The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-15
President Ripley of the Santa
Fe Is Touring.
Tells of the Work His Road 1,
Doing.
A SCHEME is ON
To Connect With the San JOa.
Quin Valley Road.
Mr. Ripley is Cautious But Ad-
mits 1t Is Probable.

Los Angeles. Cal, Oct. 15.-President
f. p Ripley of the Santa Fe system of
railroads has been in the city two days
on his semi-annual visit of inspection
From an interview with him it would
appear that there is every prospect of
an early traffic arrangement between
the line he represents and the San
Joaquin Valley railroad after the lat
ter is completed north to San Francis
co and south to Bakersfield Ihis IS
the first authentic interview with ttle
head of the Santa F'e system that mas
been published on this subject.
President Ripley was extremely care
ful not to commit himself directly by
making any fiat statement to this ef-
feet. but explained his action by say
ing that he was not a prophet and 1t
was not the custom of his people To
cross a bridge before they came to it.
He admitted that a connection with
the Valley road would he advantageous
to the line he represented; that ms PeO-
pie were in financial condition to con-
stTJct the necessary connecting link be-
tween MOlaNe and Bakersfield, that
there We're no obstacles in the way so
far as the existing relations of his COM
pany and the Southern Pacific were
concerned, and that there were no
right of way or serious engineering
difficulties to overcome in closing this
gap of about so miles.
Now that the Santa Fe has virtual
" acquired the ownership OF the track
between The Needles and MOjaVe,' re-
marked the correspondent. is it not
disposed to extend this line from Mo-
jave to Bakersfield, SO as TO make
connection with the Valley rOad2"
There is an agreement to that
effect between the Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe, but the transfer requires the
consent of the Mexican government,
answered Mr.. Ripley.
1T was given out by the Southern
Pacific but two weeks ago that all the
objections OF the Mexican government
had been removed"
There Will probably be no trouble
about it: but the Mexican government
moves slowly. We are waiting for Ger
tain formalities to be completed but
we anticipate no trouble"
Would you have any objection to
stating what the situation is 50 far as
it concerns your line and the Valley
road"
There is no situation 1 understand
tie San Joaquin Valley road is about
to be completed to Bakersfield, but
they have not seen US and we have not
seen them. ana we don't know what
their intentions are
In recent signed interview Claus
SpTeckels, president of the Valley road
stated it was the ultimate purpose of
his line to make it a part of an indie
pendent competing through road to the
east. by a traffic arrangement with the
Santa Fe."
THAT would be natural for them to
do, but nothing of the kind has been
agreed upon. The matter has never
come up between the representatives of
the two roads"
Would it not be feasible and ad-
vantageOus for the Santa Fe to make
such an agreement
To answer that would be to prophe-
sy. I am not prepared to go into that
question. If the thing is feasible and
would be advantageous the Santa Fe
would be likely to do anything that
would bring it about"
Is not the Santa Fe in financial DO
sition to undertake the construction of
this railrOad2"
II the Santa Fe wanted to build
suppose it could do so. As I said before
we do not care to cross that bridge un-
til We come to il. We have been busy
developing and improving what we
have got. and this required great deal
of money.
we have been too busy with that to
give any attention to extensions
I am not prepared TO discuss the
situation up there. because have not
given it any thought. The propOsftiOn
has been in the air for some time It
is one OF the things we expect to De
brought face to face with some. time
but we have not got to it yet. nv visit
at this time has no special significance
We have been spending a great deal of
money here. and I have come to look
over the ground to see where it has
zone
we are almost rebuilding the At
lantic and Pacific between Albuquerque
and The Needles. We have also been
making important improvements here.
liking up track. stations shops and
bridges raising grades and doing all
sorts of work between here and Bar
stow. and, in fact, all over southern
California"