Source: The Mining Journal
Marquette, Mi.
November 6, 1886

Getting Ready for Work

Mr. Je Aelatcha, the chief engineer and superintendent of
construction for Brown, Howard & Co., contractors for the
building of the DSS&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 & Co., have the contract for
building the branch from Sage, on the DM&M to the Sault, a
distance of forty miles, and also from near Sturgeon, on the
MH&O to Ashland 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 railroad building on record. Mr. Latcha.su-
perintended the construction of the Nickle Plate, also built
by Brown, Howard & 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 offer-
ing 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 Ashland, avoid-
ing heavy grades by not entering that place, and will strike
the Ashland 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 ina
very few places.

The line will be located west of Marquette as soon as possible
and then men will be put on and thw work of construction pros-
ecuted with vigor during the winter. It is the intention, if
possible, to do all the heavy work during the winter, and as
goon 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.
pe 2 Getting Ready for Work

The Sault branch will offer 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 road-
bed 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 handling 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. Cum-
mings and Mr. Thomas, another gentleman prominently interested
in the road, are members of the firm of Brown, Howard & Co.

Mr, Latcha will have entire charge of both the locating and
construction of the road and will open otfices 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.

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