The Forrest City times., 1904-02-05
BRIDGING AN INLAND SEA.
stupendous Engineering.

We have in times past been told much
of wonderful feats in railroad building,
and much has been written Of the en-
gineering skill and daring that directed
the course of the iron horse across the
plains and mountains that lie between
the Missouri river and the Pacific Ocean.
"In the grandeur and magnitude of the
undertaking. the Union Pacific Central
Pacific has never been equaled. The
energy and perseverance with which the
work was urged forward, and the ra-
pidity with which IT was executed, are
without n parallel in history" were tue
statements of the special government com
missioners to the Secretary of the In
terror.
Thirty-fve years ago there was no time
10 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. II was magnificent con
test, but nowadays the owners Of the
road have been brought to consider other
problems One of these necessitated 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
Union Pacific and Southern Pacific Rail
road-the building of bridge across the
IL, l
and Lucin, Nevada.
The work being practically completed,
the new track was formally opened Cd
Thanksgiving Day when Mr.. + II Har-
riman. head of the Hartman Lines and
Dig party of railroad magnates partook
OF Thanksgiving Day dinner III the mid
die of Great Salt Lake.
The Ogden-Luein Cut or is l02
miles in length. - miles on land and 20
rIles on trestle work and films over the
waters of Great Salt Lake 1t presents
a practically level track except for short
distance on the west end near Lucin. Ne
vada, where a slight grade is eneoun-
tered.
The use Of this cut off viii throw out
the trans-continental traffic over the old
line from Ogden to Lucin. Nevada, around
the Lake. This strip of track Is one
of the most expensive of the Hartman
system. the maximum grade over the
long Pronontory hill is l04 feet to the
mile and helper engines are always neees-
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 II running
time.
Active work was commenced in 1902.
and thus the almost impossible task was
completed in about % months The last
pile was driven during the last week OF
October. This great work has cost over
The cut off runs from Ogden weat Is
mics over level country before reaching
the lake proper, then across the east arm
Of the Lake miles to Promoutorv Then
five miles Of solid road bed and then 70
miles west over the west arm q the Lake
toward Lucin and thence across the Great
Salt Lake Desert to Lucin Nevada
Across the cast arm Of the Lake IT will
be almost continuous film supported
by treste Near the middle Of tbs will
be a gap OF 900 feet OF open trestle work
left for the waters OF the Bear llver which
lie" INTO the arm Of the Lake.
Across Promontory Point runs FIVE
miles Of solid road bed and here difficult
work was encountered. A cut Of 5000
feet long IN sand and rock Of barren
bluff being necessary At TINS point. the
most beautiful on this inland sea sur.
Veys have been made for an immense sum
mer resort
Across the west arm of the Lake Is II
miles OF trestle work with a film ap.
proach at each end Of four miles In
completing the work Of spanning the Lake
one great difficulty was encountered across
the east arm by the settling Of films and
trestle work. This was caused hy the salt
Fl the flow of the Bear river having coli
iected for centuries over the bottom of
the Lake and having formed a salt wall
OF 100 feet. 1t took 900 tons of rock IN
plles which appear to have reached the
l.ft Il. u.
BOTTOM OF the Lake proper and which has
resulted in firm and splendid road bed
In speech which he made at the Alta
Club. Salt Lake City, on the eve of the
opening of the Cut of, Mr. Hartman
sand:
The completion OF this undertaking
will reduce the distance between San
Francisco and Salt Lake by Al miles. and
will eventually bring the time between
the two cities down to % hours
at Is intended to reduce the running
time from Salt Lake to Chicago to 80
hours. and put passengers into New York
IN So hours from Salt Lake
These two railroads. nion Pacific and
Southern Paclhe-haye spent in the last
three Years somewhere near $3.50 .00O.-
10000 IN repairs and improvements aside
from the expenses of operation or main
tenance."