The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1908-12-31
freights over the old line.

freights over the old line.
On the g. M. & St. P, conditions are
about as follows:-Grading complete
and the work ofrip-rappingi of in progress.
Some decisions waiting from the en-
gineer department as to the amount of
the latter, but work going along o. K.
Track has been laid from Missoula west,
the steel miscellaneous track material
being hauled in over the n. P, ties
being cut in this territory. All the
track has been laid to the big tunnel
through the Bitter Root mountains ex-
cept stretch of 35 miles, now laying,
and dependent on the construction of
two large steel bridges over the Mis-
soula River. This stretch should be
laid by the holidays, which will see
all the track-laying done east of the
mountains, as far as MiSsOula. Of
this track, however, little or none has
been ballasted. The work of gravel
ing the Western Montana line will re.
quire months next year and will take
into the summer, unless an early start
is made in latter winter or by the first
of March. Between Missoula and
Garrison, on track has been laid
although one stretch from Missoula, to
point 80 miles east could be laid with
out interruption. There would appear
to be no hurry in that territory, as the
Northern Pacific must get out of their
way at several crossings of the Operat-
ed line, and the N. P. does not appear
to be in any hurry to do so. West of
the big tunnel through the Bitter Root
mountains, the track is laid nearly to
the tunnel mouth, the delay being
due to the erection of two steel
trestles, about 200 feet high and
varying in length, $50 and 800 feet.
The material for these structures is
being delivered to the g. M. & st. T.
Ry. by the Northern Pacific some
place west of the Bitter Root Mts., the
latter people hauling it over their own
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heavy snow has held off this fall and
winter to date, there is every pros
pect of the Milwaukee being able to
lay track to the west end of the st.
Paul Pass Tunnel.
AS to the st. Paul Pass Tunnel it,
self, the month of November has been
a second record-breaker, the total
length taken out being 1915 feet, or an
average of 248 feet per day. During
November, there were few if any in
terruptions on the score of bad ground,
or heavy water bearing seams. There
remains now, less than 1000 feet of
heading to take out; and with the
progress made in the past few months,
nothing except accident will prevent
getting hole through the mountain
by February 1909. Some of the rock
met in the recent drilling, shows up
we'll for ballast, and it may be decided
to hold the bench back, until the head
ing is through, and then use the bench
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such decision, there will be called
halt in the rapid progress of the work,
However, the tunnel itself, will not
be the key to the date of running
through trains to the coast, as has been
figured for some time past. The latter
will depend more nearly on the speed
of ballasting and the dates on which
the Northern Pacific will permit track
laying along certain stretches of the
Hellgate River,
With the closing down of much OF
the work for the winter, and compile
ton of much of it, the labor situation
has eased up materially, although it
has not been acute at any time in
1908. Weather conditions have per-
mitted continuous prosecution of all
kinds of grading, rip-rapping, etc.,
with the exception of few days in
latter November, when team work wa
suspended. The ground has thawed
out again however, and allowed the
latter to proceed during all of Decem-
ber to date.
A contract has been let for the re-
construction of the Higgins Ave-,
Bridge across the Missoula River with
in the city limits, price of same being
i S138, 100000. The bond exacted of the
successful bidder is double the amount
of the contract. It is probable that
this bridge will not be thrown open to
traffic before July of 1909. The sub
structure of concrete piers and abut-
ments, will carry superstructure OF
steel, with concrete drives and side
walks, and is designed to carry street
car traffic as well. Hoping this will
find yourself and family well, and
that you may enjoy happy holiday
season. / am