Grand Trunk betterments, etc.

The improvements being carried out for the alteration and extension of the G.T.R. terminals at Portland have been rendered necessary by the great increased in the Co.'s business there. During 1900, the traffic showed an increase of 50% over 1899, and the arrangements for dealing with it were found to be not only inadequate, but more expensive then the modern facilities to be provided will be. Work has been in progress all winter, and work on a new wharf, one of three planned, and a new station is now in progress.

The new wharf will be 550 ft. long, and 350 ft. wide, giving an area of 125,000 sq. ft.; it will be accessible by four tracks, and will accommodate steamers on both sides and at the end. It is contemplated to rearrange the entire trackage facilities in the yard, and to erect a new passenger station at the corner of Fore and India streets to replace the one demolished in March. There will also be erected a car repair shop, with a frontage on Fore St., and a new freight house leading off the same street, the latter being equipped with increased team track accommodation. The round-house, which was adjacent to the old passenger station, has been removed to Deering, where the stockyards are located, 2 1/2 miles west of Portland.

The new elevator, which is to be erected at once, will make the third owned by the G.T.R. in the city, and will bring its elevator capacity in Portland up to 3,000,000 bush. The elevator was designed by John St. Metcalfe Co., Chicago. Following are the dimensions:—

Total capacity	1,500,000	bush.
Width	101	ft.
Length	229	ft.
Height	177	ft.
Number of bins	208
Depth of bins	70	ft.
Capacity of bins	1,600 to 9,800	bush.
Number of elevator legs	14
Capacity per hour of each leg	10,000	bush.
Number of scales	14
Capacity of scales	8,400	lbs.
Capacity of scale hoppers	1,400	bush.
Number of power shovels	14
Number of distributing trolley spouts	44
Length of power-house	105	ft.
Width of power-house	47	ft.
Number of boilers, vertical tubular	4
Horse-power of each boiler	250
Style of engine and number, two horizontal Corliss
Horse-power	1,000

In addition to this there will be a conveyer system from the new house arranged at three separate points. The total length of this gallery system will be 2,735 ft. all equipped with 36 belts. A portion of this system will be fitted with two belts running side by side. The new elevator will be erected 350 ft. to the northwest of the other large elevator, but will be so equipped that the carriers of the present structure can be utilized by both buildings. For foundation purposes 4,000 piles were used.

The cost of the elevator, $300,000, is being financed by three Portland institutions; the Portland Savings Bank furnishing half the amount; and the Casco National Bank and the Union Mutual Life Insurance Co., $75,000 each. These loans will be made at 3 3/4% with the understanding that $7,000 of the bonds shall be retired every year until the whole indebtedness is cancelled.

The Co. contemplates the erection of a cold storage plant at Portland, but the details have not yet been fully completed. The plans will provide for accommodation for 150 cars of fresh meats and perishable goods.

As far as can be ascertained it is doubtful whether the double tracking between Hamilton and Niagara Falls, which has been completed to Jordan, as fully described in our last issue, pg. 109, will be gone on with this year. Contracts have not yet been let for the erection of the bridges over the Jordan river and Welland canal.

Railways: G.T.Ry.

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