Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-06-12
RAILWAY EXTENSIONS.
The Press of the Country Discussing
the Plans of the ID. 4 II. Il. and
Frisco for Connecting with
the A. Il T..

Says the Denver Republican: That the
Denver e. Rio Grande will broad gauge
its track from La Veta to Santa Fe, N.
NJ, and then push on to Albuquerque to
connect with the Atlantic & Pacific, and
thus have another Pacific coast connec-
tion, now seems to be very probable.
The success of the whole enterprise rests
entirely on one thing, and that is, that
the Atlantic & Pacific road, which is now
in the hands of receivers, does not go in
to the possession of the Atchison, Topeka
g. Santa Fe.
President Jeffrey will return from the
east in day or two, and until he arrives
nothing definite about the project can
be ascertained from the offices or the Rio
Grande. Some of the officials admit that
the plan is very feasible one, providing
the Atlantic & Pacific is segregated from
the Santa Fe system, and that the cost
would be almost nominal, all things con-
sidered. 1t has been stated that the
owners of the Denver & Rio Grapde have
been in consultation with the owners of
the Frisco line at New York, and that it
has been practically agreed that should
the Frisco line secure the control of the
Atlantic e Pacific, the Rio Grande will
reach out and make another Pacific coast
connection.
AT La Veta is where the standard gauge
line of the Denver Rio Grande ends,
and the trains that go on via Alamosa to
Santa Fe are run upon narrow gauge
tracks. The entire trackage between
these points is less than 200 miles, while
from Santa Fe to Albuquerque is about
forty miles by direct line. The grade
Fe is already made and the cost of the
branch to make the connection would
probably be equal to the laying of the
third rail. 1t has been conservatively es-
timated that the cost of this improve
ment would be less than $4,000 mile.
The surveyors are still in Veta Pass on
the Rio Grande, working entirely on
broad gauging the track.
The mere fact of having another outlet
to the coast makes it good business
proposition on the face of it for the Den
yer & Rio Grande. 1t is not figured that
the passenger traffic would amount to
much at present, but that it would give
the Rio Grand the southern California
fruit business into Colorado as well as
other southern business routed to
the north. The present connection with
the Golden state, which the Denver & Rio
Grande has in the Rio Grande Western !
makes it competitor for northern Cali.
forna, Oregon and Washington business,
and the Atlantic d. Pacific connection
would open up an entirely new field to
that system.
PLANS OF THE FRISCO.
TheSt Louis Globe Democrat says:
"The resignation of D. B. Robinson
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road and
his acceptance of the position of presi- |
dent of the st. Louis & San Francisco
railway has aroused great deal deal of
interest in the west. July 8 has been
named as the date of the sale of the At
lantic q Pacific road.
"The sale will take place at Gallup, N.
NJ, and it is believed there will be three
bidders on the occasion, representing the
Santa Fe, the Southern Pacific and the
st. Louis & San Francisco. It is possible
that the bondholders may make an at
tempt to buy in the road. but there are
indications which point to the Seligmans
as willing to pay more for the property !
than any of the other competitors. This
revives the talk of transcontinental line
from st. Louis to the Pacific coast, made
up of the st. Louis & San Francisco and
the Atlantic & Pacific. Of course that
would involve the building of long gap
between Sapulpa, l. T., and Albuquerque,
N. M, nearly 700 miles, and under exist
ing financial conditions capitalists might
hesitate to undertake such a gigantic
piece of construction, but investigation
strengthens the Idea that the owners of
the Frisco line are looking toward the
Pacific coast for an outlet for their sys-
tenn. The Sellgmans, who represent
very large foreiga holdings in the Frisco,
are able to command foreign capital for
the extension, and if the Atlantic & Pa
cific falls into their hands the work may
be undertaken at no distant date. 1t
would be carrying out the original
project"