Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-12-02
VERY COSTLY
PIECE OF WORK
The ogden-Lucin cut-oH on the
Southern Pacific Cost Over S40,-
600 Per Mile.
GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT
Miles Of Track Laid Across Great
Salt Lake-A Great Saving to the
Railroad Company.

anu W. miles OF track,
what Is known as the Ogden-Lucln
cutoff across Great Salt Lake, was
formally declared completed today
and made a part Of the Hartman sys-
TEN of railroads. The dedication of
this track, which cost the Southern
Pacific railroad millions of dollars,
but which, It is estimated. will result
in a saving of more than 100000
yearly in operating expenses, as well
as reducing the running time between
Ogden and the Pacific coast by two
hours, was the occasion for the as
sembling of fifty of the most promi-
nent railroad officials in the country.
Prominent Officials Present.
The party making the formal trip
OF inspection over the tracks leading
across the waters of Great Salt Lake
fas headed by E. H. Hartman, pres
ident of the Southern Pacific. With
him were the heads of practically all
the lines forming the great transcon-
tinental system known as the Harri-
man lines. The party included H. c.
Burt, president of the Union Pacific;
Vice President j. Krutchnitt, of the
Southern Pacific; President A. J..
Earling, of the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul; President David Will
cox, of the Delaware & Hudson; Vice
President j. Il. Faithorn, of the Chi
cago & Alton; Vice President ]. T.
Harahan and General Manager j. F.
Wallace, of the Illinoic Central; Gen.
eral Traffic Manager Stubs, of the
Hartman lines; General Manager
Gardner and Vice President McCul.
Tough, Of the Chicago & Northwest
ern; Chief Engineers Hood, of the
Southern Pacific, and Carter, of the
Northwestern; General Manager Ray
mond Dupuy, of the st. Joseph and
Grand Island; General Manager G. w.
Holdredge, of the Burlington: Vice
President II. Z. Huntington, Of the
Southern Pacific; President A. L..
Mohler, of the Oregon Railroad &
Navigation; Assistant Traffic Manag-
er Is. Campbell, of the Hartman
lines; Vice President and General
Manager w. II. Bancroft. of the Ore
gon Short Line, and representatives
of the passenger and freight depart
ments Of nearly all the lines interest
ed.
Last Spike Driven.
The last spike, marking the compile
ton OF the cutoff, was driven several
days ago at a point on the fill nearly
opposite the place where, thirty-four
years ago, was driven the golden
spike which closed the gap between
the lines of the Union and Central
Pacific railroads on ~Promontory point.
Many old residents of Utah cities who
witnessed that ceremony accompan-
led the railroad officials today in the
formal trip of inspection over the new
track, which ultimately is to throw
out of use lat miles of the most diff
fcult and expensive %railroading in the
transcontinental system.
The special train carrying the rail-
road officials and guests left Ogden
about ten o'clock on its trip over the
cutoff. Several hours were spent in
looking over the new tracks by Mr..
Hartman.
The dedication ceremony occurred
at Midlake, a station in the middle of
Great Salt Lake. The special made
q commute stop and the entire party
assembled on the tracks at the real
end of the train. No speeches were
made, a brief musical program being
the feature of the formalities. Ex-
treme satisfaction was expressed by
Mr.. Hartman and his immediate as
sociates, who have been closely iden-
titled with the construction and sue
cessful completion of the cutoff. They
were heartily congratulated by the
members of the party, all Of whom
evinced a keen interest In the charac-
ter and technical points of construc-
ton, especially that portion of the
work which crosses the lake. At sew
eral points along the trestle land can
not be seen except an occasional
mountain break.
Tonight Mr.. Hartman and party
will continue west from Lucin, New,
to make an official inspection Of the
improvements which have been made
In the road between that point and
Reno, New. Several million dollars
have been spent IN the system across
Nevada, involving a practical rebuild
ing of hundreds of miles Of road.
The Ogden-Lucin cutoff is 1902
miles In length, ~ miles on land and
80 miles on trestle work, and films
over the waters of the Great Salt
Lake.
Track Almost Level.
II presents a practically level track
except for a short distance on the
west and neal Lucin, New, where a
slight grade is encountered. The use
of the cutoff will throw out of trans
continental traffic the old line from
Ogden to Lucin, New, around the
north end Of Great Salt Lake. This
stretch OF track. lat miles in length.
is one OF the most difficult and expen.
sive OF the Hartman system. Its
maximum grade over the long Prom
ontory hill Is 104 feet to the mile and
helper engines are necessary. The
elimination Of this trackage from Ov
erland traffic will thus mean not only
a saving of more than $1,000 a day
in the actual operating expenses. but
also a saving of two hours in run
ming time.
~Huntington's Scheme.
The original scheme for the cut-o1
was a pet plan Of the late Coils p
Huntington, and under his directions
Chief Engineer Hood prepared tho
plans for the great engineering feat
The plans were perfected after Mr.
Huntington's death and the surveys
were approved by E. II. Hartman
when he obtained control Of the line
The actual work on the cutoff was