The Sauk Centre herald., 1925-04-16

Achievements of John F. Stevens,
famous engineer, formerly Of st. Paul,
who assisted in the building of the
Panama Canal, were portrayed at
New York, March 23rd. at the Ameri-
can Engineering Foundation ceremo-
Stevens of the John Fritz Gold Medal,
awarded by a special board represent
ing the four great engineering socie-
ties of America, the American Society
of Civil Engineers, American Institute
of Mining and Metallurgical Engi-
neers, American Society Of Mechani-
cal Engineers and American Institute
of Electrical Engineers, President
Ralph Budd of the Great Northern
Railway delivered one of the princi-
pal addresses on this occasion. Mr..
Budd was chief engineer of the Pana-
ma railway under Mr.. Stevens.
The Fritz award Is conferred for
outstanding accomplishments in engi-
neering.
President Budd told of Mr.. Stevens
prominence in railroad construction
work in the West during the period
of its greatest building activity be-
tween the years 1875 and 1898. No
table among his achievements was the
discovery of Marias Pass in the
Rockies Of Northwestern Montana,
where he was sent by James ]. Hill
in 1889 to find, If possible, shorter
route across the Rockies for the Great
Northern Railway than had been dis
covered by any other railroad or Gov
ernment surveys. 1t seemed up to
that time that the line would have to
20 about as far south as Helena or
Butte to cross the mountains. Mr..
Stevens discovery Of Marias Pass In
the winter of 1889 obviated this necee
sity and gave to the Great NortheA
Railway q lower pass across the
Rockies than that of any other rail-
road in the United States. This was
a notable engineering achievement.
In speaking Of Mr.. Stevens discov-
cry of Marias Pass, Mr.. Budd said,
RAILROAD reconnaissance on the scale
then undertaken in major mountain
ranges and far from the bases Of oper.
alton called for more courage, ply
sical strength, and perseverance than
any other work which an engineer
was required to perform. With
these must be combined thorough
familiarity with frontier and Indian
life, technical skill and training in
determining what gradients and
alignment the country afforded, and
sound Judgment as to the cost o1
building, together with sense Of 10
cation and direction which amounted
almost to instinct. The necessities OF
the times brought forth a numerous
group of engineers who, to an extra
ordinary degree, possessed all OF these
attainments. In this remarkable com
pany, John F. Stevens was an out
standing figure. We do not have any
details of the hardships Of this re
connaissance. Hardships were &C
cepted as a matter Of course and al
most never mentioned. We do know
that his investigation carried him wei
into the winter and that his persis
tent search enabled him to report
that, on December II, 1889, he had 10
Gated and surmounted Marias Pass
and that 1t was on the line Of the
direct route westward. The thorough
ness with which he had covered tht
country enabled him to say that 1
was the lowest and best pass acros.
the Rockies in the northern United
States. The actual location of tn,
Great Northern through it at an alti
tude Of 5,212 feet, on 1 per cen
grade westbound and 1.S per cen
eastbound fully confirmed his report
The Great Northern Railway hal
selected a site along the right of wa!
at Marias Pass in the heart Of tht
Rockies of Glacier National Park OIL
which 1t will erect a monument t
Mr.. Stevens in commemoration of tn,
contribution his engineering genius
has made to the progress Of the Grea
Northwest.
Following this, Mr.. Stevens located
Stevens Pass in the Cascades for tn,
Great Northern in 1890. Referring t,
this achievement, Mr.. Budd said, Sc
believe it was the last piece OF actua
field work he did, and 1t Is, indeed
the work of master. Mr.. Stevens
remained In the Cascades until tract
laying was completed through to th'
Coast, January 5, 1898, little mor'
than three years after the discover!
of Marias Pass. He continued witt
the Great Northern until 1908, tn
last eight years as Chief Engineer o
the system, and two years as Genera
Manager"
Other outstanding accomplishment
of Mr.. Stevens in the engineering
world were the organizing, planning
and direction Of the construction o
the Panama Canal from 1905 to 1907
the construction of the Seattle, Port
land & Spokane Railway and severa
other western. lines Of the "Hill Sys
tenn In Oregon and Washington, ant
tha rehabilitation and operation o
theS crippled railways of Russia Aur
IND. .the years 1917 to 1921.