Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1913-01-03
DETAIL WORK OF The
PACIfIC-INTERI0R R.R.

htAA ~ e"f@-s
The detail work preliminary to the
commencement of actual construe-
ton upon the Pacifc-Interior rail
way is now we'll under way, and as
soon as the necessary maps are com
pleted and filed with the land off,e
at Roseburg showing the actual
route to be taken, it will be possible
to put men and teams to grading on
the right-of-way.
Engineer Harmon in Charge.
Engineer W W. Harmon who had
charge of the construction work on
the Pacific & Eastern from Eagle
Point to Butte Falls is in charge OF
the engineers office here, while b.
f. Anderson is chief draughtsman.
These offices are in the Coe block
where DR.. Reddy also has his office.
The map covering the first twenty
mile section of the line is now nearly
complete. and will be ready for fill
ing with the land office within
week. This map is made upon
scale of 1000 feet to the inch, and
details land descriptions and curves.
The data for these maps came with
the purchase of the Draper-Gunn
rights, so that it will not be neces-
sary to put men in the field till
about time for grading to commence.
Then surveyors will have to set new
grade stakes as many of those that
were put in eight years ago when the
original survey was made have been
displaced.
Map Shows Direct Route.
A glance at the great map that is
being made in Engineer Harmon
draughting room shows how little
difficulty will be experienced in the
first sixteen miles of the distance.
This is practically water grade all
the way, and there is not bad curve
in the line. The Rogue is crossed
on leaving Grants Pass at point 500
feet above the old railroad bridge,
and then for two miles the road con-
tinues down the river but from one
fourth to one-half a mile away from
it, being about on a parallel with the
Crescent City wagon road The sur
vey then follows close to the county
road across Jerome Prairie to the
Applegate river, which stream IS
crossed three miles above its mouth
near Wilderville. There are no
grades for this distance, and the only
curve OF consequence is the one at
the Applegate crossing.
Up Slate Creek to Divide.
After crossing the Applegate the
road continues up Slate creek to the
Hays Hill divide. This divide is be-
tween the 18th and 18th mile posts
on the road out from Grants Pass,
and here are the only grades and !
curves on the entire route. A 1892
foot tunnel cuts through this divide, /
the elevation being 1000 feet, a raise
of about 600 feet above Grants Pass |
There is one loop covering a distance |
of one mile to gain half a mile IA |
the last raise to the tunnel |
entrance, but the heaviest grade is
only two per cent, and that for |
short distance only. The curve at
this point is ten degrees. Once |
through Hays Hills the survey
strikes the Illinois valley and follows
the water courses largely from there.
Engineer Harmon says that nearly |
to HAYS Hill there are no engineering
difficulties, and that all of the work
can be done by such equipment as
can be found locally. This will make
1t possible to employ home labor en-
tirely till the heavier construction
Is encountered when contractors
with equipment for tunnel drilling |
and heavier rock work will have -
be called in.
Winter Work is Best.
Mr.. Harmon says that it is essen
-ial that work be commenced as soon
this winter as the details can be ar
ranged as the clearing of the right
Of way through the granite soil can
be done much easier during the wet
Many applications for work
are being made at Mr.. Reddy's Of
fee, and it is hoped that provision
can be made so that all comers can
be put on the job within a short time