Source: The Mining Journal
Marquette, Mi.
April 16, 1887
Saturday
On The Summit Division
From Mr. E. H. Barnes, of the firm of F. C. O'Reilly & Co.,
the sub-contractors for the Summit division of the DSS&A, the
reporter learns that grading was commenced on that division
Monday, the right of way having been entirely cleared. The
division covers between 50 to 60 miles of the road. Starting
from Nestoria the first mile has been sublet to Gibson, of
the lumbering firm of Heath & Gibson there, the next ten miles
O'Reilly & Co., are building themselves; and 12 and 13 miles
have been sublet to Mr. Lane. Barnes Lee & Co., have the next
ten miles and then comes Brown & Feore & Co., with eight
miles; the next four miles have not yet been sublet, but the
remainder of the division is held by Coforde & Sawyer, who
will probably sublet a portion of it. The Mining Journal understands that Mr. J. B. Roher, now in the city, has taken a
sub-contract on that part of the road.
F. C. O'Reilly & Co., now have 350 Italians and about a
hundred on the section they are building themselves. They expect 230 more Italians on Saturday and will put more men at
work as fast as they can provide camps for them. The reinforcement to arrive Saturday will be sent into camps about
five miles west of Nestoria. Before a month has passed the
firm expects to have fully 1,000 men at work there and they
will make the earth fly for all they are worth. The deep
snow has been a great drawback and Mr. Barnes says that there
is still plenty of it on the level in the woods in spite of
the many thaws recently. As soon as the snow is out of the
way the work can be pushed to much better advantage.
