track.
USE OF HEAVY ENGINES
Object OF the Improvement Is the Eco
nomic Handling Of Freight-Great
Northern Cascade Tunnel
Is Nearly Completed.

Perhaps it is not too much to say
that every railroad company of consc-
quence is spending for the reduction of
grades, the easing Of curves, the
strengthening of bridges and the en-
largement of motive power all of the
money that is found available As If
by common consent the various man.
agements thus are putting the proper
ties into shape to do the work of trans
portation more economically than here
tofore, says the st. Paul Pioneer Press,
Generally speaking, the object of all
improvements of permanent way and
of motive power is that the number of
tons of freight hauled per train mile
may be increased. The amount of
freight carried per train is of vital i'm
portance. because there is reason to be-
leve that the train load determines a
larger proportion of ton-mile cost than
all other factors together. 1t is, of
course, truism that to increase train
b loads reduces train miles, while a saw
ing of train miles is a positive saving
of money.
Speaking of the problem year ago,
Second Vice President kendrick of the
q
ger, stated specifically that the object
Of the companys grade reductions had
been to diminish the cost Of transporta-
ton by effecting a reduction in train
miles, or the moving of the tonnage
Of the road in larger trains, fewer in
number. With this in view, the man
agement sought to reduce the grades
of the various districts and divisions as
to make it possible to haul trains of
practically uniform and maximum
weight over considerable sections of the
road BY this means not only were
train miles saved, but also the cost ana
the detentions incident to the breaking
up and the rearranging of trains. This
work has been carried very nearly to
conclusion.
Comparisons may now be made be-
tween the engine ratings on the various
divions prior to 1893 and at the present
time and the intended future ratings.
The actual and the prospective improve
ment. which Mr.. Kendrick speaks of as
startling" is not due wholly to the
grade revisions, nor even to the intro
duction of new power, however import
ant these may be. Wise management,
with the effects it has produced, not
only directly but also indirectly, upon
the ambitions of the transportation
officers and employees. has done it's part.
The reassignment Of the lighter power
to those districts in which 1t may be
used advantageously has proved an i'm.
portant element.
That officers and men alike have
taken deep interest in the economic
problems that have been considered
speaks highly for the morale of the
Northern Pacific's opera ting forces. The
expectations that Were formed in adj
vance We're based to some extent upon
theories that the hearty cooperation Of
all participants was essential. To se-
cure a uniform maximum grade upon
all divisions of a transcontinental line,
Of course. is out of the question. The
aim on the Northern Pacific, accord
ingly, has been to make the possible
tonnage of trains as nearly uniform as
possible upon adjacent divisions
Through the reduction of grades and
the adaptation of power to the work TO
be done, new engine ratings have been
established even comparing 1899 with
1898.
AS an illustration of what has been
wrought, the first and second districts
of the Dakota division and the first and
second districts of the Yellowstone d.
vision, extending from Fargo to Glen
dive, distance of Ais miles, may be
cited. On this long stretch of road all
that has been proposed in the direction
of increasing train tonnage has been
accomplished. A comparison of engine
ratings, as made by Mr.. Kendrick, is as