Sunday, October 18, 2009

The Ritzville Branch Valuation

As done by the Northern Pacific in 1922.

Maps and information can be seen here and here.

RITZVILLE BRANCH

May, 1922
Branch Line Data, Pasco Division
Ritzville Branch, Bassett Junction to Schrag, Washington, 12.54 miles

DATE BUILT OR ACQUIRED
This branch, extending from Bassett Junction to Schrag, a distance of
12.3 miles, was constructed by the Northern Pacific for account of the
Connell Northern Railway Company between August, 1909, and July, 1910,
and operated by the constructing company for the Connell Northern from
the date of completion to June 25, 1914, at which date if was
purchased by the Northern Pacific, who has continued operation.
Present length of branch 12.54 miles.

PHYSICAL CONDITION
Ties. In good condition. About 44 percent are treated and 74 percent
tie plated. Renewals in 1922 6.7 percent.
Rail. About one mile of 72 pound laid in 1910. The balance of 85
percent laid in 1913. All in good condition and sufficient for the
traffic.
Ballast. Earth surfaced and satisfactory for the present traffic.
Banks. In good condition except at various points where some widening
would be desirable requiring about 1,750 yards of material.
Ditches. In good condition and no work with ditcher is necessary.
Buildings. In good condition and adequate for the business.
Bridges Two pile and frame trestles; one 199 feet long, the other 194
feet long. In good condition and will not require attention for some time.

AUTHORIZED WORK AND CARRYOVER
None.

BUSINESS HANDLED
The only commodity of any importance originating on this branch is
grain, carload shipments being as follows:
1917 90
1918 95
1919 30
1920 94
1921 45

REVENUES
Estimated revenue accruing on traffic to and from this branch were as
follows in 1921:
Freight forwarded 12,248
Freight received 2,085
Outbound passenger and baggage 89
Milk and cream 43
Mail 769
Grand total 15,234

EXPENSES
Estimated operating and maintenance expense during the year 1921 were
as follows:
Maintenance-of-Way and structures 10,444.29
Maintenance of equipment 3,242.12
Traffic 393.49
Transportation 6,270.74
General 742.23
Grand total 21,092.87
As our accounts do not show expenses of individual branches, the above
estimate has been made on basis of car and road mileage.

TRAIN SERVICE
Tri-weekly mixed service between Bassett Junction and Schrag. This is
also sufficient during the period of grain shipping.

PROSPECTS
Under the present conditions, business is fully developed along this
branch, which is affected by the same conditions as those affecting
the Connell Northern Branch.

EXTENSIONS
This branch is a portion of the proposed Ritzville-Ellensburg cut-off,
on which work was suspended in the fall of 1910 after track had been
laid to Schrag. Grading was finished into Ritzville. The line that has
been located between Bassett Junction and Ellensburg will shorten the
distance between Ritzville and Ellensburg about 86 miles.

IMPROVEMENTS TO CAPACITY
None [needed].

CHARACTER OF BUSINESS [TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT]
Grain, sheep, wool.

PROSPECTS [TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT]
Because of varying amount of moisture and depletion of the soils, this
district has declined in production during recent years until it is
barely profitable to farm. Can see no prospects for business
development without irrigation.
There are deposits of silica and infusorial earth in the vicinity of
Wheeler, Washington, and Bassett Junction; dolomite rock near Adrian,
Washington. Possible future development of these deposits would
increase our tonnage considerably.

GRADE AND CURVE DATA
Ruling grade westbound .6 percent; eastbound .3 percent.
Total degrees of curvature right 93 degrees 30 minutes; left 30
degrees 57 minutes.
Not included seven degrees 30 minutes 89 feet long at Bassett
Junction; five degrees 999 feet long at Bassett Junction.

CORPORATE HISTORY AND DATES OF CONSTRUCTION
This is a single track line from Bassett Junction on the Adrian Branch
to Schrag, Washington. The [Milwaukee Road] crosses overhead at Mile
Post 1.3 east of Bassett Junction.
This branch was constructed by the Northern Pacific for the Connell
Northern in 1909 and 1910. The grade was completed and bridges partly
constructed between Schrag and Ritzville but no track was laid.
The Northern Pacific operated this branch without formal contract
until June 25, 1914, when it was conveyed to the Northern Pacific.

SOURCE
Northern Pacific Railway. _Branch Line Data, Western District, 1922_.
St. Paul [Minn.]: Northern Pacific, 1922.

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