davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

abandoned and a lighter grade. extend
ing some seven miles and including the
Altus tunnel. was Instituted BY means
OF this piece Of engineering the grade
on this side Of the summit was reduced
not TO exceed per cent TO the tunnel
against 625 maximum upon the mar
row guage. on the Park City side Of
the tunnel the grade was 81 maximum
against the old order OF AZ maximum.
The maximum curvature under the
new track now does not exceed Is per
cent. Briefly stated. the new piece or
track which was built contains 10 cuts
and l6 flls with five trestle bridges.
The longest cut is 200 feet In length and
the deepest % feet IN depth, while the
average is, length, 800 feet; depth, 30
feet. The highest All is about 10 feet,
while the longest 100 feet. The entire
branch, consisting OF $3.50 miles In
length. was standard guaged, and the
tunnel completed by June 18th.
In addition. the Western has started
the removal OF the tracks from Eighth
and Ninth South 10 a point below
Twelfth South upon the request OF resi-
dents IN that vicinity. For this object
the City Council has appropriated the
sum Of 50 900 TO assist In the change.
AT the present time work Is actively
progressing upon this Improvement 10
the Park City branch with indications
that Il will near completion within
few weeks. The Rio Grande Western
has a mlleagle OF 653.77 miles in this
state. all OF which Is regularly over
hauled and kept In first class condition.
In addition 20 an extensive fll near
Iehl. and the Mesa cut In the same
vicinity. work has also been pushed az
a point near ogden upon track improve
ments, steel bridges have been put In
and a spur built 10 the canning factory,
while the laying OF 76-pound steel rails
between Provo and ogden has been
feature OF the work which has been In
full swing during the past season.
Down on the sanpete and sevler Val
ley branch the same activity has been
IN evidence with the result that the
extension has been pushed slowly but
surely farther south until II has passed
Belknap and reached Merysvale. Con-
siderable has been spent IN new side
tracks and extension OF present sidings,
improvements IN bridges. water SER
vice lunch counters, track, roadway,
new ties. additions and alterations 20
permanent structures and other things
that are calculated 10 keep the system
IN good condition 20 meet the ever
growing business that falls 20 is lot
The business OF the Western during
the mast year has been In the nature OF
a record. breaker and for The fiscal year
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
OREGON SHORT LINE.

During the year now drawing TO a
close the oregon Short Line adhered
to It's policy Of Improvement In service,
trackage and rolling stock generally.
Ever since the property was reorgan-
tied has this been the case but In no
such degree has this been 80 much In
evidence as In this the closing year OK
the nineteenth century. Vice President
Bancroft, General Superintendent CAL
win and the operating department gen
orally are 20 be congratulated upon
the present status Of the road. The
third years work on the contract for
refining the Twin Creeks tunnel with
masonry. concrete and brick has seen
the completion Of the work, which
represents the refining OF l,525 feet Of
tunnel.
The work OF gravel ballastlng widen
ing and laying the main line with sew
enty.fve pound rails has also been
pushed ahead with a vim Big side
tracks 10 accommodate the huge
freight trains now being operated by
the big mogul engines have been put
IN on the Utah and Idaho divisions
The says az Swan Lake, Ida, have
been filled I'm and a cut made In the
hil adjacent. the track being ballasted
which makes the riding In the Butte
Portland express resemble a sleigh
ride. on the Seventh and Eighth dis
trlcts almost new line Is eneoun-
tered. The track near Dubois has been
raised, also q cut In the neighoorhood
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

