Getting ready for work

Electronic reproduction of: Transcription of newspaper article : Mining journal (Marquette, Mich.), Nov. 6, 1886.

Source: The Mining Journal Marquette MI. November 6, 1886 Getting Ready for Work Mr. J. A. Latcha, the chief engineer and superintendent of construction for Brown, Howard and Co. contractors for the building of the DSS and A, is in the City and has secured office rooms in the Thurber Block on Washington street. He will use all the rooms on the ground floor east of the entrance, and will have a cashier and several clerks to attend to the work of the office. Brown, Howard and Co., have the contract for building the branch from Sage, on the DM and M to the Sault, a distance of forty miles, and also from near Sturgeon, on the MH and O to Ashl and and possibly Duluth, a distance of 190 miles, if the latter point is selected. The whole contract is to be finished by the 30th of November 1887, and will be one of the fastest jobs of railraod building on record. Mr. Latcha superintended the construction of the Nickle Plate, also built by Brown, Howard and Co., which is the fastest and best job of this kind on record, but this will beat it, as the Nickle Plate was built through an exceptionally favorable country, while portions of this line will run through a country offering great obstacles to the surveyor and constructor. Four or five division engineers, each with a corps of assistants, will have office along the line and will work under the direction of Mr. Latcha, the chief office being in this city. Two engineering parties are already at work near Lake Gogebic, and two others will soon start on that division. The line will probably run 12 miles south of Ashl and , avoiding heavy grades by not entering that place, and will strike the Ashl and division of the NP farther west. If this line can be leased by the company on terms which they consider favorable they will lease it, otherwise they will build their own line into Duluth, a distance of forty miles. The contract calls for the complete equipment of the road, the building of depots, etc., and the turning over of the line in complete running order. Steel rails only will be used, and the roadbed is to be of the best, the grade not exceeding 52 feet to the mile except in a very few places. The line will be located west of Marquette as soon as possible and then men will be put on and the work of construction prosecuted with vigor during the winter. It is the intention, if possible, to do all the heavy work during the winter, and as soon as the frost is out of the ground, to finish the roadbed and begin the laying of the track. The short time allowed by the contract requires the utmost expedition, and as soon as a divison is located men will at once begin work upon it, where ever it is. p. 2 Getting Ready for Work The Sault branch will offer a few obstacles, and will be easily disposed of. Men will be put on to cut out the right of way within the next ten days, and the work of preparing the roadbed will then be commenced. The line opens a great future for Marquette and will make it the great city of the northern peninsula. The tide of through western travel will pass through the city and a great field will be opened up for the disposal of all manufactured articles. The road is backed by men of enterprise and capital, and will be pushed for all it is worth. Great care will be taken in locating surveys west of Marquette to obtain easy gradients, with a view to economy in the h and ling of through freight. C.R. Cummings of Chicago, is the president and C.S. Brice of New York, the vice-president of the new company. Both Mr. Cummings and Mr. Thomas, another gentleman prominently interested in the road, are members of the firm of Brown, Howard and Co. Mr. Latcha will have entire charge of both the locating and construction of the road and will open offices here today. Marquette people may expect to hear of some lively railroad building in the next few months; it has got to be done if the firm lives up to its contract.