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Show j THE LUCIN CUT-OFF STORIES. It Is by no means surprising that President Hnrrlman "found a hole in It," to Use hio language in speaking of the Jiucln cut-off over the lake. Neither Neith-er Is it in the least singular that he ehould say the fact has no special significance. sig-nificance. It certainly has none, though the, wild rumors that spring up on the ocension' of a depression In tho track ever the Lake would moke the public beliovc that something very .serious was imminent. The fact Is, this whole matter la not at all lo be worried over; It was gone over In these columns some time ago. It is the common experience of all railroads, that in tho construction of new lines, especially the portions1 of the track which aro laid on swahipy, murky, mur-ky, or springy ground. It always takes some tinie for the track to become thoroughly thor-oughly yettlcd and firm in such cases, and hundreds of them have been experienced experi-enced by railroad builders in all parts of the country. It Is not different with tho cut-off: it Is a mere matter of course that It should be so. Soft spots will inevitably develop. devel-op. The apparent bottom is not always tho real bottom of the lako; Incrusta- j Hons form false bottoms In places, and j these are liable to give way; but it is merely a matter of detail to fill In the depression and level up the gap, packing the place firmly. This work is done as fnst as the weakness develops, and is really a trifling detail in tho consideration consider-ation of the great project as a whole. The Intimation that on account of such trifles there is the slightest thought of even uncertainty, much lcss abandonment, abandon-ment, of tho cut-off, Is out of the question. ques-tion. On the contrary, the only thought is lo cure all these defends as rapidly as possible, when they develop. This Is done, and efforts arc constantly made to probe and testfor any defects, so that they can be remedied and regular traffic across this splendid alr-line be Instituted. That every weakness will be cured, overy soft spot made hard, is absolutely certain; the stake in the cutoff cut-off i3 too heavy, the prize lo be won by tho use of it too great,' to, permit of any other course, nor has there been nnylhing lo cause any real apprehension as to final success.. ' The Lucin cut-off Is all right; lis fu-Lure fu-Lure is absolutely assured, as one of the great and triumphant railway engineering engineer-ing feats of the age. |