East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-25
Tunnel WHEN
FINISHED WILL Be
LARGEST IN WORLD

The Rogers Pass flve-mile tunnel
Under the selkirk range, now under
construction on the Canadian Pacific
route, will be the longest railway tun-
pel on the American continent. the
longest at present being the 4 S-4
mile Hoosac tunnel on the New York
Central The $4,000 600 Rogers
/ ass tunnel will shorten the route
four miles and materially reduce the
grade. Since the completion Of the
Canadian Pacific in 1856, the first
transcontinental railway built across
continent in Canada, the company
has spent millions Of dollars in pro-
tecting and renewing its tracks on
extra locomotives used to haul trains
up heavy grades and in coping with
snowfalls and other physical handl-
caps which keep a large force OF men
and a large amount OF expensive
equipment busy practically all the
year. At Rogers Pass. close to the
summit Of the Selkirks, the company
now maintains large engine sheds
shops. snow plows and outfits ready
for service on both sides of the range
The Canadian Pacific railway engi-
ueers spent two years seeking a To-
cation for a tunnel through the Sell
kinks finally deciding upon Rogers
Pass. which crosses the range in the
midst of vast amphitheater formed
/ by rugged snow-capped mountains
OF the many peaks which form a
seemingly impossible barrier between
the prairie country to the east ana
the Pacific coast, Mt. Sir Donal;
forms the eliminating pinnacle, its
altitude being 1O.80S feet.
The Beaver valley lies east Of the
/ selkirk range and the IIlecilliwaet
valley to the west. On the trip west
ward through the pass trains start
the ascent Of the Selkirks at Beaver
mouth, 2S miles west of Golden, at
ar altitude Of 2435 feet and the most
northerly station on the route.
Before reaching Beavermouth the
read crosses the Columbia river at the
base of the Selkirks. which, in con.
trast to the Rockies are covered with
forests The line enters the Selkirki
through the Gate Of the Beaver river
a picturesque spot where a natura
bridge spans a torrent, which at that
point makes its final plunge down tC
the level Of the Columbia.
Six-Mile creek, five miles west o.
Beayermouth, is the junction poin
for the new location, which leave
the present route, notched into thu
mountain side and rising at an av
erage of 116 feet in the mile, and de
} scends into the Beaver valley, follow
ing the river to the eastern porta
of the tunnel under Mount MacDon
} aid. The scene of the operations i
more than 1000 feet below the pres
, ent track level of the Canadian Pa
cific railway. The route parallel
, the course of Bear creek after leav
, ing the station of that name, follow
, ing a continuous upward grad
, through five miles of sheds, erecte,
, to insure the safety of trains fror
the snow slides which frequently oc
, cur in that locality.
}. The western portal will be locates
|. about 1900 feet below and a shor
. distance west of Glacier House Tn
|. main passage will provide for doubl
|. tracks, and the approaches from bot
ends will have parallel lines.
The tunnel, which is 29 fet wild
and 20 feet high, follows a straigh
line under Mount Macdonald, emer
gng in the Beaver valley at a poin
: about 1000 feet below the presen
+ line. The eastern entrance is direct
e " below Hermit, a station just eas
: OF Rogers Pass The highest poin
e reached in the tunnel is S795 fee
above sea level and 5065 feet belo'
4 tIne summit of Macdonald Peak. TIL
: passage through the mountains wi
have a grade of 1 per cent up to tn
a interior summit
The "pioneer bore" is a new meth
cd of tunnel boring being employe
= on the Rogers Pass project. A sma
. preliminary shaft 7x9 feet, parallel
= ing the course of the main tunnel
. feet distant furnishes ventilation f0
. the main shaft and by means of eros
sections affords a means of dispOsin
= of the excavations during the Pre-
a gress of the work.
Vt The contract calls for completion {
the tunnel by the end of the yea
1916, about three and one-half year
from date of beginning.
l. By construction of Rogers Pas
o tunnel the Canadian Pacific is pre-
d pairing to compete with other trans
I, continental lines the Canada
e Northern and the Grand Trunk Pa
s cific, which were completed to tn
y coast last yearly decreasing the pc
o cent of grades and otherwise improN
$. ing the line in various ways.