The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-27
CLOSING LAST GAP
! N ClhADA's RA|LR0AD'
Construction Crews On New
Transcontincntsl Railroad
Only $50 Miles Apart

CONSTRUCTION gangs on the Grand
Trunk Pacific will be about 500 miles
apart at the end Of 1911. The gang
working westward from Edmonton
now are 1853 miles west of winnipeg.
The crew working from Prince Rupert
on the Pacific eastward now are at
Mile 104.
The pioneering for the construction
of this remainder largely has been
done. this having included the three
year reconnaissance which resulted in
a line being located through the
Rockies ON prairie grade. The
crossing Of the mountains with one
summit only, 3712 feet instead of two.
three and four SUBMITS of 5000,
5000 and even 5000 feet elevation OF
other roads promises to be almost al
important to trans continental trafffc
as the Panama canal will be. The
shorter distance due to the smaller
circumference of the earth adds to
the significance of the low grade.
The approaching Completion Of the
construction has required an increase
of Prince Rupert's townsite area and
consequently 500 lots recently were
added and sold at prices double the
prices estimated In advance. But when
the original townsite was sold about
two years ago the prices were his her
than expected by several hundred per
cent and in some cases as high as
1000 per cent. When trans Pacific
steamships connect with the transcon-
tinental traffic over the Grand Trunk
Pacific accommodations and facilities
necessary will require large addition.
expenditures in Prince Rupert. It
has been announced that large ex-
penditures will be made during the
next two years for dry-dock and a
ship repairing plant, the latter to be
constructed under q subsidy granted
by the Dominion Government
The city already has invested sew
eral million dollars In waterworks.
sewers, streets, sidewalks and light
but the city council now Is consider
ing additional improvements III the
way OF heat light, power ana water
in preparation for the opening OF
transportation when the gap has been
closed by the construction crews and
freight and passenger trains on regli-'
lar schedules succeed to the work
trains which has disturbed the prirns
eval solitudes OF the great valleys be-
tween the mountain chains Of the
interior which i've years ago were
known only to prospectors and trap
pers.
Prince Rupert has sprung to a'lus-
ty city since the sale OF lots took place.
That sale did not occur until the city
had been plated, graded and supplied
IN
modern city in accordance withs- a
well defined plan. Five hundred miles
north OF Vancouver thanks to the
chinook winds, the climate il not se-
we're, but the SHOWS are heavy and
when the winter breaks 1t suddenly
is summer. There are 10 hours Of
sunshine in the Athabasca and Peace
river valleys, and wheat is grown from
seed in 80 days. Consequently care
full estimates have shown that Grain
elevator for every Is miles Of the
Grand Trunk Pacific line Will be
necessary from the eastern border OF
the wheat fields to Edmonton. North
and northwest Of the wheat fields
there are great forests that will sup
pluy fuel and lumber for the prairie
districts. Coal ID abundant In west.
ern Alberta and branch lines are be-
ing constructed to the Brazeau Held.
In Edmonton coal costs but $500 per
ton. In fact coal is SO plentiful that
on the north Saskatchewan river
bridge builders have bsen unable to
use the river sand because it il full Of
coal dust
The construction gang working
westward have now reached the dis
trict where it discovered a band Of
Iroquois Indians who, with their for
bears, had lived for q hundred years
in the interior valleys oblivious of all
that had taken place outside, peaceful,
contented and prosperous, finding at
hand all that they required for their
food, clothing and shelter.