The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1904-02-20
BRIDGING AN INLAND SEA.


\ StuPN"uOue AAA8 hACGHAhA0s
We have in times past been told much
OF wonderful feats in railroad building,
and much has been written Of the en-
| gineer1ng skill and daring that directed
the course of the iron horse across the
plains and mountains that lie between
the Missouri FLYER and the Pacific Ocean.
I'm the grandeur and magnitude of the
undertaking, the Union Pacifc-Central
Pacific has never been equaled The
energy and perseverance with which the
work was urged forward, and the ra-
| pldity with which it was executed are
without a parallel in history" were the
statements OF the special government COM
missioners to the Secretary of the In
terror.
Thirty-fve years ago there was no time
to spend on work similar to that which
has just been completed Then the world
was watching while the builders of the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific raced
for supremacy. 1t was magnificent con
test: but nowadays the owners of the
road have been brought to consider other
problems. One of these necesstated the
solution Of the grade question and the
Strengthening of the track.
One of the most interesting and diff
cult feats of railroad engineering ever
undertaken has just been completed by
the owners of ''The Overland Route"
dNlliC anu southern IuCl1C hdll-
-oad--the building Of bridge across the
Great Salt Lake between Ogden, Utah,
and Lucin. Nevada.
:, The work being practically completed,
the new track was formally opened on
Thanksgiving Day when Mr.. f. H. Har-
riman. head of the Hartman Lines, and
hig party of railroad magnates partook
Of Thanksgiving Day dinner in the mid
die of Great Salt Lake.
Tho Ondao- I -,oin uC,,t nTv - no
miles in length, 70 miles on land and 30
miles on trestle work and films over the
waters of Great Salt Lake 1t presents
practically level track except for short
distance on the west end near Lucin, Ne
yada, where a slight grade is cncoun-
tered.
The use of this cut off will throw out
the trans sentimental traffic over the old
line from Ogden to Lucin, Nevada around
the Lake This strip of track is one
~ the most expensive of the Hartman !
system, the maximum grade over the !
long Promontory hill is l04 feet to the !,
mile and helper engines are always neces- |
sary. The elimination Of the use of these |
engines will mean the saving of at least !
81 10000 day in operating expenses and |
also saving of several hours in running
time.
Active work was commenced in 1902.
and thus the almost impossible task was
completed in about ~ months, The last
pie was driven during the last week of
October. This great work has cost over
", 200, 10000
The cut off runs from Ogden west Is
miles over level country before reaching
me lake proper, then across the east arm
of the Lake 9 miles to Promontory. Then
i've miles of solid road bed ana then ~
miles west over the west arm of the Lake
toward l4ucin and thence across the Great
salt Lake Desert to Lucin, Nevada.
Across the east arm oi the Lake, it will
De almost continuous film supported
~ trestlc. Near the middle of this will
'e a gap, of 900 feet Of open trestle work
eft for the waters o, the Bear river which
low into the arm of .the Lake.
Across Promontory Point runs five
niles of solid roa6 bed and here difficult
work. was encountered A cut of 5000
eet long in sand and rock of barren
'iuft being necessary. At this point, the
most beautiful on this inland sea, sur
eys have been made for an immense sum-
1er resort.
Across the west arm of the Lake is IL
lilcs of trestle work with film ap-
roach at each end of four miles. In
the work of spanning the Lake,
ne great difficulty was encountered across
nc east arm BY the settling of films and
,estle work. This was caused by the salt
Inc now OF tne Dear river having col
cited for centuries over the bottom of g
he Lake and having formed salt wall
|, 100 feet. II took 900 tons Of rock in
lies which appear to have reached the
ottom of the Lake proper and which has
suited in firm and splendid road bed.
In speech which he made at the Alta
Tub, Salt Lake City, on the eve of NE
,ening of the Cut Off," Mr.. Hartman
id:
The completion of this undertaking
i'll reduce the distance between San
rancisco and Salt Lake by Al miles, and
i'll eventually bring the time between
e two cities down to ~ hours.
1T is intended TO reduce the running
ne from Salt Lake to Chicago ITO 36
urs, and put passengers into New (Yorl,
Sc hours from Salt Lake.
These two railroads Union Pacific and
tthen Pacifie-have spent in the last
rec years somewhere near $3.50 .AN1
200 in repairs and improvements aside
~ the expenses of operation or main
a soft Heart Freddy Boo hool Sissyss
ne and Killed that liffla Az ~ ~. ,,ly,,l i