OF Hawgood completed The trestles
In Beaver canyon have been filled I'm
and In fact improvements have in
augurated upon every division Of the
system. Steel culverts and bridges
have likewise been put In at various
points, which add greatly TO the safety
OF travel.
Inquiry at the engineers Office de-
yelops the fact that the Short Line has
not extended It's trackage to any ex-
tent. At the present time grading
operations are being pushed upon the
Kemmerer branch. which runs 10 Mud
dy Gap a distance Of 1871 miles with
a spur 2iR miles IN length New fine
tanks Of standard design have been
put In at a number OF stations. The
noXious-weed trouble, which Is the
bugabOo Of all division superintend-
ents, has been overcome by an expert
ment on the part OF Supt. Young who
caused half a dozen tanks TO be built
upon Nat cars, and filled with salt
water from the Lake. This water Is
distributed over the track by means OF
an automatic spray as the train Is
slowly hauled along with the result II
has proved a veritable weed destroyer.
Not only In the matter Of track i'm
provements has the oregon Short Line
shined during the past year for prob
ably 20 the travelling public the most
noticeable sign OF advancement has
been displayed IN It's passenger rolling
stock. The Butte Portland express,
with It's buffet, barber shop, baths, H.
brary and dining car has sprung
prominently before the public notice
and jumped 20 the front among the
leading trains that daily steam across
the Great West.
with the increasing business Of the
Oregon Short Line Il has become obso-
mtely imperative that In order 20 ham
die the traffic OF the road with dispatch
that increased rOlling-stock facilities
be al the disposal OF the operating de-
partment With this end IN view a
record order was placed with eastern
Arms early this fall The equipment
embraced In this order consisted Of 300
hopper bottom steel cars Of 100 900
pounds capacity, 1875 Rodger ballast
cars. 100 fat cars. go stock cars CO.
a. baggage cars ! diner, Is cabooses,
10 heavy consolidated engines. s mogul1
and 4 switch engines. This heavy or
der followed several smaller ones
earlier IN the season,
since the close OF the fiscal year the
Oregon Short Line, acting under IN
structions from headquarters, has
ceased 10 give out for publication the
amount Of the monthly earnings as
each month rolls around.
A glance At the earnings for the hs-
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

A VERY familiar figure In local rail-
~ road circles is Mr. d. r. Burley,
general passenger and ticket
agent Of the Oregon Short Line. The
greater portion OF Mr.. Burley's life
has been spent in railroad service. He
is one OF those men who has worked
his way up" from a humble place in
his chosen calling to the important Of
flee that he now hlls. His first position
of official responsibility came in 1879,
when he was appointed travelling pas
senger aglu ut Of the Union Pacific with
headquart- s at Baltimore His prln-
Cipal field Of operations was In the ter
ritory lying south Of Philadelphia and
east of Cincinnati. on July LIST, 1859,
he was transferred 10 Philadelphia, In
January. 1891. he was made general
agent passenger department. OF the
Union Pacific for Utah. with offices in
Salt Lake City. and jurisdiction extend
ing as far East as Cheyenne This pO-
sitIon Mr.. Burley continued to hold I'M
Ill the segregation OF the Union Pacific
and Short Line systems early IN 1891
when he was made general passenger
agent OF the latter road. Just now Mr..
Burley Is giving much attention 20 the
development OF those portions Of Idaho
which are threaded by the Short Line,
and as a result many settlers from
other States are vending their way
thither and making valuable homes for
themselves.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

nF THE many really capable rail-
~ road men to be found in Utah,
perhaps no one has done-in fact
tit Is established-that none has done
so much to advertise the resources Of
the intermountain country, particularly
Utah, as George W. Heintz the general
passenger agent Of the Rio Grande
Western Mr. Helntz is admirably
equipped, both by nature and training
for this important duty. Being an eX-
perienCed newspaper man the produce
ton OF high class literature, put forth
In attractive booklet and magazine
FORM comes easily to him. Numerous
illustrated articles from his pen have
appeared in the big magazines and
daily press Of the East, and In them
the praises OF Utah have ever been
sounded The benefits therefrom are
immeasurable. For years past the great
holiday editions Of several cities have
made features Of his contributions in
this line. Mr. Heintz commenced his
railroad career with the Canadian Pa.
cifc. which he served IN various capa-
cities for years. lie has also been as
ISOLATED with the o. r. & A., the Den
YER Texas and Fort Worth NOW the
Colorado and Southern on the ANAL
gamation Of the Fort Worth and Union
Pacific he came TO Salt Lake with the
Rio Grande Western and was appointed
20 his present position July 10. 1899. As
a business hustler he is manifestly sue
cessfuL
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

