The progress., 1904-03-05
BRIDGING AN INLAND SEA.
Stupcndoua Engineering.


We have in times past been told mucl
of wonderful feats in railroad building
and much has been written of the Ell
gineering skill and daring that directed
the course OF the iron horse across tht
plains and mountains that lie between
the Missouri river and the Pacific Ocean
an the grandeur and magnitude of tht
undertaking, the Union Paci6c-Centra
Pacific has never been equaled. Tht
energy and perseverance with which thu
work was urged forward, and the ra
without a parallel in history" were tlt
statements of the special government com
missioners to the Secretary of the In
terror.
Thirty-fve years ago there was no tim,
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
Tor supremacy. 1t was a 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
:oad--the building of bridge across tie
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.. i. II. Har-
riman, head of the Hartman Lines, and
q big party of railroad magnates partook
Of Thanksgiving Day dinner in the mid
die of Great Salt Lake.
The Ogden-Lucin Cut Off, is l02
miles in length, 70 miles on land and 30
miles 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 slight grade is encoun.
tered.
The use of this cut off will throw out
the continental traffic over the old
line from Ogden to Lucn, Nevada, around
the Lake. This strip of track is one
CT 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-
cary. The elimination of the use of these
engines will mean the saving of at least
Sl,5oo00 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
plie was driven during the last week of
October. This great work has cost over
S4.2No, 10000.
The cut off rims from Ogden west Is
miles over level country before reaching
the lake proper, then across the east arm
Of the Lake 9 miles to Promontory. Then
five miles of solid road bed and then ID
miles vest over the west arm of the Lake
toward Lucin and thence across the Great
Salt Lake Desert to Lucn. Nevada
Across the east arm of the Lake, it will
he almost continuous film supported
by trcstlc. 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
how 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
blufi being necessary. At this point, the
veys have been made for an immense sum-
mer resort
Across the west arm of the Lake is II
miles OF trestle work with film ap-
proech 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
'itStc Noik. HIS was caused DN the salt
of the flow of the Bear river having col
lected for centuries over the bottom of
the Lake and having formed salt wall
OF 100 feet 1t took 1000 tons of rock in
piles which appear to have reached the
bottom oi 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
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
1T is intended TO reduce the running
time from Salt Lake to Chicago to 36 |
hours. and put passengers into New York |
in a6 hours from Salt Lake.
These two railrcads-Union Pacific and |
Southern Pacihc-have spent in the last |
three years somewhere near Sl30. .O00.- |
ll0J.eo in repairs and improvements aside |
from the expenses Of operation or main |
tenance."