The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06
MILLIONS TO SAVE A MILE.
Tremendous and Costly Undertakings
of Big Railroad Lines.
Golfers Weekly.


of Big Railroad Lines.
Golfers Weekly.
The reclamation of the China basin in
San Francisco, and its transformation into
modern railway terminals, Is another engi-
neering project of magnitude and boldness
undertaken by the Atchison, Topeka G. San
ia Fe management. The tract selected for
the terminal 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 sta
ton and yard facilities, and will spend ST.
100000 to be next the new yards of the
Southern Pacific, the Central basin and
Channel street.
Engineers soundings found a depth of
mud of from 40 to $50 feet in the China
basin, and wall of solid rock must be
built nearly mile long and 200 feet wide on
the top. At least 100000 tons of rock will
be needed to fill in the treacherous basin
bottom. The basin is beingreclaimedb by three
huge steam shovels, removing 1900 cubic
yards of dirt daily from an adjoining hill to
the basin. Twenty cars and seven locomo-
pushed by q seventy fve-ton locomotive
does the work of one hundred men I'm scalp
ing the adjoining hill, which is to be i'm
a
operation.
The completion of the ogden cut-off' of
the Central Pacific is a triumph over COM
bative 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 bot
tomless Great Salt lake. Within a short
time transcontinental passengers will ride
directly across the lake. distance of 1O7
miles, and President K. II. Hartman who
has decided to be on board the first train,
will hsaa tn ,.rfx-i
the $,Oo0.000 which this single piece of con-
struction has cost the Central Pacific
The work was begun nearly two years
ago, and unexpected obstacles We're en-
countered from the start. Piling dropped
into the earth, as If poked through a crust: :
mountains of earth dumped by trainloads
vanished over night and temporary tracks
simply fell in and could not be found Now
and then the engineers thought they had
gained the day; tracks were laid after
Suddenly the lake would swallow embank-
ments. trains and their crews. The engi-
neers believe they have at last fought their
way to solid foundation. but they are still
filling In and bracing their trestlework and
they will not risk regular train service
until the work has stood severe tests
When the new line is opened, thirty-nine
miles in distance will be saved and be-
tween two and three hours In time Every
train over the line will help pay for the
cost of the cutoff" Helper engines
will be discarded. less coal used, fewer
sw1tchmen telegraph operators and section
men employed. and train crews who are
paid by their mileage will receive smaller
wages. These and & hundred other savings
are reckoned with in the economic justifica-
ton of such railroad improvements as
these.
Tho precedent set by the Central Pacific
is likely to be followed by the Western Pa
cific, 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 a
successful search for firmer foundation