as 10 work, there Is enough in sight
"a 10 keep hundreds Of men actively
employed for the next three years
and by that time, as the development
OF the intermountain country goes on
apace. there will still be more railroads
10 build. Locally there will be changes
that will startle the Rip Van Wrinkles
OF the work to be done, first and
foremost, comes the building OF the
road through to Los Angeles with
branch lines and feeders that VIII
surely follow In due season The
Union Pacific has already expended
millions In track Improvements In the
state OF Wyoming and viii next year
come over into Utah and take up the la
Dor OF reducing the grades, straighten-
ing out the curves and building cut
ots generally which will add material
ly to the already strong position which
that pioneer road has maintained In
the West.
The Oregon Short Line too, win keep
up the same policy in regard TO Its
own tracks; and Il is said that big
things in this direction are contem-
plated In the near future. The intro
duotion Of the heavy mogul engines
with their corresponding big trains ne
cessltate the putting in Of steel bridges
and culyerts, the filling In OF trestles
and the general lowering Of the grade
all along the main Ene. In this work
the Rio Grande Western has not been
backward during the past year and
Just as soon as spring opens up again
viii push on the work OF putting In
longer sidetracks. switches and general
track improvements. The old story to
tho effect that the Rio Grande Western
will double-track the major portion OF
It's right Of way has more than once
been revived during the past year with
Indications that this big step In the d.
rection OF swiftness and safety viii be
irstltulto sooner or later, Both the
Oregon Short Line and the Rio Grande
Western have work mapped out that
win occupy them for the next two years
IN addition 10 the extensions ana other
railroad construction which they have
In view The Southern Pacific also has
big job on hard in the form OF the
Ogden ucin cutoff. Taken all In all
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
.....N.OOl.22s.s1
THE UNION PACIFIC.

During the past year the old estab-
lished Union Pacific has out-distanced
all competitors In the West In the mat
ter Of track Improvements which have
already run into the millions OK dol.
lars
This Is what F. B. Choate, the general
agent for this territory has TO say upon
the subject.
Utah. and therefore the Union Pa
cihc. have finished the most prosperous
year. The general business OF the mer-
chant has. / believe. steadily increased
over former years and the growth or
the mining and stock industries has
done much towards this increase. From
reports received this prosperity Will
continue While Il Is true that there
has been In some sections among the
farmers a shortage Of crops this rs un.
avoidable at times. and may happen In
any community, and Is not necessarily
serious
"The Union Pacific has always had
great faith IN Utah and her people. has
looked Tor good results from them, and
her faith has not been misplaced. The
last few years have shown what Utah
and her people can DO, looking az the
tremendous enlargement Of her business
houses. and the industries started by
local capital the future looks brighter
even than the past The millions OF
dollars spent by the Union Pacific
railroad in rs main line over the Rocky
Mountains this year certainly shows
what Is thought OF the future OF this
country, and az this money was spent
20 shorten the mileage reduce grades
and curves. Il means FOR the people %
Utah easier access TO the eastern Cen-
ters. by many hours and the placing
Of home products on the market more
advantageously Aside from this the
ballastng the entire main line
with the famous Sherman granite adds
10 the comfort % a long Journey, and
dIsposes Of most Objectionable Tea.
ture encountered IN trayeling-the ever
present dust"
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

