Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-11-21
HARLEM BOOMS AS
ROAD PROGRESSES
CABINS, HOUSES, BUILDINGS ABE
BEING TRUCxED IN no AC-
COAaAEODATR WORKERS

Work on the Great Northern
branch F0zd from Harlem to tine
quarry nt Snake butte, from which
facing rock for the Fort Peck dam
Is 10 be taken, has progressed rap
idly under the dry weather c0ndf-
tiODs and long open fall
The TOmlinsOn~A rkwright Construc-
ton Co. which has the contract, an
ticipates completion Of the road long
before the deadline Of April 1. Some
10000 Of the 10000 cubic yards Of
earth required to prepare the grade
have been moved. Three shifts Of work
men are employed daily, seven days a
week.
Crawling Suspended
Temporarily. crawling Of the grade
Is suspended until the entire grade Is
completed. Ties, arriving at the rate
of two cars daily, were placed on the
smooth ballast for a distance Of more
than three miles before laying Of steel
began; tie plates, spikes and bolts were
ready for the steel workers. About 5000
feet of corrugated pipe cuiverts have
been placed and 5000 feet Of piling
has been driven for trestles and
bridges.
The Snake butte branch joins the
main line Of the Great Northern Just
east Of the city limits of Harlem.
A temporary road Tor trucks and
construction machinery follows the
general route of the railway, even
crossing the river on dirt and gravel
fill. Huge piles are being driven for the
permanent bridge across the river.
AS the line enters the billy country
beyond the river, it swings back toward
The east for some distance until south
Of Fort Belxnap agency 1t again turns
"a a southwesterly direction and viii
enter Snake butte from the west
Grading has been underway since /
he first part of September, shovels /
md draglines having been employed l
It wide intervals along the route. Fills /
we're made from a large gravel pit
lbout midway between Harlem and the 4
,utte, the 'hole-in-the-walP method
II filling the gravel trucks being used.
Gravel Is hauled onto the grade by
lump trucks and spread by bulldozers.
den with horses are employed in level
ng the gravel, otherwise all of the
york is being done by truck and ma
hine.
All Phases Of Work
All phases OF railway construction
nay be viewed along the 14-mile line;
restles and bridges, deep cut banks,
reat fills, grading, graveling, laying
I ties and placing Of rails. The entire
me huns with activity as the work Is
resSed to early completion.
A new road, connecting Snake butte
nth the reservation highway, which
pins the federal highway at the agency,
j being built. A diesel shovel, sent from
'ort Peck, and fleet Of dump trucks
re on this job.
Power for the quarry work win be
FINISHED by a diesel-electric genera
or borrowed from Fort Peck.
Every available house in Harlem Is
coupled. InnumerabIe dwellings have
cen moved into town from abandoned
arms and claims. Buildings have been
tucked In from as far away as Turner,
lore than 30 miles north. Several
roupS Of cabins have been erected:
ANY workers reside In trailer houses.
very attempt is being made by the
ty to supply adequate facilities for
le workers. who have flocked here for
nployment on the railroad and who
Ill be arriving In the spring when
,tual work at the quarry begins.