Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-08
SOME NORTHERN PACIFIC
FIGURES.


Copies of the annual report of the
Northern Pacific system give complete
details of the years operations and
the particulars of an immense amount
of betterment work carried out.
During the year just closed the
Northern Pacific advanced its rail-
standard from seventy-two to eighty
five pounds and purchased 300 miles OF
steel of the latter weight. OF this
amount 1913. 90 miles was laid and the
remainder is being put down on main
line track. Work is at present in prog
ress between ST. Paul and Duluth,
where a considerable amount OF re.
newal work has been undertaken. The
renewals of main line with venty
two pound steel totaled 1882 miles
and 67.S3 miles of branch line was re
laid with heavier rails. Track ballast
ing amounted to 215.31 miles and more
than 1882 miles of the entire embank-
ment was widened. Ninety-five tim
Der culverts were replaced and 122 tim
Der bridges we're taken out and perma-
nent structures substituted.
Bridge requirements were a promi-
nent feature of the years improve
ments and 2S6 bridges were taken out
and entertainments, plate girder and
truss structures built. Seven bridges
were taken out by line changes. Nine
ty-one bridges were replaced by solid
entertainments. The total OF new
bridges is l .066 lineal feet for the
year. giving the total of 343 steel. iron
and stone structures. The bridge work
includes the new 235-foot connected
through span owe Yakima river, five
$50 through spans over crossings Of
Green river and the thirty-seven con-
crete piers for the immense bridge IN
process of construction over lake
Pen d'Orelle, which will be one Of the
largest railway structures in the world.
The effect of increased freight traf-
fc and heavier demands or the motive
power department is shown in com
narrative tables, which indicate an in
crease of 1873 per cent in the total
number of locomotives in service and
of Bis per e n in their total weight
There are 9O2 locomotives on the &C
tive list, including 113 purchased dur
ing the year. Freight equipment o
sists of 32,O57 cars, an increase of Ct
per cent.
One of the most interesting of the
financial statements in the report is
cost of operation for 1903 as compared
with 1902, and indicates the amount
of increased wages paid the variOu:
branches of the service. Employees O
all classes earned more money thai
ever before and what these Increase
cost the system is shown in the follow
ing, giving the total increase in wage
in each class:
Station agents. clerks and laborers
S1S7,949: switchmen and watchmen
$I07. 705; freight conductors, SIS ,46S
passenger conductors, $33,5l4; freigh
brakemen, $10G,754; passenger brake
men. $25,4S7: passenger baggagemer
$6.753: engineers and firemen, 1886
552; engine dispatchers, wipers an
r%oundhouse laborers, $102 ,357; super
~intendents, SAT. 923; total, 1880. 463.
After all Mandan need not feel e.
pecially grieved about the location
the Indian school. OF course the e.
terprise of Bismarck had somethir
to do with it, but really the all in
portant consideration with the COVER
ment was water and drainage. Coz
water and a perfect sewerage syste
were found only in connection WI
the Bismarck site. 1t is doubtful
any considerable number OF Bismarc
ers realize what an advantage 1t
to have an inexhaustible supply
pure water always on tap. at full pre-
sure-in any room in the house II
sired. We are so used to 1t that
look upon it with Indifference. AS
natter of fact there is not a city
1000 people anywhere in the count
tina has such a complete aud ext<
sive system of w~aterworks. Val
towns where natures surroundil
make 1t possible to simply dam
k~a
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