Fergus County Democrat., 1908-01-21
milwaukee MAKING
RAPID PROGRESS
ALL RECORDS BEING BROKEN
IN FAST WORK ON GREAT
EXTENSION.


culean efforts that are being made
in rushing the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul's extension to the Pacltlc
coast. 1t was stated yesterday by
railroad experts that the progress OF
this line was little short OF sensa-
tional, and that in the railway his
tory of the country no such record
speed had before been made in build
ing a transcontinental line.
Skeptics in the financial district
who have been shaking their heads
over the St. Louis project will be SUR
prised to learn that up to date one
half of the 1,5O0 miles has been
graded and will be established in less
than three months, when a through
train service will be established from
utte, Mont, eastward to Chicago,
ready to carry through traffic, and
to attend to local business, which
is said to be abundant.
Rails are being laid on the graded
roadbed at the record rate Of four
miles day and it is expected that
y The new line from Butte will be a
paying proposition from the time
when through trains begin running
on April /. The St. Paul has al
The entire amfw amfw amfw amfwy
ready provided for the new line.
The entire extension to Seattle, it is
said, will be finished by January J.,
1909.
The iinmensity OF this project may
be realized from the fact that it in
cludes the construction of 10 tun-
nels, two of them east and the 9th
er II west of Butte, all Of which
are more than 600 feet in length.
Construction work is now under way
at every one of the tunnels. The
longest tunnel is in the Bitter Root
mountains, which it penetrates dis
tance Of $500 feet, or one and three
fifths miles. The next largest is D.
400 feet, and the third, ZOO feet
Officials of the St. Paul have been
observing more or less secrecy re-
garding the great endeavorS that
have been put forward to rush the
extension to completion. Thousands
of men have been employed contin-
uously not alone in construction
work from Evarts, S. D., but also
from Seattle eastward. No money
effort or labor has been spared ir
building the line.
Having once got ahead" said one
OF the St Paul interests yesterday
I'VE would willingly spend $1,000,
600 or $3,O0O,O0O more than we orig.
inally intended if that would ex-
pedite the completion of the line
But, as a matter of fact, the cost OF
labor is no longer excessive, two re-
ductions having already been made
in the wages OF the laborers engag-
ed in construction work.
Notwithstanding the progress
made to Butte, to which point 75C
miles have been graded, 90 per cent
of the grading of roadbed has been
accomplished in Washington and IS
per cent in Idaho.
Several hundred miles already
completed are being operated and are
paying their cost. We expect, in
deed, that every section, as soon as
completed, will be operated and will
be money making proposition from
the start.
"Of course, the road will be new
and will have to be rebuilt and re-
paired here and there from time tc
time. 1t is known that it takes al
least five years to get road in per.
feet shape. But our new line is be
be amply able to handle all the bus
mess offered to it from the start
will be good enough line for
new road.
Furthermore, there is plenty 0
business in sight in the territor,
which the extension passes. TIL,
princiual through traffic is in the ma
ture of livestock, and there is enough
local traffic alone to pay charges,
Musselshell News: The fact tha
two burglaries were committed il
Harlowton Wednesday night make
it pretty evident that the town need
additional protection. Depuy Sher
iff Johnson cannot be on duty nigh
and day, and an additional deputy i
necessary as night officer. A wei
known merchant suggests that tn
county commissioners might be in
duced to authorize such an appoint
ment if the business men of Harlow
ton would pledge themselves to pa
considerable portion of the salar,
This is matter which no doubt wi
receive the prompt attention of tn
business mems organization, which
to be effected Saturday night.
Musselshell News: Rev. J. Phil
Anshutz was a caller at the New
office one day last week, and CAV
the pleasing assurance that til
church building project, to which /
has been devoting considerable tim
was rapidly assuming definite shap
and that actual construction wol
would be commenced early in II
SDrinp The edifice will he of ctop
from the same quarries as supple
the material for the Marshall sto
building. 1t will cost about $500
OF this amount $3.50 has been alreae
raised, and a considerable addition
amount has virtually been pledge
1t is known that a goodly sum W
come from eastern sources.
Closing the Gap.
Musselshell News: Iaf Sci