Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1907-04-16
RAILROADS ARE
RUSHING WORK
thousands OF Men and Teams BUSY
On Two Tracks Which Will
Pass Through Fergus County.
BOTH ARE FOR LEWIsrowN
Little Reason to Doubt That the
Great Northern Burlington Will
Come to This City.

| thousands OF men and teams are
now busy in Montana BUILDING an
the two great railroads. both of which
VIII pass through Fergus county and
both Of which will be connected with
Lcwistown. The Milwaukee, il al.
Already herr, having taken over the
already here, having taken over tho
| llne Will Be greatly improved when
'ne man track gets pretty well com
pleted through the state.
The feeling among business men
| OF Lcwistown is that the Billings.
Northern which is connecting the
burlington and the Great Northern
VIII also certainly get line into
thls city. Certain conditions. known
20 Dut few people, have prevented
survey INTO this city but the feel
ing IS now general that the survey
VIII be made this summer and The
actual work Of building will not be
delayed much longer.
Grading Half Completed.
More than 100000 per month IS
being paid to workmen and team.
sters on the grade for the BILLINGS
x Northern railroad between BILLINGS
and Judith Gap, territory tributary to
h!ilingS. according to the statement
OF M, +. Reed, in charge Of the
work on the new line from Laurel
to Judith Gap, says the Billings
Gazette.
MT Reed returned yesterday from
trip along the right of way of Tu-
dith Gap, the end of the first di-
vision. He says that more than 700
men and 800 teams are at work grad
ing for the proposed line and thew
represent wage of more than $780,
ooo per month. Mr.. Reed says that
fully 81 per cent of the grading is
completed on the entire right of
way and about 90 per cent of il on
the first 100 miles.
In fact the work has progressed
tar enough that we can see the finish"
IS the way he puts it.
While rail laying will begin on the
Great Falls end of the road this
week, in order to enable the con-
tractors there to haul provisions.
OWING to the poor roads, it will not
be started on this end of the line until
the grade IS completed, which will
be as soon as the Twohy tunnel is
finished. Then work of laying the
roadbcd will begin at once and be
pushed As soon as that is done.
which will be late in August or early
III September, the road will be bal
lasted Then it will be ready for
train service Mr. Reed says that
trains will be running on the new
road during the coming winter.
Work in the Canyon.
Chief Engineer Pentield Of the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul rail
road stated yesterday in Butte in
terview that the work of the con.
struction division between Lombard
and Butte is progressing satisfactor-
lily, and that the grade will be finished
by December. Some track laying
will have been done by that time and
that part of the work will end in
January.
TRAINS will be running into Butte
in January Mr. Penfield added
There are l,5OO laborers engaged
in making the grade between Butte
and Lombard, which are about 90
miles apart, gangs being located at
many points.
THE pay roll on this division is
between 10000 and $4,000 a day."
said the engineer -Four tunnels,
ranging from 500 feet to half mile
in length, three steel viaducts from
100 to $50 feet high. and many cuts
and fills are included in the work
under construction
The grading at present employs
800 teams besides the laborers and
the number will be increased to 500
shortly The company finds labor
plentiful, but its policy is to employ
all the labor possible and there is
room for more men and teamsters
at 50 day.
"Forty per cent of the work has
been completed, and the remainder
is being accomplished at present at
the rate of 10 per cent. MONTH"
Mr. Pen6eld said "Ths is quite
satisfactory"
The first tunnel is about 10 miles
from Butte The big tunnel, half
mile long, located near the summit,
is being excavated by the contracting
firm of Bryant, McFadden & Mott.
The nearest steel viaduct is about Ia