The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-07-06
A CELEBRATED
ROAD ENGINE
Took Two Years TO make a Journey Of $40
Miles. from the Dalles 10 Silver Lake.

| DAhNHh LhhHJ Ofsg JNub 81 DtehNhhb
by blacksmith shop at this place is a
huge piece Of machinery, patched and
wrapped and mended until scarcely a
bolt or rod is intact az originally COM
pleted. II is called traction or road
engine, and is huge one at that.
Securing freight in this country is the
object Of every merchants life. To The
Dalles, a distance OF 800 miles, over
rough mountain roads and desert sands,
is the nearest point 10 the railroad or
water navigation. IL takes a long time
to make this trip with an ordinary
freight wagon and team, 30 long that
many goods that are fresh on starting
out become stale before they reach their
destination.
i. NJ. Chrisman, a leading general
merchant Of Silver Lake, was persuaded
that traction engine was the thing,
and he invested in one and deter
mined 10 revolutionize the freight busi.
ness between The Dalles and Silver
Lake. More than two years ago he
started out from The Dalles with his
big traction engine, with a train Of
wagons loaded with freight attached.
The roads, at the start, we're favorable,
and the engine worked like a charm.
Up and down the long grades leading
out from The Dalles the train moved
with the ease Of a railroad train, II not
with the rapidity OF one. In fact, the
start was 30 propitious that Mr.. Chris
man on the very start wagered $1,000
that he would be in Silver Lake in 30
days, thinking at the time that he would
make trip in half the time. But in
an hour afterwards the trouble began. A
rod broke and he had 10 send back to
The Dalles for repairs. In another hun.
dred yards another break occurred and
the blacksmith at The Dalles had TO be
employed. Then water gave out and the
ranchers' wells were drawn upon. Wood
became an object through the barren
county and the ranchers woodpiles we're
bought at their own price. As they {
progressed, sometimes a mile in day, {
some days a hundred yards, and some
lays not foot, the thing consumed all
The wood and water for miles in every I
direction, But Chrisman was undaunted. :
He said that he would land the thing
m Silver Lake. lie established NOV
'ble blacksmith shops, carpenter shops
md shanties for the men TO shelter
inder, and the traction engine and its
rain OF wagons and the shops and shant- Y
es were an odd sight as they moved along 4,
he mountain and desert roads.
A big crowd accompanied the train Z
most Of the time, as the ranchers Of
very particular neighborhood and their
antilles came TO see the novel sight and al
'llowed along, when It moved, for
ours As they reached the more
parsely settled communities famine was u
III In their wake. Wood, water and
lel were completely exhausted. The 81
efforts Of the ranchers could
ot keep the thing in wood, as in many
laces fuel had to be hauled for many a,
lilies. In few weeks time some Of
10 goods in the wagon began TO get
ale, and these wagons were detached ,o
nd taken on to Silver Lake by means o.
the old-time power-horses. Then NJ
Ills were reached where the engine 20
'uld not ascend, and all the horses for
lilies around were employed to pull the
'aehine and the train to the top. From
corning to night the shouts TO the
Drses, the swearing workmen, the axes a.
the woodohoppera and the hammers ~.
the blacksmith and carpenter shops
,pt up din. S
hut this was pastime compared with
hat was u follow. Out in the desert
ater and wood had to be hauled for so W,
'd 40 miles. Days were spent without
owing an inch. Priyations and suffer.
inga were endured. The wagons were
cut loose and taken to Silver Lake. spr
avn by horses, but Chrisman said
at the traction engine had TO 40
rough. II finally comes TO the point
here wells had TO be dug along the Be-
ute Tor water aud temporary woodins Os