The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-01-23
GREAT WORK
GOING ON
Hundreds Of Men Busy on
Trans. continental Line and
In Amarillo Yards
(From Thursdays Dally)

tulcu, On me santa re HuHuI'uo
Of men both ways out of Amarillo
are bringing to perfection the trans
continental line, and in Amarillo are
bringing into shape one OF the big
gest inland railroad yards in the
country. The Rock Island has I'M
dertaken a much less extensive work
In the construction west from ANA
rillo and is not obliged to keep mp a
construction department OF such pro-
portions as the Santa Fee nut work
on the grading OF the first section
west has been continuing steadily
and Is now well along toward readi-
ness for track layers.
Many Miles of Siding Ready.
A look at the Santa Fe yards now
being constructed gives some hint OF
the vast business which the system
is preparing for at this point on this
line. The main new yards are being
built south OF Tenth street and east
Of the present Pecos Valley lines.
They cover a strip from one to three
blocks wide and reach from Tenth
street south to the second section
line, distance Of over mile. In
this territory grading and track lay
ing gangs have been at work for
weeks. have built up almost the en-
tire area two feet higher than its
original level, and have already laid
number of miles OF track
Dirt for this extensive filling Is
being obtained from the cuts about
three miles south OF Amarillo where
the line crosses considerable ele-
walton. In this cut steam shovel
gangs have been at work for nearly
three months and the dirt taken
out has not only reduced the grade on
the elevation to an easy per cent
but has built up the grades which
cross the lakes between the city and
this elevation and Is being used n
building up the yards. The company
road has taken much more dirt from
the cut than would have been nee
essary for the grade reduction itself
because the place is in easy reach
of the place where the additional
dirt is needed and because 1t Is well
adapted to the rapid operation of
steam shovels.
No Surface Crossing.
From Tenth street south to Twcn-
ty-fifth there will be no crossing
over or under the tracks and yards.
TAT Twenty-fifth street the Glenwood
car line now crosses on a regular
surface crossing. When the con-
struclon gangs can get to the work,
however, this surface crossing will
BE- replaced by viaduct under the
yards which will take not only the
car line but the entire street under
the tracks OF the yards. This re-
moval of the surface crossing will
leave the tracks free at all times for
the use OF the company, and will at
the same time do away with danger
of grade crossing accidents. AS the
street, although the yards are mar
rowed down at that point, will cross
eight tracks, the danger that a sur
face crossing would entail is readily
apparent. The expense of the VIA
duct under the tracks is borne en-
tlrely by the railroad company.
Over -Four Miles of Yards.
Although the main new yards now
under construction are south OF
Tenth street, this is by no means the
only territory to he included in the
yards. From Tenth street north
through the present shop and yard
district Is distance Of about mile
and all this will be kept and added
to for the use of the road. At Third
street where the main begins to curve
out toward the Denver crossing the
yard area continues and for fully
two miles east of here the grading
has been done for two or more tracks
in addition 10 the main line, The
yard limits at Amarillo will thus GOV
err n distance of over four miles.
When the construction of thu
buildings to house the shops, offices
and other departments will be beguI
has not yet been given out and It Il
thought that these will not be takeI
, up till spring. The yard construc
ton will then be far enough aloni
to allow satisfactory work on thu
buildings and there will be no like
lihood OF interference from th'
! weather Plans for construction ar,
ready for use, however, wheneve
the building Departments is directed
Ito begin work. "A