The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-27
BUSY TIME
.-rf HAHHH nHHA IN,
Northwestern Roads Will
Spend Millions of Dollars
This Season.
Lines to Be Improved and
Observation-Disclosures in
Demand.

Northwestern railroads are preparing
TO cost millions of dollars. Estimates and
plans by the engineering departments
have been completed and contracts are
being let. For much Of the work, to be
done under their direct supervision, the
railroads are already endeavoring to Sc
cure men so as to have all in readiness
as soon as the ground is in condition.
Operating officials and contractors have
already learned that the problem Of Sc
curing enough men to keep the work NOV
ing will be just as hard to solve this year
as last. Many of the railroad contractors
found it difficult to make the ledger show
a profit on last years operations, largely
because Of the trouble in securing men.
Wherever close figures were made, the
scarcity of men and the expense of secur-
ing them tended to wipe out the margin
Of profit.
Plans of the 500 Road.
The 500 line will begin work on it's
track improvements as soon as the wealth
err will permit. The officials hope to have
some of the work under way early next
month. The biggest general track i'm
provement planned by the 500, which the
management will push as rapidly as pos
sible, is the relaying of lao miles of track
east of Minneapolis VITA eighty pound
steel, and the ballasting Of 1875 miles with
gravel. This will equip the 500 with
eighty pound steel the entire distance be-
tween Minneapolis and the 500. Ie&is
nlo hnt no will q
it's terminal yards here to accommodate
400 cars more. The yards at Glenwood,
Mimi, will also be enlarged to accommO-
date 200 cars more. The increased
length of the 500 trains will result in ex-
tensions to side tracks all over the sys-
tenn and the building of al additional ten
rifles Of passing tracks at various points.
Plans have been completed for the puild-
ing of five new stations on the western
division. The bridge building department
will be very active throughout the sea-
son. Among other improvements, i've
wooden span bridges are to be replaced
with singletrack steel structures. Every
effort will be made to have the improve
nents far enough advanced to assist In the
handling of the big freight movement next
fall. -.- .. ~-
One of the largest improvements being
considered by the Minneapolis & St. Louis
is the building OF a new line around Chas-
ka hill, near Chaska, Mimi, thereby
avoiding the only difficult grade on the
system. Several surveys of new routes
have been made and estimates are being
considered.
The Wisconsin Central announces that
the work Of renewing the big ore docks
at Ashland will not be begun until late
next fall. An additional capacity Of 40 ,00C
tons is planned. The Wisconsin Contra
is perfecting plans for the more rapit
handling Of freight received from Min
neapolis and other western points. It
new terminals at Manitowoc are big i'm
proyement over the old, ones. Presiden
Wbitcomb has outlined general polio!
for making the track fast by reducing
grades and Strengthening curves. The
Wisconsin Central will probably make
some additions to the capacity Of it's Boon
Island terminals in this city this summer