East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-05-28
NEW RAILROAD
RUSHES TO COAST
c. M. & ST. PAUL BUILDING
ING RAPIDLY WESTWARD
Scene of Activity In the Dakotas, Mon
tana and ashington-Revlew of
the Line From Chicago 70 Pacifl.
Coast Terminus nc Tacoma-TO be
Finished In Spring of 1908.

The Chicago American prints the
following entertaining story of the
rapid conclusion Of the Chicago Mil
waukee and st. Paul railroad to the
Pacific coast and describes as fol-
lows the country through which it
passes.
By reason of an unusual squirt in
work representatives of the Chicago
Milwaugee & st. Paul road say they
expect to have the great transconti-
mental line finished from Chicago to
Seattle and Tacoma next spring.
Regular trains are now operated on
the new Pacific coast line as far as
Mobridge, Lennon, Hettinger, Bow
man and Marmarth, in the Dakotas:
to Terry, Miles City, Musselshell and
Harlowton, in Montana.
Not in the history of railroads has
line been constructed with such
speed. The route from Butte to Sc
attic and Tacoma, with towns. dis
tricts and engineering feats, was CIV
en- out recently.
From Butte to Garrison, SO miles,
the line goes through the Deer Lodge
valley. Then comes the valley of
Hellgate river the timber district
West of St. Maries the road runs
through the Coeur d'Alene Indian res
ervation. The well known Palouse
district Is reached. This is one of the
richest grain and fruit belts of the
Trans-Missouri country. At Tekoa
the oregon Short Line will be cross
ed on a steel structure 1000 feet long.
From Rosalia the line continues
through this fertile and well settled
country 20 miles to Palisade. There
it reaches the shores of Rock Lake.
The banks of the lake are rocky and
precipitous, excelling in beauty the
far-famed palisades of the Hudson.
From Palisade the line follows the
banks of the lake five and one-half
miles to the new town of Lavista, at
the foot of the lake; thence 81 miles
through a country capable of produc-
ing grain, but which has hitherto not
been developed for lack of railroad
facilities. Six miles east of Rolston
the line passes over Cow creek on a
steel structure 1905 feet long. From
Lind to the Columbia river at Bever-
ly, 7S miles, the line passes through
the new towns of Roxboro. Warden
and Othello.
The crossing of the Columbia river
Is made on a bridge of 10 spans of
steel trusses, supported by massive
concrete piers, the channe span being
placed so high a draw is unnecessary
Twenty-Five miles after leaving the
Columbia river the line enters the
well known Kittitas valley, which is
irrigated by water drawn from the
river.
The line passes through a timbered
country to Snoqualmie pass, through
the Cascade mountains, at an eleva-
tion of 3010 feet. The Cedar river is
then followed into Seattle. The line
to Tacoma parallels the interurban.
Grading the whole. length of the
line is progressing rapidly with great.
ly increased forces. excellent progress
is being made upon the tunnels, and
the Columbia river bridge and all les
ser structures of the same character
are in a state of advancement which
makes certain that they will be ready
when the grading is completed. Track
laying on the coast will begin at Sc
attle and progress az rapidly as the
heavy work in the Cascade mountains
is completed