Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-01-09
G. N. PLANS BIG
IMPROVEMENTS
PLANS UNDER CONTEMPLATION
HAVE BEARING ON TER
MINAL QUESTION
MAY DOUBLE TRACK PARTOFLINE
Engineers Now Preparing Figures on
Comparative Cost of Two Plans.

able regarding the intentions of the
Great Northern to establish the much
discussed terminal yards at Boomers
Ferry, but several stories have ap-
peared in the city press of the past
week indicating that the company is
planning extensive improvements on
it's system during 1917. These have
been made necessary by the con-
gestion of traffic on this and the
Kalispell divisions, and by the in
creased volume of business that the
company is securing.
In running down these various
stories and rumors, the Herald has
obtained information from a reliable
source that may throw some light
on the ultimate plans that the rail
road will pursue. 1t is reported
that the engineers over the local and
Kalispell divisions have been in
structed to prepare data showing the
relative cost of improving this
freight congestion by two methods.
One of these would be to double
track the present line at strategical
points and thereby move the freight
trains over the divisions more rapid
ly, at the same time charging the
present terminals so as to more read
lily handle the traffic. If this plan
is adopted about half of the present
i ha 10 Two
say fifty or more miles in each di-
vision. The other plan contemplates
the establishment of new terminals
so as to shorten the divisions but no
double-tracking would be done. The
engineers are to report on the rela
tive cost of the two plans, and then
the supposition is that headquarters
will adopt the plan that will take
care of the traffic adequately with
the least expense.
1t is reported that this freight
congestion is most keenly felt at
Troy. On the division east of Troy
there is an unsatisfactory piece of
mountain road and it has been posi-
BILE only to move a certain amount of
traffic over it. The Spokane division
has delivered freight at Troy faster
than it could be handled eastward,
which has. resulted in congestion at
Troy, and this has spread backwards,
producing more congestion at Spo-
kane and along this division. These
are some of the reasons that make
necessary some radical improvement
of the system.
Considerations that favor the es-
Establishment of new terminals are
this question of relieving the con-
gestion and also the new laws limit
ing the time of the continuous en-
ployment of train crews. Trains
must be moved over the line faster,
which would necessitate double-track-
ing, or the terminals must be placed
closer together An indication that
favors the establishment of a new
terminal at Bonners Ferry is the
expenditure of several thousand dol
lars last fall by the Great Northern
in the purchasing of acreage adjoin-
ing Bonners Ferry and at the same
time the purchase of similar acreage
at Rexford. 1t is practically adj
mitted that if new terminals are es-
tablished Boomers Ferry is at about
the right distance from Spokane for
the establishment of a terminal if
the divisions are to be shortened. AS
stated before it is believed that plan
= will finally be chosen which will best
p handle the traffic at the least ex-
pense.
Reports are current that the COM
pany intends to elevate its tracks
at Spokane and unite with the North
ern Pacific in the building and use
of new union depot in the heart OF
the retail district; also to the effect
J that double tracks will be built al
various points in Montana, but moth
/ ing definite is known regarding this
construction and the western engi.
neers state that they themselves dc
not know what is 70 be done in. this
: way this year. 1t is interesting only
/ in that it indicates that the company
! is evidently planning the expenditure
Of considerable money in improving
it's system through this section.
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