The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-29
He GETS A REST.
W. g. Smyser, Veteran Civil
Engineer, Relieved.
For % Years Has Been EN-
plOyed By Santa Fe.
ON SPECIAL WORK.
SPECIAL
WORK.
Services will BE Less
OnerOus.
Interesting "reminiscences Of
Mr.. Smyser's Experiences.

Mr.. W. G. Smyser, who has been
connected with the engineering de-
partment of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railroad ever since March,
1879, or in round figures, 81 years. has
been assigned to handle special work,
which arises from time to time. giving
up the position of Office engineer upon
his own request The change becomes
effective on October /.
Mr.. Smyser was born in the now
historic town of Gettysburg; but in his
early youth the family moved to Nor
ristown, Pa. his father being one Of
the district judges of the state. After
graduating at the Polytechnic college
at Philadelphia. Mr.. Smyser Joined an
engineer corps engaged in surveys in
tn Allegheny mountains for,the Penn
sylvania company. After a years SER
vice he resigned to accept position of
assistant engineer on the survey across
the continent that was made in the in
terest of what was then the Union Pa
cific railroad eastern division, now
that part Of the Union Pacific extend
ing from Kansas City via Topeka to
Denver. The expedition organized at
! SaIina, which was then the end Of
track, though the contractors, Shoe
maker. Miller & Co, were at work as
far west as Fort Hays.
General W. W. Wright was the en-
gineer in charge and under his direc-
ton the survey was made to the Rio
Grande. From that river to the Pac-
ciflc General W. J. Palmer, now Of
Colorado Springs, was in direct charge.
The survey proper began at Fort Wal
lace and terminated at Los Angeles,
then a small Mexican town of about
1000. The entire survey was through
a hostile Indian country and SO q large
soldier escort was always with the
engineers
From Fort Wallace the line sur
veyed was southwest to the valley OF
the Arkansas near old Fort Lyon.
From the river two routes to the Rio
Grande were surveyed, one via Ration
Pass, Fort Union and Las Vegas. the
other, the one IN which Mr.. Smyser
took part. crossing the Rockies at San
gre de Christie Pass. thence via Fort
Garland to the Rio Grande at ConeJos.
Thence following down that river to
Santa Cruz thence via Santa Fe and
Tajeras canon to Albuquerque. The
two parties met at Fort Craig, near the
present town Of San Marcial- From
Fort Craig the parties again took DIFF
ferent routes. one following the 32nd
parallel, the route on which the Santa
F'e is built from San Marcial to Dem
ing, and from Deming west to the
coast the Southern Pacific. The other
party retraced its steps up the river
to Isleta and from that indian pueblo
made survey along the 35th parallel,
the line upon which the Santa Fe is
built west from Albuquerque.
AFTER reaching the EcclQC, ol42E-
ser with General Rosencrans, Colonel
Sedgwick and a few other friends,
took steamer, the "Orizabe, to San
Francisco From that city he returned
to New York via the isthmus- Going
direct to Washington he was there en-
gagged with General Palmer until the
adjournment Of congress. The company
failing in its efforts to secure subsidy
from congress all field work was sus-
pended. So Mr.. Smyser took position
railroad on surveys from Bangor, Maine,
to St. Johns. N. B. Finding it no fun to
work out of doors in nidWinter In Maine
Mr.. Smyser resigned to accept position
on the road to be built from Leaven-
worth to Atchison. He had charge OF
the Atchison end. After getting the grade
and bridges ready for the track he was
called to Leavenworth to take position
rendered him by his old friend, General
Wright, on the construction OF the bridge
across the Missouri river at Fort Leav-
enworth Mr.. Smyser was in direct
charge Of ell the field work covering not
only the bridge proper but the railroad
and wagon road connections. At this
time the Missouri river was spanned by
but one bridge at Kansas City. Three
other bridges were under construction,
viz: for the old North Missouri Railroad
company, now the Wabash, at st.
Charles: at Leavenworth and at Omaha.
They were completed In the order
named. Inc AeAR6HWoFtA DrlQ85 u1AcH-
ed from the St. Charles bridge by having
longer spans and the substructure being
cast iron cylinders fitted with concrete
instead Of being all masonry
Completing that work soundlngs and
surveys were made for bridges at Atchi-
son and Nebraska City but neither Of
these bridges were then built
Mr.. Srnyser next took service with the
M. X & T. at Sedalia, with which COM
pany he remained two years leaving
/ It to go with the PittsEurg & Lake
I he came to the Santa Fe, which at that
time was IN operation from the Mis-
souri, river to Pueblo and Trinidad with
several branch lines in Kansas. The
operated mileage was 1,050 miles. Now,
excluding the coast and gulf lines, the
! mileage Is 6,0419 SO miles, exclusive of 8o9
] miles OF second track all Of which In