The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-20
Walden Structures on the Great
Northern to Be Removed.
. s.vvey an the Cascade Division to
=. MADE - Contemplated Plans
u>ar the Expenditure of Millions
~ De1lars-ReasOns Advanced for
he ChsnGe-When Completed, the
n>aA viii BE I'm superb Condition

n. Great Northern railway Is preparing
- at Ia steel bridges 10 replace all the
s-ssAeu briggs and trestiss on tne line
go 81. Pau. 20 Seattle. With all condi-
sssas favorable, the work viii be begun
rsxs spring. and will probably not be
Aa3.v completed for several years The
rork u the most gigantic that has been
seAertaken By any railroad In the West
sor many years, ana while no estimate OF
~ COS, can be obtained. IL is said the
,pad ts prepared TO exVend millions Of
Sollarp on the work. In all there will be
h the neighborhood Of 100 bridges the
sresfsst OF which will be about
- feet nigh, and will probably
eat about $1,000 When the work Is COM
sssed the Great Northern viii be the only
Inc vest OF the Missopr! river so equip
ped
Al the present time the railroad company
las q corps OF bridge engineers on the
csHcade division. where II is said, the
vofk will be begun. Within the corpor-
ste limits OF Spokane three big steel spans
yi, be erected. at an estimated cost Of
ngA1 The engineer corps is bending its
sfcYts 10 the selection OF sites for solid
foundations, which via be OF heavy rock
and massive enough to permit OF any
weight. Many OF the plans are as yet In
complete, bur the general policy OF the
rad will 10 To put In light frame
steel structures OF the most modern pat
tssn, which are said to be superior to
tie heavy iron bridges over which a ma
NIFTY Of roads are operating,
So far as anyone, Is competent to speak,
the contracts are not known 10 have been
lex and It Is not probable that any o.
thsm win be unit! after the engineer s
corps. now at work. has made It's report
and specifications have been prepared.
The second division. that at least the
sagineefs will work upon. will be the IA
ddc coast. and for this reason IL IL stated
hat In aE probability the new bridges on
this division Will be second In position
When the Great Northern road was con-
rructed westward. the bridges put In were
q the most substantial. as Is We'll at
listed by their present state OF presery0-
ton. The best timber possible to secure
vas placed In all the bridges and trostles.
Notwithstanding this. however. one Of the
greatest drains upon the road has been
shs bridge department. II has been. nee
essary, as Is the case on all roads. to keep
large force Of men at work looking after
shs structures and keeping them in repair.
This has been done most thoroughly. and
toGay there IL not bridge. II Is stated.
On the line that is not in almost as good.
Y not a better. condition than when erect
e. for the reason that all have settled as
Gar as they are likely to
But aside from the enormous expendi-
lures required to keep the bridges In re-
paiY. during the summer season there Is
I great deal of loss and annoyance caused
y bridges taking fire. Although track
men are steadily employed pa,ro,ing. and
barrels OF water arc stationed on each
bridge. the dried tinbers easily ignite by
sparks from the engine. and ofttimss. be-
fore aid can be summoned the blaze is be-
yand control and the entire structure con-
samed This Is we'll Illustrated ia the
fact that last month three bridges on the
Ealispell and Havre division, in Montana.
were destroyed within fofty-elght hours,
causing delay Of sixty hours In trans
sentimental travel
The new plan Will DO away with all this
trouble and willis an enormous amount
money will be required In complete tho
safk. II VIII be permanent, and 10 away
With The petty annoyances now endured.