the application of “ruberoid roofing” to both the inside and outside of lumber dry-kilns.
CONTRIBUTIONS
A Senate Committee of Investigation.
To the Editor of the Railroad Gazette:
Instead of rushing blindfold into railroad legislation, thus, perhaps, adding to the blunders of existing legislation, might it not be well for the Senate to appoint a committee of investigation for the purpose of determining what are the existing evils, and their causes, what remedies the existing laws afford, and what additional legislation is needful and practicable? I have in mind the very able report of the Senate Select Committee, that preceded the passage of the Act to Regulate Commerce, of 1887. This is one of the ablest reports on the railroad problem that I have ever seen. It may be said that the question of additional legislation is already before the House and Senate Committees on interstate commerce, and that the appointment of a special committee would seem unnecessary. But it seems to me that investigation by a special committee would be more thorough and comprehensive, and that the railroad side of the case I could be better presented. It would also give more time for the excitement, largely created by the Interstate Commerce Commission and some of the western commercial associations, to subside.
Henry Fink,
Chairman of the Board, Norfolk & Western.
New Tunnel on the North Shore Railroad.
The North Shore Railroad, operating between San Francisco and Cazadero, Cal., has a main line 87 miles long, which passes through one of the most picturesque portions of the Coast Range Mountains. The main division is narrow gage, while the suburban division, also formerly a narrow-gage line, which runs from Sausalito to San Anselmo and San Rafael, was opened as a third-rail
Route of North Shore Railroad.
electric line on Sept. 15, 1903. This portion of the road connects San Rafael, Mill Valley and Mount Tamalpais with San Francisco, as the company operates its own ferries between Sausalito and San Francisco, a distance of six miles. The main line, narrow-gage trains, which are operated by steam, also run into Sausalito, using the same right of way as the electric trains from Sausalito to San Anselmo, a distance of 10 miles. Between Sausalito and San Anselmo is the Corte Madera tunnel 2,200 ft. long, which is lighted by electric lights placed at short intervals on the sides.
The narrow gage line from Sausalito to Cazadero encounters some heavy grades among the hills of Marin and Sonoma counties. The heaviest one is at White’s Hill, about 20 miles north of San Francisco, where a 2½ per cent. grade is encountered, running for a distance of about two miles. To push trains over this grade, it was necessary to employ double-headers, and sometimes a rear-end helper besides. Owing to the rapidly increasing traffic of the railroad, about two years ago, the North Shore management decided to do away with this grade, and work on a tunnel under White’s Hill was begun in April, 1903. The contract was originally given to Martin & Hinkle, who subsequently, in February, 1904, threw up the contract, alleging a steady loss. The work was then taken up by the railroad company’s own forces, and rapid progress was made so that the line was finally opened for traffic on Dec. 4, 1904. The length of the tunnel is 3,190 ft., or about three-quarters of a mile. It is standard gage, 17 ft. wide and 20 ft. high, and is thus ready to meet future requirements when the road is changed to a standard-gage line. The tunnel is built on a tangent and is timbered with 10-in. × 14-in. beams. It saves two miles in distance, 28 deg. of curvature and 104 ft. of vertical grade, as compared with the old route over
North Approach, White’s Hill Tunnel.
South Approach to the Tunnel.
