Omaha daily bee., 1884-06-26
WEST OF 7,HE MISSOURI.

Inc movements OF the OnlOn hClnt
surveyors in Hamilton county, Neb. have
mystifed the country people as well as
the inhabitants of towns through which
lines have been run. Two surveys are
said to have been made from Stromsburg,
the present terminus of the Omaha &
Republican Valley road, to Aurora, In
Hamilton county. These surveys tend
to confirm the reports recently in circula-
ton that the company contemplated ex-
tending the Republican Valley road from
Stromsburg to Hastings, and thus secus
a share of the business now controlled
exclusively by the B. d M. The impor-
lance of such a line is app aren't. Besides
tapping three of the best counties in tn
state, 1t would divide the business of
Hastings, a city whose growth and com
mercial Importance makes it al active
rival Of Lincoln. A cluster of thriving
young towns already dot the proposed
route, while the southern half of Adams
and Kearney counties offer unequalled in
ducements for q competing line of road.
The famed Republican valley would greet
another road with a liberal patronage. Its
construction would divide the domain of
the B. & M. in the southwest, and offset
the division OF the Union Pacific territory
by the latter company. There is plenty
of for both, and the rapid growth
of the country in population and wealth
would give both a paying business.
Ora nd Island is not content to rest
with the laurels won in securing the B.
g. M. extension. She reaches out for
more railroads to conquer, and casts a
longing eye toward the Chicago & North
western, which the Independent conf
IDENTIFY believeswillb be extended down from
Norfolk. 1t would require a strong mi
croscope to discover wherein the railroad
would be benefited in running from
Missouri Valley northwest to Norfolk
and then southwest to Grand Island. To
build q line parallal with the Union Pa
cifc, is not probable nor would it be
profitable. AS corporations have quit
building railroads for the benefit of
communities, it is more likely and more
to the interest of the company to push
the extensions of the Blair roads, recent
Up acquired, into northwestern Nebraska
and to the Black Hills, where a profita-
BILE field await the coming of a railroad.
The Independent, however, asserts there
is good authority for the report that
the road will be built to that city and
sums up the advantages of the line a.
follows: "There is nc road leading to
Grand Island that is as great q benefit
to the city and country as thatwould be.
There would be no occasion to run an
empty train into nor out of Grand Island
That road would bring las in close COM
munication with st. Paul, Minneapolis
and the lumber regions, which would at
once reduce the freight, and c%onsequen-
thy the price of lumber which at this
time would be an object of great interest
both to city and county inasmuch as it is
SO rapidly settling up, and as so much
building material is in demand at this
time and increasing every year as the
country is being developed. 1t would
bring us in close connection with the
great Touring interests of Minnesota.
Then give us IN outlet by the extension
of the B. 81 M. into the coal fields of
Montana AID the great problem of fuel is
solved and the success of Nebraska in
sured. 1t would at once place her where
she is bound to stand ut no distant day,
the foremost state in the union. All hail
the coming Of the Northwestern"
The Chicago, st. Paul, Minnesota &
Omaha railroad company operates 1874
miles of road between Elroy, Wis, and
this city. The annual report of the COM
pany for 1888, recently published, shows
the company to be in a f%ourishing condi-
ton. The gross earnings for the year
were So, 515, 2S4. "a, and the net earnings
81, 1891, 45s.2 I. The total stock of the
company is $29, 1888, 166. GA. The ratio
of operating expenses to earnings was
G62 06 per cent; and including taxes, 60. 70
per cent, against 81. S3 and 60. 81 respect
lively for the preceding year. The gross
earnings per mile of road operated were
S4, GAG 80, against 81, 751. 20 the proceed
ing year; the expenses and taxes,
5000 90, against So, 103 81; and the
net receipts 81 573, 46, against $l,64S 80,
per mile of road operated. The number
of acres of land sold during the year 1888
was 219, COG. 90 acres. Number of acres
of land remaining unsold at the close of
the year, 620, 998 So acres. Equipment
has been increased during the year by
the purchase of IL locomotives, 2 dining
cars, 0 frst-class passenger cars, A bag
gage, express and combination cars, 2
caboose cars and 200 coal cars. The
company has opened up an important
section of northeastern Nebraska by the
construction of the Harrington branch,
extending through Dixon and Cedar
counties. The line is direct, following
the valleys of the Logan and Bow. with
nominal grades. 1t is laid with cedar
ties, new 56 pound steel rails, equipped
with three station houses, side tracks,
stock yards, five section houses, three
water tanks, and two-stall engine house.
The Florence cutoff recently opened,
wa laid with 90 pound steel rails. The
company contemplates other important
extensions in this state, the details of
which have not been made public, which
will bring the rich and rapidly growing
districts of northeastern Nebraska. in
closer communication with the markets
of Omaha and Chicago.
The "Scenic Route OF America" bet
ter known as the Denver & Rio Grande,
which connects the Burlington route with
Salt Lake City and the Central Pacific,