Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-09-22
UTAH COAL is
A PRIME FACTOR
Chief Source Of Revenue for the
Rio Grande Western
Railroad.
BIC TRACKACE IMPROVEMENTS,
Twenty. Six Steel Girder Bridges Placed
On the Main Line and Other
Changes Inanguratcd.

The increase in the equipment OF the
Rio Grande SYSTEM during the last TWO
fiscal years includes 80 standard-guage
engines, IL narrow-guage locomotives
20 standard guage passenger coaches,
baggage, mail and express cars, 1
dining car, and 1850 freight cars of va
rious classes.
This increase was in a measure due 10
the output OF coal, at least as Tar as the
freight cars and locomotives are con-
cerned. During the last three fiscal
years the Colorado Fuel and Iron COM
pany increased U.s. output nearly 50 per
cent. The output OF coal In Utah by
the Utah Fuel company, for the year
1899, was S7S,i22 tons, and for the year
1902, l6ii ,43G tons, an increase or ABOUT
So per cent, and during the same tnree
years the Utah Fuel company increas-
ed its output 755,42S tons, or about w
per cent.
These figures, which are culled from
the annual report OF the Denver & Rio
Grande, and copy of which was sent
to the News with the compliments
of President T.. T. Jeffrey, give some
idea of the increase in the business or
the Gould system and the reason why
the directors are still arranging for
large additions to the freight equipment
Of the system.
PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS.
When 1t comes to physical improve
ments maugurated and cleaned up dur
ing the past year on the Rio Grande
Western, the rectifying Of grades and
the ballasting OF the line from Salt
Lake to Provo, "A distance of DO miles,
including extensive work in the Jordan
Narrows and at Germania were COM
pleted during the year, and constitute
a reduction of grades from per cent
to SO per cent and the widening OF
entertainments to Is feet
There were also completed during the
year, line changes of 23 miles near
Tucker and 39i miles near Wellington
A second track from Salt Lake to
Bingham, II miles long. has been COM
pleted since the close OF the fiscal year,
and Is now In service. on this line there
are four smelters In operation includ-
ing the new plant of the American
Smelling q Refining company. also a
sampling works and the Utah sugar
factory.
Grade corrections, including widening
of banks from Salt Lake TO Ogden, re-
ducing the present grade from 80 per
cent TO .65 per cent, were partially COM
pleted during the year
Twenty-six metal girder bridges vary
ing from "a feet to 81 feet In length,
were placed at points on the main line
OF the Rio Grande Western Railway,
where no changes In alignment or grade
were planned and iron, concrete or tile
culverts replaced wooden boxes under
the main track between Grand Juno lon
and Ruby, a distance Of 20 miles, and
between Salt Lake and ogden, dis
lance of 81 miles. Twelve-girder spans,
varying from 80 feet to GA feet IN length,
have been placed on the Scofleld branch
where wooden Howe truss spans re-
quired renewal.
Concrete culverts and iron or tile
pipes have been substituted for all
wooden drain and irrigatlng boxes UNI
der the track for an aggregate distance
of lOi miles of the 1928 miles Of main
line west of Grand Junction.
Buildings covering stations, ice hous-
es. additions 10 shops, and fuel and
water conveniences, were erected at va
rious points, a number of side tracks
and spurs to industries We're built, and
extensive additions to yards were made
during the year.