The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-01-29
,skIDGixa AN IxLAsD SEA.
.stupend oas E.ginceriIs. !

j o.
We have in times past been told much
md much has been written. of the en-.
cheering 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 Las never been equaled: The
energy and perseverance with which the
work was urged forward, and the "a.
without parallel in history" were the
statements Of the special government COM.
terror. $.l. r., 13 sS r. g..
Thirty:five years ago there was no time
to spend on work similar to that which
has just been completed. Then the world
wa. watching while the builders OF thu.
for supremacy. twas magnificent con.
test, but nowadays tho owners Of the
road have been brought to consider other
problems. One of these necessitated the
Strengthening Of tie track.
# One of the most interesting and diff
cult feats Of railroad engineering ever
the owners of 1.-THE Overland Route, !"
road-the building of q 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.. J.: H. Har:
riman, head of the Hartman Lines, and
q big party Of railroad maenates partook
9 Ct T FL Gss.st Sa Pay . dinner in the mid
R The Ogden-Lu Cut OF" is l02
miles in length, u miles on land and 30
miles on trestle work and films over the
waters of Great Salt Lake. It presents
Z practically level track except for short
distance on the west end near Lucin, Ne
vada, where slight grade is encoun.
tered. .''"
Il: The use Of this cut off will throw out
line from Ogden to Lucin, Nevada, around
the Lake. This strip Of track is one
of the most expensive Of the Hartman
eystem, the maximum grade over the
long Promontory hill il 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
q 10000 a day in operating expenses and
also saving of several hours III running
time.
VI 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
~, zoe, 10000.
The cut off runs from Ogden west Is
miles over level country before reaching
of the Lake miles to Promontory.. Then
five miles of solid road bed and then -
miles west over the west arm of the Lake
toward Lucin and thence across the Great
Salt Lake Desert to Lucin, Nevada.
Across the east arm of the Lake, it will
be almost a continuous film supported
by trestle. Near the middle of this will
be a gap, of 600 feet, Of open trestle work
left for the waters Of the Bear river which
flow 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 1900
feet long in sand and rock of barren
bluff being necessary. At this point, the
most beautiful on this inland sea, sur.
veys have been made for an immense sum-
mer resort.
l.. Across the west arm of the Lake is IL
miles of trestle work with film ap-
proach at each end of four miles. In
completing the work Of spanning the Lake,
Sone great difficulty was encountered across
trestle work. This was caused by the salt
( Of the How Of the Bear river having col
s1ected for centuries over the bottom Of
the Lake and having formed a salt wall
Of 100 feet: 1t took 1000 tons Of rock in
pxes which appear to have reached the
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 Off," Mr.. Hartman
said:
1.-THE completion of this undertaking
viii reduce the distance between San
will eventually bring the time between
the two cities down to ~ hours.
1T is intended to reduce the running
time from Salt Lake to Chicago to 50
hours, and put passengers into New York
in So hours from Salt Lake.
"These two railroads--Union Pacific and
Southern Pacifc-have spent in the last
three years somewhere near $l30,0oo,-
10000 in repairs and improvements aside
from the expenses of operation or main-
tcr,ance."
- ASoft Heart Freddy" hoo! Sissy's
gone and killed that little fly on the win.
Hnu, - MokLox H1r, <r1oj ~ eoo nv, 1;A%1>