The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1901-09-14
BUILDING
STREET.
RAILWAY,
Two Hundred WOrkmen En-
gagged Oh the East
End Line.

The street railway company is max
ing things lively on Belknap. Work
on the new improvements began last
Wednesday and has gone along night
and day. AS is Well known, it is the
intention of the company to put in a
standard gauge track from Beiknap
to the court house and have it in good
operation this year. The south track
of the now double track system is the
one being changed. The Old track is
being taken up As rapidly as possible
and the new one laid down Work
thus far has reached almost to Cedar
avenue, and the new ties attract at
tentiOn for their weight and the man
ner in which they are laid
The process of taking up the old
track and putting down the new one
is a very interesting one. Nearly 200
men were started in, with all kinds of
tools, and it has gone on until the
torn up track looks like a wreck. A
force goes in advance with pickaXes
and jack screws and very soon sec
ton of the track is hoisted up foot
or more and blocks are placed under
it. Then come several work men with
sledges and knock off the old ties
This requires muscle. Following up
are other workmen, brawny looking
fellows, who, with cold chisels and
sledges, cut the rivits on the plates
rails are then thrown to one side of
the street, as are the old ties. Then
comes Il swarm of man with picks
loOsening mp the blocks. Next is a
monster plow that further distinte-
CRATES them. Another force OF men
are ready to throw the old blocks into
track, which blocks are hauled to the
bridge at Central Park, whore the fill
is being made. Another set of men
are at the track shoveling the old dirt
of the road bed and deepening the
new bed. The dilt thrown into the
tram cars is also taken out TO the fill.
of the old planks on which rested the
old blocks between the rails.
With everything cut down to the
grade, leaving n wide and smoothe
ditch, as it were, the next force of
men are ready to put in the ties which
are usually large and fine ones With
the ties laid, along comes the next
crew handling the pOnderous rails
that are the pride of the railway com
pany, and will be a source of pleasure
to our people. These rails are seven
inches high, 60 feet long and weigh 90
lbs. to the yard. They are put down
with great spikes and joined together
with plates through which securely
fastened bolts are run. This part of
the work finished, another set of men
are busy putting sand and gravel be-
tween the new ties and tamping them
down soiidly. 1t should be said also
that underneath the ties is being
placed about a foot of gravel. When
the two inch planks are laid on the
top OF this gravel and sand, there will
be room for tive-inch blocks, which
the company will so place as to make
a smooth track with the street.
Everything is being done in Il work
manlike manner and the indications
point to fine road bed that will be
lasting and very satisfactory.
The north track is being used for
traffic TO Old Town and while trans
fers are needed to enable workmen to
load the tram cars with the dirt and
debris of the old track, yet the service
is as satisfactory as could be expect
ed. The track is progressing night
and day.-Leader.