The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1907-01-02

cause all parties concerned To ride
freight trains whenever possible. The
tonnage of the east bound freights thru
that territory is so heavy and the speed
so low, that an active person can drop
off at most any point between the ter
minalS. But this is not the case with
the west bound freightS, which have
the assistance of the grade in giving
them speed. The operating officials
are kind, and have given all possible
privileges to us, in the matter of get
ting over the road on freights. The
weather has been ideal for out-of-door
work during the late fall and early
winter. Since coming ON November
oath, it has been possible 10 work out
side every day, There are two steam
shovels working now in earth, and at
the worst they dig not to exceed foot
of frost. There have been two falls Of
snow, one inches and the second one
of inches, both of which have disap-
peared within "a hours of the end of
the storm. The thermometer has
stood nearer 80 degrees than any other
point during the past three weeks.
A popularity of this particular job,
lies in the fact that the G. M. & st. p.
Ry. is to build up the same canyon
with its new liue to the coast. In
several places, the track of the latter
is directly adjacent to the line of the
Northern Pacific, there being several
large joint cuts, and in the vicinity of
the tunnels, the lines are quite close,
so much so as to leave only so ft.
wall between the two tunnels. The
work of location and construction on
the G. M and st. p. is in charge of the
former chief engineer of the Northern
Pacific, Mr.. j. G. Pearson, who is max
ing the best of his construction and
operating experience with the latter
road, to plan good railroad for the
G. M. & st. p.
The Winston Bros. & Co.. has also
the contract for the grading of line
on the Northern Pacific in Western
Montana, connecting Paradise on the
main line west of Missoula, with st.
Regis on the Occur d'Alene branch.
This line is designed primarily to
make low grade freight line follow
ing the MisSoula river from Missoula
to st. Regis, then taking the new line
from ST. Regis to Paradise still follow
ing the Missoula river, until reaching
the main line at Paradise. BY this
proposed route for freight trains, a
very heavy divide is avoided between
Missoula and Paradise, over which all
through freight is now hauled at
great expense for helper service.
The first three or four months of the
work here will be used in organizing
the forces for the active work of the
coming spring and summer. The
Winston Bros. Go. are now operating
two steam shovels ON the approaches
to two of the tunnels. These shovels
are of the larger and later type of the
Bucyrus of the South Milwaukee;
after excavation, the material is hand
led in three yard dumps by sm all To-
comotives, known as dinkeys. The
contractors will have $15O,OOO worth
of equipment, material and labor in
the work before cent of return is
given them by estimate.
One pecularity of the present work
to me personally,is the working among
the everlasting hills. The mountains
which enclose the canyon of the He'll
gate vary in height from 800 to 2,0O0ft.
and they give it to me, who has lived
on the open prairie for years, feel
ing of being shut in. AS pretty asight
as have ever seen on railroad, was
visible not long ago, when No. S with
an electric headlight pulled into He'll
gate station with the whiteglare of
the electric light shining on the noun
tains emile away. The whole work,
estimated to require year and half
in time, will be of unusual interests ,and
/ hope from time to time, as special
problems of interest come UP, to give
you a hint as to them and their So
luton. Will see considerable of tun-
mel work, all of which will be new
and interesting to me.