The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1925-06-04

Achievements Of John r. 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 cereno-
MES marking the presentation to Mr..
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 1893. No
table among his achievements was the
discovery of Marias Pass In the
Rockies of Northwestern Montana,
where he was sent by James J.. Hill
in 1889 to find, If possible, a shorter
route across the Rockies for the Great
Northern Railway than had been dis
covered by any other railroad or Gov
eminent surveys. 1t seemed up to
that time that the line would have to
go 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 neces-
sity and gave to the Great Northern
Railway a lower pass across the
Rockies thar 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
steal 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 of
building, together with a sense of To-
cation and direction which amounted
almost to instinct. The necessities Of
he times brought forth a numerous
group of engineers who, to an extra
degree, possessed all of these
In this remarkable com
John F.. Stevens was an out
itanding figure. We do not have any
letails of the hardships of this re-
.onnaissance. Hardships were ac-
epted as a matter of course and al t
most never mentioned. We do know +
hat his investigation carried him well !
nto the winter and that his persis-
ent search enabled him to report {
hat. on December IL, 1889, he had To- |
ated and surmounted Marias Pass, I
that 1t was on the line Of the
route westward. The thorough
ess with which he had covered the
ountry enabled him to say that It
7as the lowest and best pass across '
he Rockies In the northern United '
tates. The actual location of the
reat Northern through it at an alti I
lde of 5,212 feet, on a 1 per cent
rade westbound and 1.8 per cent
astbound fully confirmed his report" ,
The Great Northern Railway has
a site along the right of way
/ Marias Pass in the heart of the
ockies Of Glacier National Park on
hich it will erect q monument to
r. Stevens in commemoration of the =
o~ntribntion his engineering genius .
made to the progress of the Great
orthwest. c.
Following this, Mr.. Stevens located
.eyens Pass in the Cascades for the
reat Northern In 1890. Referring to g,
is achievement, Mr.. Budd said, "a =,
it was the last piece of actual ~
I'D work he did, and 1t Is, indeed sa
e work Of a master. Mr.. Stevens O.
manned In the Cascades until track Pr
ying was completed through to the M
)ast, January 3, 1893, a little more -
an three years after the discovery
Marfas Pass. He continued with In
Q Great Northern until 1903, the ia
st eight years as Chief Engineer OF
Q system, and two years as General e
snager." III
Other outstanding accomplishments oe
Mr.. Stevens In the engineering 70,
,rld were the organizing. planning ~
d direction Of tho construction OF pu
0 Panama Canal from 1905 to 1907, IN
> construction OF the Seattle, Port.
I'd 4 Spokane Railway and several Ia
1er western lines Of the "Hill Sys.
In Oregon and Washington, and Rv
} rehabilitation and operation OF ~
} crippled railways Of Russia dur he
> khn ~oor~ 1917 - 1900 tJft