THE recognized Nestor and veteran
railroader OF the intermountain
region is William II. Bancroft, the
vice president and general manager Of
the Oregon Short Line, with headquar-
tiers in this city, Mr.. Bancroft entered
the railway service in April, 1856 as
telegraph operator and clerk in the em-
ploy OF the Michigan Southern Rail
road Since that time he has success
siyely held the positions OF division
operator, clerk and dispatcher with the
Erie road assistant superintendent of
the Santa Re; superintendent Of the St.
Louis Lawrence and Western; superin-
tendent Of the various divisions Of the
Denver and Rio Grande from
1854 to 1856, general superintendent OF
the Denver and Rio Grande Western
from 1885 TO 1890. general superInten-
dent OF the mountain division OF the
Union Pacific from January, 1891, TO
March, 1897. and from that date until
the present he has been directing, with
marked success, the affairs OF the ore.
gon Short Line with which he now APP
pears to be permanently Identified. An
ADLER general manager than he has been
cannot be easily found
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

The Rio Grande Western is essen
TALLY a Utah railroad, as every foot
of track II owns Is In this State where
II pays every cent OF its taxes. Utah
people point with pride TO the Rlo
Grande Western as being the embodi-
ment OF all that Is up-to-date IN local
railroading. Fast and Handsomely
equipped trains, prompt delivery or
freight and live stock, and intelligent
operation have done much to place this
railroad where Il stands today; the
policy OF the road has always been the
interest OF its patrons
In looking back upon the past year
a number Of beneficial changes are
noted. Prior to this period passengers
travelling from Chicago TO the Pacific
coast did not enjoy the privileges that
they now do. Today they can travel
cheaply from one point to another with
out the changing Of cars that is so
annoying to those whose lot Is not cast
In a Pullman reservation.
This state Of affairs is directly trace
able 10 the meeting OF the representa-
lives OF the big transcontinental lines
in this city on January 18th last. As
the result the Rio Grande Western to-
day carries over us system the tourist
cars OF the Illinois Central, Rock Isl
and. Burlington, Chicago & Alton. and
the Missouri Pacific 20 the number OF
l23, and two respectively each week
with the time considerably cut down,
diners and the handsome observation
cars OF the Colorado Midland on the
trains the popularity Of the Rio Grande
Western has jumped up a number OF
notches.
While the operating department has
been straining every nerve and siezlng
every opportunity In order TO push the
line TO the front Of the western sys'
tens. improvements have been made IN
ali directions. The big four span, PIN
connection steel bridge over the Green
river I'm eastern Utah was completed
early I'm the season az a cost OF SoiVVO'
which does not include some OF the ma
terlal which was used over again In the
remodeling OF the spans. This feat
was no small undertaking IN user
when II Is considered that II was con-
structed without any delay 20 the trat-
flc. This. however pales into insgnih-
canoe when the work OF standard-guag-
ing the PARK City branch IS brought IN
10 consideration. In this piece OF Work
which was commenced early IN the
spring the stretch OF track on the sum
mil between Barclay and Gogorza was
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

while employed as a clerk In the local
freight Office OF the Michigan railroad
at Jackson, Michigan. He remained
with that company for ten years, the
latter half OF that time acting as agent
for the company at the largest station
on the road From that time on his
progress was rapid and his achieve
ments constantly upward, His expert
ence is a wide and varied one and has
been gained In the operating, construc-
ton and traffic departments Of the
Northern Pacific, Denver and Rio
Grande and Rio Grande Western rail-
roads, with which companies he has
been associated for something like four
teen years For the past six years he
has been traffic manager OF the latter
road with headquarters in this city.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

the Transmission Of supplies and troops.
50 much SO that the outlook is very
bright on the Southern Pacific for an
area of prosperity that even It's board
Of directors have not entirely autici-
pated. With the monthly growing trat-
fic with the Orient &c has become nee
essary for this line 20 look 20 Its laurels
ere some enterprising competitor makes
a bid for the business. For these rea-
sons the company during the past year
has had an army of men and teams az
work Strengthening out the curves and
reducing the grades at every possible
point The greatest amount OF this
work ever known IN the history OF the
road is now under fun swing between
ogden and Reno, while az this time OF
writing steam shoyes and supplies are
being received for active work on the
proposed Luclu-Ogden cutoff that viii
be run across an arm Of Great Salt
Lake and be. when completed. essen
TALLY one OF the star scenic features OF
travel In Wonderland OF the Great
West
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

