Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-02-02
RIO CRANDE
IS FIRST
IN FIELD

Work on the Pennington branch
of the Denver & Rio Grande is to
be commenced not later than next
Monday This welcome news is an.
nounced by William McQuaid, the
right hand man OF Kilpa trick Bros.
the firm having the contract for
building the line.
Mr.. McQuaid arrived last night
from Denver, and brings the infor-
nation that an outfit is now on its
way from the west bound for Durango
to comence work. This outfit consists
of teams wagons, plows, SCRAP ers.
tents and all paraphernalia that goes
to make up railroad camp, besides
a large number of men
This outfit has been employed on
the Clark road in Nevada, and from
advices Mr.. McQuaid has they should
be in Durango Saturday night of this
week, coming ever the Southern.
Some idea of the size of the outfit
may be had from the fact that fif-
teen broad guage cars are necessary
for hauling it. II will require
many more narrow gauge cars, the
cnange from broad gauge being made
at Grand Junction. In the outdt are
| 100 horses. The outfit should reach
Grand Junction tomorrow night.
The outfit will be unloaded at the
point down the river where the Farm
ington line will branch Off about
| four miles from town. and
the first camp will made there and
work viii commence Immediately.
Mr. McQuaid said that j. E. Don
nelly, the superintendent of work,
would arrive tonight and make pre-
parations for receiving the grading
| crew.
| He stated that number of sub
contracts would be let. His company
was in correspondence continually
with subcontractors, and number
would be let, although he could not
tell at this time how many. The
number of subcontracts let will de-
| termine in measure the length of
| time occupied in completing the
| grade. Mr. McQuaid thought it could
BID finished within four months II
| the usual quota of subcontracts were
| let, but if his company was compelled
TO do the greater part of the work
it might take longer He was en-
| phatic in his statement, however,
that work would be pushed with all
possible speed.
As to labor he said mis- company
employed all kinds. The outfit now
on the way from Nevada was bring
ing large number, mostly men who
| follow that kind OF work-men who
have been with the company in one
place and another for a long time.
| Then they would have to ship Some
men in, securing them through the
employment agencies in Pueblo and
| Denver, whild they would be able
10 use some native labor He inquir-
ed as TO the Indian and Mexican La
| Dor and thought if it was satisfac
tory some of it might be used. Wages
ne said, would be s1.75 and $500 per
day for ordinary laborers.
Mr. McQuaid has been in Denver
the past two weeks, He has but re
| Gently come form Virginia, where his
| company had contract for build
| ing the Norfolk L. Western. He has
known of the contract for the Rio
| Grande branch for the past two
| weeks. This is his first trip here,
but Mr.. Donnelly, the supe pe.irtendent,
has been over the ground before. hav-
ing come in a short time ago for the
purpose of looking over the propo-
sition.
The kilpatricks are also engaged
on a big government irrigation pro-
ject up in Wyoming at present.
Mr.. McQuaid will stay right mere
for some time watching develop
ments.