Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-01-31

That the toot OF the Pacific-lnter-
ior iron horse will awaken the viii
lage of Wilderville by the Fourth OF
July, is the prediction of Engineer
Harmon, and look over the work
as it is progressing on the rignt-of-
way shows that the gentleman is not
far of in his calculations.
Remarkable progress in the clear
ing and preparing for the grading
has been made, four miles of the
lright-of-way being stripped of brush
and timber and made ready for the
teams that will be put on as soon as
the ground is in proper condition.
Camp No. 1 ON Allen Creek.
Camp No. 1, which is now estab-
lished on the banks of Allen creek,
will be moved to the five-mile sta
tion next week This camp consists
of a large cook tent and five bunk
tents, while a stable that will hold
10 teams has been erected, The
gangs of men who are operating the
clearing outfit and the crew of brush
burners operate from this camp, but
the work is now in progress at such
a distance from Allen creek that no
attempt is made by the men to return
to the camp for dinner, and the COM
missary wagon drives out every noon
and the men eat their Ginner In the
field Saturday noon the Courier
representative was present and was
invited to partake of the midday
meal with the jolly bunch of rail
road builders, and he can attest to
the quality of the provender that
comes from Camp /.
Donkey Engine" Pulls Oaks.
Ament's donkey engine outfit is
used in pulling the brush and tim
Der, and it makes quick work of all
that stands in its way. Saturday
great oaks and pines fully two feet
through at the butt swayed but a
moment when the powerful 2S-horse
power gasoline donkey" commenced
its tugging away at the cable when
| they would come crashing to the
earth. The soil is now filled with
water, in perfect condition for clear
ing, and when a tree is pulled 1t
comes out roots and all.
Burners Follow Grubbers.
Following this clearing outfit
comes the burners" who pile and
burn every bit of rubbish upon the
right-of-way All timber that is
large enough to make into wood is
trimmed up and rolled out to the
side of the clearing, and the ca
sional cedar is split and hewed into
grade stakes The burners are put
ting forth their best efforts, but even
at that they are fully half a mile be-
hind the grubbers.
The first two miles of the right-of-
way has been cleared the full 100
| feet in width, but the balance of the
way will only be cleared about 60
feet in width, this being considered
sufficient as grading will not need
to extend beyond that width.
A Five Mile Tangent.
After the line crosses the river in
South Grants Pass, where it makes a
slight curve, it will have a perfectly
straight track for FIVE full miles, and
there will be very little cut or grade
in that distance The sixth mile will
carry the road over the Jerome Prai-
rie hump" here being the heaviest
cut in the Is miles OF the first unit,
requiring the removal Of $500
yaTQS OF edrtl.
Steel Here in Sixty Days.
The grading OF the first ten miles
to Wilderville will be easy work, and
ii is expected that teams can be put
on the job within a short time. At
present the ground is too wet for
horses to work on it, but It is drying
rapidly after the brush is burned
from it. Those in charge Of the di-
rection of the railroad matters are
keeping in touch with the manufac-
turers OF the steel rails, and the
makers announce that the rails will
be ready for shipment here as soon
as they are ordered This order will
be placed as soon as the bonds are
sold and can probably be delivered