Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-22
Millions TO save . Mile.

The reclamation OF the China Basin IN |
San Francisco, and Its transformation
into modern railway terminals, Is an
other engineering project of magnitude
and boldness undertaken by the Atchison
Topeka & Santa Fe management. The
tract selected for the terminal develop
ment 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
yard facilities, and will spend $4,000, 600
to be next the new yards of the Southern
Pacific, the Central Basin, and Channel
Street.
Engineers soundings found depth OF
mud of from 40 to $50 feet in the China
Basin, and sea wall of solid rock must
be built nearly mile long and 200 feet
wide on the top. At least 2,O00. 900 tons
of rock will be needed to fill 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 locOmo-
tives help the shovels, and big plow
pushed BY seventy-five-ton locomotive
does the work of one hundred men in
scalping the adjoining hill, which is to be
improved by the company as part OF
the opel ation~>
The completion of the "Ogden Cutoff
/ of the Central Pacific Is a triumph over
combative nature i'm the history OF
American railroad construction. IL has
been a battle between engineers with
millions of money behind them, and
what seemed to be bottomless Great
Salt Lake. Within a short time trans
continental passengers will ride directly
across the lake, q distance Of one hun
dred and seven miles, and President u.
/ ii. Hartman, who has decided to be on
board the first train, will be entitled TO
the privilege by virtue OF the s4,0oo,0cO
which this single piece of construction
has cost the Central Pacific.
The work was begun nearly two years
! ago, and unexpected obstacles were en-
countered from the start. Piling drop
ped into the earth, as II 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 gained the
day; tracks were laid after prodigious
labor and trains run over them. Sud
denly the lake would swallow enbank-
ments, trains, and their crews. The
engineers believe they have at last
fought their way to solid foundation,
but they are still filling in and braoing
their trestle- work, and they will not
risk a 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
between 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 switchmen, telegraph operators,
and section men employed, and train
crews who are paid by their mileage will
receive smaller wages. These and a
hundred other savings are reckoned
with in the economic justification of
such railroad Improvements as these.
The precedent set by the Central Pa
cific is likely to be followed by the West
ern Pacific, the new road building be-
tween Salt Lake and San Francisco, and
route has been surveyed across the
southern end of the lake, where fore
warning prompted successful search
for firmer OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Weekly.