The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-01-14
Concluded on page A.

COWH WOulu Vanish from tne map.
The railways Importance to COM
mercial interests in general is also
clearly rev aled.
Although no extensive construct
ion was carried out last year, yet,
in the many reconstructions, addit-
ions made, here and there, during
the year, and in realignments, l12
miles were added to the mileage, the
total operated and controlled main
and branch line mileage, now being
nearly $500 miles. The most i'm
portant additions were some new
lines in North Dakota that opened
a productive agricultural country
and stock raising country. and a
new double track line from Tacoma,
Washington. west. This line, 43
miles in length, eliminates a line of
heavy gradient and that was oper-
ated at a great expense.
During the year 1877 new cars of
various classes were added to the
passenger equipment. Of these lib
were steel cars-mail and express,
baggage. first class coaches, parlor.
and Pullman sleeping cars, costing
in excess Of 81, 200, 900.
Three hundred miles of main and
branch lines were newly laid, or re-
laid, with steel rails weighing IS or
80 pounds TO the yard, in lieu of the
lighter rail formally laid. There
are now 300 miles of Northern
Pacific track laid with from IS to
100 lound steel rails and a large
part u It's lines equipped with auto
matte block signals providing safety
for its passengers.
During the year 1913 bridges were
replaced. Those of greater length
and importance-one half of all
were replaced either by earth en-
bankment or by steel or reinforced
concrete, aggregated more than a
mile and a half in length, Since
1855, when the Northern Pacific be-
gan to Systematically replace old
wooden bridges and trestles with
new, solid, and permanent struc-
lures, over 100 miles of such bridges
have been replaced by earth en-
bankments or steel and concrete
structures. Old entertainments have
been widened and new ones made,
miles Of stock and snow fences have
been built, long sidings have been
put in, hundreds of miles Of auto
matte block signals operated by
electricity, have been added, inter-
locking plants have been installed,
new stations have been built and
the track itself has been placed in a
condition unsurpassed by any trans
continental railway.
The Northern Pacific may be call
ed a crank regarding cross ties. 1t
believes that good solid ties we'll
embelled and ballasted, are the only
ones that will hold rails firmly un.
der the pressure and strain of fast
first class passenger trains and
heavy freight trains. 1t believes
that it pays to purchase only the
best ties and then to treat them
chemically so as to improve and pre-
serve them. To this end it has two
tie treating plants, at Brainern,
Mimi, and Paradice, Mont, for
treating all it's ties. These plants
have a capacity for 1900, 900 ties
annually. In the last fiscal year
5000, 900 new ties were placed in
Northern Pacific tracks-or, at
5000 to the mile, the equivalent Ct
1000 miles of track. This tells the
story of Northern Pacific methods
based on Safety First principles,
and of the way in which it safe.
guards the public that uses its trains
In maintaining its tracks in thi.
first class, A No. l condition the
Company spends from $1,000 tt
81, 900 a mile depending upon cos
of labor and material.
Many facts and figures of rail
way operation become, thru fam
iliarity, commonplace to railwa,
men. To others they may be ex
tremely interesting. Some few O.
these that may attrack the atten
ton of the uninitiated fellow. Tn
total number of miles run by al
the Northern Pacific passenger
trains aggregated more than 10,
300, 900 miles; of freight and mix
ed trains. 5000, 900 miles. Their
was about 5000, 900 passengers car
ried last year on the Northern Pac
iic railway.
These figures should indicate tina
the margin. of profit upon wpic
railways, those in the northwest, a
least, operating is not as deep as
well nor as wide as a churchdool
The ordinary business mar woul