For the period OF the present fiscal
year, July lst 10 November goth the
gross earnings have reached the solid
total OF s2.095, 200, or an increase Of
s277, 900 over and above the total FOR the
same period OF twelve months ago. This
pleasing state Of affairs to the stock
holders OF the road reflects great credit
upon the able administration Of General
Manager ID. c. Dodge, General Super.
intendent A. i. Welby and Traffic Man
ager S. II. Babcock. and the forces that
work under them.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

Choate left school in the East he has
been identified with the overland.
Starting I'm in 1855 as a clerk in the
general freight offices at Omaha. he
proceeded to climb up the ladder until
his business acumen was rewarded
with success In the spring Of 1892 he
was appointed travelling freight agent
on the Nebraska and Wyoming
division. He was transferred In the
fall OF "a TO the Portland, where he
held a similar position for the Union
Pacific. one year later he was APP
pointed agent OF the freight depart
ment. with headquarters al Sacra-
mento. May ], ~, Mr.. Choate came
TO Salt Lake with an appointment In
his pocket as general agent Of the
freight department. on September LIST
he was again promoted with the title
OF general agent Of the freight and pas
senger departments.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

THE name OF s. w. Eccles Is as
familiar to Utah business men,
particularly to shippers as
the names OF their own insu-
tutions His service as a rail-
road man has covered Il generation or
more and his experience extends over
the entire range from that of subordln-
ate positions 20 general traffic manager
Of the Oregon Short Line. Mr. Eccles
was for many years general agent Of
the Union Pacific, with headquarters
at Denver His next service was gen
eral freight and passenger agent Of the
Denver & Rio Grande, also with head
quarters IN the Colorado metropolis.
Twelve years ago Die came % Salt Lake
as the general freight and passenger
agent OF the Rio Grande and for the
next four years acted uniuterruptedly
as SUCH. In 1886 however he was In
duced 20 return 10 the employ of the
Union Pacific with which he remained
until the Short Line was divorced from
that system, three years ago, Since
that time he has been general traffic
manager Of the oregon Short Line. and
has represented his road in many 0f
the important councils of railway men
throughout the country, his wisdom
and foresight being generally recog-
nlzed.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

FRANCS b. CHOATE, prior to the
recent change whereby the Union
Pacific agency In this territory
came under the Jurisdiction Of the ore
gon Short Line, bore the proud distInc-
ton of being the youngest generalagent
upon the entire Union Pacific system
by several years. Although but thirty
two summers have passed over his
head. his progressiyeness and sterling
abilities have long been recognized.
Ever since the time that Mr..
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

which ended June S0th, the advance In
the earnings showed over 81, OOO 900 bet
ter than any previous year In the his
tory Of the road. In order 10 give an
idea of what has been accomplished by
the Western the following table Of the
earnings for the past six years makes
Interesting reading AT this time.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
NAR. s, II. BABcoCK, who hol

NHR. s, II, BABCOCK, who holds
lVl the important Office Of traffic
manager OF the Rio Grande
Western is one Of the most capable
and widely known railroad men In the
West He Is native Of Mich
igan, and like many another railroad
man Of distinction, commenced work
in that line OF business when but a
mere boy, His first practical expert
ence in that particular leld was gained
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
SOUTHERN PACIFIC.

The past year In every sense OF the
word has been a good one FOR the South
ern Pacific. During the troubles In the
Philippines the ogden route has become
a popular one With the government In
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

cal year that closed last July, however,
shows the following hattering result:
Earnings 10 June 30, 1899. 1851 1888
Earnings TO June 80, 1900. S,51s.SSI.S5
Increase .,,,, -, 80, ....N ,OOl, 2zS.V
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15
RIO GRANDE WESTERN.

the future, as regards railroads In
Utah, never looked so bright as now.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

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