Toward noon Saturday last the Railway party spreading ties reached the west end of town, and shortly after the track layers were on hand with flat cars near by loaded with rails for immediate use.
The steamer 'Skuzzy' was in attendance and tied up a little to the west side of the Steamboat Company warehouses. The boat is of large size for inland navigation, and well adapted for freighting purposes, as at first intended. The officers are: Capt. H. Moore, Mate, Wm. H. Moore; Steward, T. Matthews; Alf. Whitlock in charge of Commissary; Eng. J. Daly, and St. Clair Blackett is in charge as Time-keeper for the force, some 200 of the Railway men boarding on the steamer and most lodging in tents ashore.
The men are divided into gangs, the teamsters for distributing ties and moving forward the cars advancing with the rails, the tie layers, tracking stretchers, etc. The full force of the handlers, rail placers, and spikers when at work presents a lively scene and the noise surpasses the 'music of the anvil,' Mr. Thos. Garvin, who is in charge of the work, informs us that when the ties and rails are properly furnished, from 3 to 4 miles a day can be laid fitted for the trains.
The force under Mr. G. are preparing for sidings in the Peterson field, about half a mile east of town, where, it is said, the Railway Company intend erecting some buildings for a Depot, warehousing, and other purposes.
The engine plying along the line is the 'Lytton,' conductor Jas. Trodden, and the engineer Mr. W. Tyler. Ties iron, telegraph poles, etc., are being forwarded to end of track as fast as possible. Teams are ready when required, and thus the work goes briskly on — the bridge force under Mr. McGillvray preparing the was as soon as needed. Some delay has taken place for want of ties, and now, we learn, a couple of weeks is likely to be lost waiting for rails; a ship due it would appear is behind time, in consequence of having been partially disabled by loss of masts in a storm at sea. The track will, however, be laid this week a mile or so east of town, which is as far, it is thought, as the rails on hand will go. However it is the intention to go on ballasting the road through town, and in fixing crossings and sidings the men will be kept working to advantage. The gravel cut just east of town along side of the Railway will be found convenient. Soon a changed appearance will be presented in this vicinity, and it is expected Kamloops has passed the 'dull season.'
