Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-01
THE PANHANDLE ROUTE"
IT IS TO BE FINELY EQUIPP2D-NTER
VIEW WITH GENIERLI ALLNGRR MEEK

THE PANHANDLE ROUTE"
IT IS TO BE FINELY RQUIPP9D-NTER-
VIEW WITH GENERAL MANGER MEEK.
A Republican reporter called on Man
sger Meek at his Office yesterday, in
quest OF Information concerning the pro-
gress of his road and to ascertain def
nitely when it will be completed.
In answer to the question as to when
the gap would be closed, Mr.. Meek said ::
at is expected that it will be done by
Msrcn l. The grading is completed and
there are but ninety miles Of track to lay.
II the weather continues favorable on the
north end have no doubt that we will
get through by that time. The work is
being well done and the track is being
surfaced almost as fast as 1t is laid, SO
that it will not be long after it is CON-
pleted until we can commence business"
"Will the new line be well equipped for
both freight and passenger business?"
eyes, we are getting the best Of mod
ern equipment. Our passenger cars are
being built at the Pullman Works, and
they will be sill that can be wished for ia
comfort an elegance. Our through-train
service between Denver and Fort Worth
will be the very best, and will include
Pullman dining car service for all meals,
and the very best Of Pullman sleeping
cars. We expect large excursion busi
ness from the south to Colorado during
the summer, and tt e indications are that
we shall have heavy passenger traffic
in settling up the new territory on our
line. Our freight equipment is also be-
ing built at the Pullman Works, and will
be ample"
"What is the pr mise Of development
in the new territory You are opening?"
1--WE have every reason to behave that
the Panhandle country and that portion
Of New Mexico through which our line
passes, as well as Southern Colorado, will
be rapidly settled and developed. Prac-
ticsl experiments have demonstrated the
availability of this territory for agricul-
ture. Our line will supply 1t with cheap
lumber, cheap fuel and ample transpor-
tetion facilities, giving also the advantage
of short rail line for farm products to
the guilt ports. People in the cold north
ern states are getting tired of spending
the entire earnings Of hard summers
work to get through the cold winter and
are seeking milder winter climate. The
opening Of our line gives them every in
duCement-good agricultural land st 8
very low price and on easy terms: con-
venient market and an endurable ana
pleasant climate the year round. know
of no country Offering such opportunities
for prosperous farming"
"What is to be your compaDy's policy
in developing this new territory7"
"Most liberal. We propose to give
every facility for immigration, and render
every assistance within our power in de-
veloping these great agricultural resour
ces. We shall have department Of emf.
grafton, and the work Of bringing in
farmers snd taking care Of their inter
ests after they come will be one Of the
special features of our line. There is 81
ready t. generous flow Of emigration into
the Texas Panhandle, and another year
will. find very rapid development along
the line"
chow will your line affect the inter-
ests Of Colorado"
"It will be to Colorado all that has
been claimed for it. In my opinion the
development Of Colorado is only just te-
gun. Nothing is more certain than Colo
ado's position in the future. Her coal
mining interests will be among the first
in Importance. Much Of the territory
west of the Mississippi river must draw
its cosl supply from Colorado coal fields,
and IS that territory is being rapidly set
tied and developed the demand for coal
must become enormous. The country
I tributary to our line clear to Fort Worth
will receive the coal supply from
Colorado. That Colorado will be-
come the great manufacturing state
| for this empire west of the
Missouri river must be plain to all. Her
mineral wealth is boundless, and she has
every requirement for manufacturing
within her borders. Added to this is G
complete railway system, fscilitsting dis
trihution 10 surrounding states. Oar
line unites Colorado directly with Texas,
q ssste which is soon to become the great.
est by far OF all the agricultural states,
and there will be Colorado's best field for
the distribution of her wares. Yes, there
will be q natural interchange between
Colorado and Texas, and our line makes
them near neighbors"
Chow will your line relate to the inter-
ests of Denverf"
| "What affects Coloredo's growth and
prosperity must also add expansion TO
| Denver. As our road opens new field
20 Colorado, SO 1t does to Denver. l can
see nothing in the Way OF DenEsr's
growth. l. occupies 8 geographical RDsi'
lion which makes it the natural Strade
center for very large territory which
cannot be supplied legitimately from aps
other grest CO umercisl point. DepgSl
stands the distributing point for tszfi-
tory almost IS extensive IS any Of the
! great cities whose location brings them