The diamond drill., 1902-11-22
OLD TINES ON
THE RAILROAD.
History Of It's Buildins
from Florence 10
Crystal Fails.
BY N. ). Lindsay.
Editor Diamon Drill.


At your request have endeavored to
give a few facts connected with the
early history of CRYSTAL Pals dwelling
especially upon the railroad develop
ment.
I wish. at the outset to lift my voice
in praise of the work done for Crystal
Falls by the old Crystal Falls Iron
company This place ought never for
get the work of that concern did fer 1t
more for the advancement Of the place
than any concern that ever did bust
ness here They undoubtedly made
mistakes but they were mistakes OF
the head and not the heart They
were generous to their workmen anc
never missed payday.
But to return to my connection with
the railroad and G. 4 ~ Ct its
building. The incentive TO build the
road was substantially as related in a
former article the ore discoveries about
here. 1t has been said that these
showings were not such "a to warrant
7 The extension at That time but that is
not true. The showing here was full y
as good If not better than at any one
place on the range at a time before
railroad connections were made. s
report Of these discoveries had been
brought to Col. Howe. who was at
that time q railroad contractor and q
director in the Northwestern road.
Previous to this time. Geo Runkle.
~. built a railroad out in iowa which
,t It Paul In the
nsgotiations for the sealed and IN sra
ouiiuing OF this road Mr.. RBHkip Lc.
came connected with Col Hcwe and
"neu the ore discoveries ~src b ing
mn. ,.''e on the range and the N,,tawest'
erl enteuded, Mr. Runkle gs,s sent
here by the Colonel to superintep7 4, !
work SO, wien she
new one discoveries about Crvstaf
Falls were brought to his notice he
sent Mr. Rnnkle hsie 30 investigate |
them Mr. Runkle was favorahly
impr ssed and npon his report the
grystal Fails Iron Dompany Nas formed
the principal stockholders Of which
were y II Head, Marvin Hughitt. y.
r. Fairbanks Col Howe. Geo. Runkle
and j. $. Simmons, Of Kenosha. Wis
rhis company was formed To- take overI
he options in the Crystal Falls district
md to develop the district. It was
iecided TO extend the road during the
'arly spring of 1881 aud work ON the
trading started in May Col Howe
md Geo Runkle took the contract 10
'nild the road and | arrived in Flor.
nee on June =. 1881 TO take charge Of
he Office and | made ont the first pay
oil myself that was made on the
york The office force included. be
ides myself, Lew Tyler, who became
he first agent at this place A. J.
amanda and Chas Runkle The
'alking boss during the first part of
I the work was Geo. Boze Langhlin
icGilils was one Of the foremen, and
may add the best railraod builder :,
hat we had on the job John Nc
lillis was water boy along the route
nd we a admired the then bright little !
Glow who is today our county treasur- .
r.
The grading was pushed rapidly. in
act so rapidly as 20 be looser TO the
1t cost $l40 900 10 build
ne road from Florence to Crystal Falls "
nd put in the mine spurs. ON the !
iece Of road between Florence and
le Brule the contractors lost $ii 900 !,
ut no expense was spared 70 push the
ork. The grade was ready for the :,
iils as far as the Brule river when !,
le cold winter weather set in and the
lice was moved from Florence to that = :,
ace where il remained until very =
'riy in the spring when It was moved !.
) the old saw mill location
Grading was continued throughout :,
~ most OF the winter the men llNlng IA iii
nts. We had as high a. 200 men on 4,
ie job but many OF them were COM =,
$ and goers 50 that the average was "
'out 500 men n
We started in to pay the men $26 90 br
II month and board but after several br
onths trial we found IL an expensive Dir
pertinent Che men came mostly WI
om the agencies in the cities and Dir
any Of them came along for the free an
ie as much as anything They sci
Duld wori few days and then take WI
time checs and go TO Florence on ta
unk. returning and lying about iii
mp for another period and finally tn
wing for .ome other place Boze. TO
Q walking koss was taken sick when he