The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-06-02
LAND SLIDE
WEST OF HERE
NORTHERN PACIFIC TRACKS DE-
sTRoYED NEAR TUNNEL.
HEAVY RAINS CAUSE
three Through Trains Get Through
Before Train Service u Again Grip
pled-May3 Divert Traffic over
Great Northern.

More than 700 feet of track and the
heaviest fill on the Northern Pacific
was destroyed by a land slide and
washout between Bozeman and Liv,
ingstant at each end Of the Muir tun-
mel Sunday according to an unofficial
report which reacher Billings yester-
day. Direct communication with the
west even as far as Livingston is ir-
regular and west of the Gate City is
completely cut of. The train service
is SO badly crippled that it will be
several days at best before trains
will arrive in Billings from the west
on schedule time. 1t is impossible at
this time to estimate the loss suffered
by the Northern Pacific as a9result of
the recent washouts and land slide.
The recent heavy rains swelled a
small mountain stream until it be
came a rushing torrent, which carried
everything before it, and this is be
neyed to be responsible for the wash
out and land slide of Sunday. East of
the tunnel near Muir it is reported
that $50 feet Of track over a so foot
fill Is washed out. The Northern Pa.
ciic has double track here. It is also
reported that 600 feet of double track
In the canyon near Chesnut has been
destroyed The fill here is equal to
that east Of the tunnel and has also
been destroyed.
Water Undermined Cliff.
Ii Is said that the land slide was
caused by the water undermining a
clih near the right Of way. 1t is re-
ported that besides the washout and
land slide several culYerts have been.
taken out by high water.
Before the land slide and latest
washouts occurred three through
eastbound trains got through Sunday.
Local railroad officials have no idea
when the other delayed trains from
the west will arrive in this city, and
owing to the fact that all direct means
OF communication with the west is
cut of there Is no way OF ascertaining
the status Of affairs.
Westbound passenger trains that
passed through this city Sunday are
tied up at Livingston and according to
reliable authority will not depart
westward for tome time. ALI depends
on the weather and should more rains
occur in that vicinity today, it is like
" that it will be several days before.
the track can be cleared.
May Use Great Northern Tracks.
A combination passenger train of
Nos. 3 and 5 was made up yesterday
at Livingston arrived In this city yes
terday afternoon and together with a
passenger made up in Billings were
the only e%astbound trains that left
the city yesterday.
Should the heavy rains continue as
during the last four or five days pas
senger service will be abandoned
over the Northern Pacific tracks and
Its trains will be run over the Great
Northern from Staples, N. D., and
connecting with the Northern Pa
cifc again at Helena.
Washouts were also experienced on
the Milwaukee railroad Sunday, three
bridges being washed out on that road
between Lombard and Miles City.
Telegraph wires ere also damaged to
q great extent and the business Of
the Milwaukee was yesterday con.
Quoted over the Northern Pacific
wires.
Washouts on the Milwaukee.
With the Milwaukee road chippled
80 that no connection could be made
w that line to Butte and the con
dition of the train service Of the
Northern Pacific it is impossible to
go farther west than Livingston.
Facing such condition the May Rob
son company which was booked to
appear in Butte tonight has been com
PEELED to postpone its engagement. 1t
Is rumored that should communica-
ton be obtained over the Milwaukee
road before the Northern Pacific track
Is opened the theatrical company will
60 by special train to Forsyth and
over the Milwaukee and connecting
lines to Butte.
Track that had Just been replaced
at Reeds Point and Big Timber after
the severe washout last week. was