The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-25
The Santa Fe Will Now Run
On It's Own Tracks.
President Ripley Confirms the
Report of the Deal
WITH SOUTHERN PAC.
1t Is In Conformity With An
Established Plan
To Let Outlying and UnprOfit-
able Branches 60.

Washington, March 25.-President E.
P. Ripley Of t he Santa F'e system, who
returned today from a tour of inspec-
ton of the entire system substantially
confirmed the report of a deal between
the Santa F'e and the Southern Pacific
by which the former obtains control of
what is known as the MojaVe division
of the Southern Pacific, extending from
MojaVe to the Needles, a distance of 24O
miles.
This piece of road has heretofore been
operated by the Atlantic & Pacific, and
the Santa Fe has trackage over it. By
the deal, however, it will be placed in
exclusive possession of the property and
will then be able to reach the Pacific
ocean over its own tracks and independ-
emily of any of its neighOOrS This, OF
course, will be of immense advantage TO
il. The right to run its cars to Los An
geleS and San Diego will hereafter be
unchallenged by anybody.
1t is not quite correct to say that a
trade of the property has been accom-
pliShed," said Mr.. Ripley.
Certain details have yet to be work
ed out, but, as 1 understand it, all the
main features of the transaction have
been agreed TO and you will. think. be
safe in concluding that the thing will go
through. 1t will not make any change,
whatever, in transcontinental traffic.
Neither will it give the people of Cali
fOrnia any better transportation facil-
tiles than they possess at present. It
will not change the general relations in
which they have stood to the Southern
Pacific in the slightest degree. All the
change that will be brought about by
this deal will affect only the two roads
parties to the deal, and its only affect
will be to simplify and unity the opera
tiOn of the two roads. That is all there
is to it. While the features of the deal
have all been agreed to, actual transfer
cannot be made until the lawyers of the
two companies work out certain details
and decide on the legal form to be Civ
en- the transaction. The most important
point on which they have to pass is as
to whether the contracts to be drawn up
shall take the form of actual transfer
or of 80 year leases. The former method
will be adopted if it can be done with
| out involving any legal questions or
! complications Should anything in the
nature of hese be found to stand in the
way, then resort will be had to the 80
year lease method Of -c9nsummating the
| deal
Advantages to be gained by the
Southern Pacific will be of no less inn
portance to it, however Heretofore it
| has had little bit of track, S8S miles
in length, extending from Benson TO
| Nogales, and cut off from all direct
| connection with any other part of its
| system. This stretch of track has been
used by the Santa Fe as a connecting
| link between its New Mexico and Ari-
zona and its Sonora lines. The New
| Mexico and Arizona road extends from
| Deming to Benson, distance of TO
gales to the City of Guaymas on the
| Gulf of California a distance of 265
miles. These two roads the aggregate
| length of which is 40 miles, the Santa
| Fe gives up for the 240 miles from Mo-
| jave to the Needles. Its system in that
| direction will hereafter end at Demings
n. NJ.
| In giving up these two roads. how
ever, it does not give up the traffic or
| igina ting On them, because the South
| ern Pacific has no outlet at Deming.
| but over the Santa Fe tracks The sur
| render of the Santa Fe is therefore
| more apparent than real.
| Advantage to the Southern Pacific on
| the other hand will be immense. It
| will not only be able to make its tracks
! between Benson and NogaleS of some
| account to itself, but it will gain a
| new and excellent outlet to the Gulf of
| California at Guaymas- Both roads
| therefore, have a right to congratulate
| themselves on the deal. The deal is in
| conformity with the plan adopted by
| the Santa Fe since its reorganization of
! allowing its outlying and Improbable
| system to the greatest extent possible