Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-09-17
GAS PIPE LINE
JOB COMPLETED
WINSTON BROTHERS ADD AN
OTHER TO THEIR ACCOMPLISH
MENTS IN TREASURE STATE

winston Brothers company have
added another achievement to the
long list Of major Montana construc-
ton projects to its credit.
The latest accomplishment, compile.
ton OF the 20O-mile natural gas trunk
line for the Montana Power company
south from Cut Bank across the Rocky
mountains, is acclaimed by engineer.
as the most difficult and, at the same
time, the most rapidly completed jot
OF its kind on record.
Bcchtel e. Kaiser of San Francisco
was associated in the construction, with
the Phoenix Construction company as
principal.
Less than 80 days elapsed between
the start and completion of the Job. II
was necessary to cross three rivers, the
MariaS, Dearborn and Sun, and the
Sun river irrigation canal, as we'll as
lift the pipe over the main range OF
the Rockies, traverse Agawam swamp
and the troublesome Wolf creek can
yon.
Construction difficulties in Montana
were nc new thing to the Minneapolis
organization. At many points In the
states development it has taken a lead
ing part. It first came to the state in
the spring of 1879 to lay the track and
build bridges for the main line of the
Northern Pacific railway, three years
Of work in Montana that ended when
the golden spike was driven at Gold
creek to link the two ends of the line.
During the summer, the Yellowstone
park branch was built from Livingston.
The company returned to the state
next as contractor for the Great North
ern railway, building from Minot, Da-
kota territory, to Pacific junction and
through Great Falls to Helena. Though
long before days of power equipment,
this work was completed within one
season, not more than six months, es-
tablishing, company officials say, a
record.
Next, the Milwaukee railway required
services of the company. From 1906
to 1909 1t was constructing that line
from Durant, nea Butte, to the Idaho
border, and Of an independent line of
the Northern Pacific between st. Regis
and Paradise. This work, including on
~struction of Taft tunnel, under the
main range of the Bitter Root noun
tainS into Idaho, and about a dozen
smaller tunnels, was the most expen-
Sive and longest continuing piece of
construction handled by the company
in this state.
In 1909 the company built about IA
miles Of lines for the Great Northern
from Summit to Java; in 1912, about
1877 miles of line for the Milwaukee
from Lewistown to Great Falls, and in
1923, the Northern Pacif1c's 3O-mile
branch from Rosebud to the coal
stripping field.
Toward the end of 1923, the company
contracted with the Montana Power
company to build its Mystic lake power
plant, A miles from Columbus, in the
Beartooth mountains. A unique engin-
eering project, involving a tremendous
amount Of difficult and dangerous work,
its successful elimination rebounds to
the credit of the contractors.
In addition to these and several rail-
road contracts Of less Importance, the
company completed a half dozen pieces
Of irrigation and reclamation work. In
1912 it built the Dodson south canal
and in 1925 the Nelson reservoir canal,
both for the United States reclamation
service. In 1923-1925 it constructed the
Belknap, Alfalfa and Zurich irrigation
canals, the Valley Center drains, lat
erals for the Zurich system and the
Bynum irrigation canal.
1t Is nov constructing three highway
projects, from Livingston to Big Tim
Der, Malta to Vandalia and Plains to
Paradise.
Aside from pride Of achievement in
Montana, three officers OF the COM
pany, mi its president, admit a senti-
mental appeal. Their wives were Mon
tana girls.