The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-12-10
MILLIONS TO SAVE A. MILE.

The reclamation of the China Basin
in San Francisco, and its transforma-
ton into modern railway terminals, is
another engineering project OF magni-
tude and boldness undertaken by the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe manage
ment The tract selected for the term
nal development comprises fifty-four
acres, and was from four to fifteen feet
below tide water. The railroad wishes
to overcome its handicap in the matter
of station and ward facilities, and will
spend $4,000, 900 to be next the new
yards of the Southern Pacific, the Gen.
trail Basin, and Channel Street.
Engineers soundings found depth
of mud from 40 to 150 feet in the Basin,
and a sea wall of solid rock must be
built nearly a mile long and 200 feet
wide on the top. AT least 2, 0OO, 600 tons
of rock will be needed to FIJI in the
treacherOuS basin bottom. The basin
is being reclaimed by three huge steam
shovels, removing 5000 cubic yards of
earth daily from an adjoining Hill to
the basin. Twenty cars and seven To-
comotives help the shovels, and big
pillow pushed by seventy-tive-ton loco
motive does the work of one hundred
men in scalping the adjoining hill,
which is to be improved by the COM
pany as part of the operation.
The completion of the ogden Cut
off" of the Central Pacific is triumph
over combatiye nature in the history of
American railroad construction. 1t
has been battle between engineers
with millions of money behind them
and what seemed to be a bottomless
Great Salt Lake. Within a short time
transcontinental passengers will ride
directly across the lake, distance of
one hundred and seven miles, and Pres
ident E. H. Hartman, who has decided
to be on board the first train, will be
entitled to the privilege by virtue of
the 81 1000, 900 which this single piece of
construction has cost the Central Pac,f-
lc.
The work was begun nearly two
years ago, and unexpected obstacles
were encountered from the start. Pill
ing dropped into the earth, as if poked
through a crust; mountains of earth
dumped by train-loads vanished over
night, and temporary tracks simply fell
in and could not be found. Now and
then the engineers thought they had
SdiHCO CLC ody, GldCho WOIC ldAu dAVol
prodigious labor and trains run over
them. Suddenly the lake would swal-
low embankments, trains, and their
crews. The engineers believe they
have at last fought their way to solid
foundation but they are still filling in
and Dracing their trestlework, and they
will not risk a regular train service I'M
til the work has stood severe tests.
When the new line is opened, thirty
nine miles in distance will be saved,
and between two and three hours i'll
time. Every train over the line will
F.. help paw for the cost OF the 'cut-off. .
i Helper engines viii be discarded
less coal used, fewer sWitchmen, tele-
graph operators, and section men EN-
4 ployed, and train crews who are paid
/ by their mileage will receive smaller
; wages. These and hundred other
savings are reckoned within the econo-
mic justification of such railroad i'm
provements as these.
The precedent set by the Central
! 1acifc is likely to be followed Ey the
| W Western Pacific, the new road building
between Salt Lake and San Francisco,
! and a route has been surveyed across
the southern end of the lake, where
forewarning prompted successful
search for tirmer foundation.-Collier's
Weekly.