Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-01
TOO FOOLISH TO CONSIDER
Burlington officials Decline to Discuss the
Railroad Rumor from Denver.
STORY TOO ABSURD FOR SERIOUS DENIAL
Report Photographed from the Noun
tain CIT, that the harrington
VIII Build from Denver to
Salt Lake city. ~

Omaha railroad men had lots Of fun yes
terday all on account of a bit OF railroad nc
tion published in the Denver Times and sent
out geographically from that city. Inc
story tells of a recent trip OF General Pas
eeneer Agent John Francis OF the B. q NJ.
through the west, and draws the conclusion
that the Burlington will at once build a line
from Denver to Salt Lake City. or course
the report is rldiculed at the general head
quarters OF the b.. e. NJ. in this city. In the
general managers office yesterday it was
regarded as too foolish to call forth an oihcla'
denial.
The last time President Perkins OF the
Burlington system was in Omaha, which was
not long ago. he stated to a Bee representa-
tive that the Burlington would build no eX'
tensions thiS year. General Manager Hol-
dlege made the same statement TO The Bee
n short time ago when asked concerning the
extension to Great Falls, Mont, requested by
the business men of that town. Other prom
inent officials of the Burlington system nave
recently said that there would be no rail-
read building by that line this year. Al
though the past few months have showr
splendid Increases In the earnings oil the
road, no extensions are contemplated TINS
year.
The Burlington is expanding its increased
earnings in the renovation and rebuilding
of its passenger equipment and the constTuc'
ton of new rolling stock for the freight de
partment. This Is evidenced by the order o.
a few days ago placing the workmen at al
the shops along the B. Il Nj. lines on Ter
hours work for six days a week.
REGARDED AS A JOKE.
Representatives of the Union Pacific, Rock
Island and other western lines also poke
fun at the report that the Burlington is go
ing to build from Denver to Salt Lake. A
prominent railroader said yesterday
tits easy enough to build railroads On paper
But there Is considerable more to the stories
about the entrance of the Illinois Central
the Pittsburg & Gulf and even the Hutchin'
son & Southern into Omaha than there Is tc
this fairy tale about the Burlington build
ing from Denver to Salt Lake. There ore
plenty of lines there already, and since the
opening of the Ogden gateway, the BurlinS'
ton has enjoyed close relations and a proft'
able interchange of business with the Rio
Grande lines and through them with the
Oregon Short Line. To construct a line from
Denver to Salt Lake would be one of the
most expensive bits of railroad building IL
this country. Although Burlington stock is
up nearly to So, | hardly think the directors
are going to spend a fortune in building 6
line they do not need"
What is regarded as the joke Of the whole
matter IL that the recent trip of Genera
Passenger Agent Francis should be made tn,
basis for the story Of the extension. Had |
been a trip of President Perkins, Genera
Manager Holdrege or the directors som,
credence might possibly have been given thu
yarn. General Passenger Agent Francis wa!
out on one of his business trips, looking afteI
the interests Of the passenger department
simply that and nothing more. Although he i
everywhere regarded as a superior pas
senger man. it is not thought that he ~ tn
man who goes over the line planning eX
tensions for tie Burlington railroad.