The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-12-20
THE RAILROAD SITUATION.

In the way of railroad construction
there is nothing of stratling nature
to report this week. There is no rea-
son to express any doubt as to the in
tentions of the contractors, and this is
one instance at least where a promise
of railroad activity is not to be fol-
lowed by some lame excuse why it did
not happen. Railroad building on the
branch is to be done this winter, take
that for certainty, and it is not nee
essary to go into the realms of con-
lecture as to the probable extent of
that building. 1t is enough to know
that steel is to be laid so that trains
can pass to and fro, be the distance
great or small, before the new year is
very far advanced upon it's travels.
That is sufficiently cheering at this
season, and after so many disappoint-
ments, and start is bound to end in
completion, some time.
There is an air of business and
hustle at the railroad yards very
pleasing to note. Car load after car
load of ties have arrived, more are to
come, and as they are sidetracked a
force OF men stack them up in huge
mountains at places the most con-
venient to handle when the time comes
to push them to the front. The only
steel that has arrived so far is that
to be used in the building of the new
siding needed for the material trains.
This spur is already under way. 1t
Will extend from point just west of
the depot, and south of the lines al
ready in use, half a mile to the east
ward, very materially increasing the
trackage in the local yard. The only
drawback about this improvement is
that another track has to be crossed
getting from one part of town to the
other. Rails for the branch should be
arriving the last of this week, and the
track laying machine is expected any
day. A number of railroad workmen
are already on the ground, and this
force will be greatly increased. The
boarding and bunk house train of ten
cars arrived the last of last week, and
Is in place on a siding, all ready for
occupancy 1t will be thus observed
that all the required preliminary steps
are being taken, so that when the time
is ripe work of construction can go
ahead without halt.
When Guthrie & Co. completed the
contract for grading the branch from
OrOv1lle to PaterOs, two years ago,
they left a large shed standing that
had been. used .s~;~ p supply and COM
missary depot. Under the pelting
stress of weather during several sea-
sons this building, never erected for
permanency in the first place, became
very much frayed at the edges. Indeed
1t had become so disreputable as to be
almost nuisance. 1t was left for a
purpose as it turns out. The contract
ors had an eye upon the ultimate
completion of the branch, and now
that old structure comes into play. Mr..
Colquhoun, who will represent Guth-
rie & Co. at this place during track
laying. has had the building entirely
overhauled and repaired during the
past week. 1t will again be used as an
office and depot.
Engineer Hill and his assistants are
busy going over the line and ar
ranging for leveling up the grade
wherever the wear and tear of time
has worked any damage. Hr. Hill re-
ports that the grade is in much bet
ter condition than could have been ex-
pected under the circumstances, and
that what repairs are required will
consume but little time, and cannot
delay construction. Gangs are at work
on the grade at several points be-
tween Oroville and Riverside.