The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1897-05-08
HE Omaha Extension.

A late dispatch from Omaha, Neb.,
states that the Kansas City, Pittsburg
&c Gulf railroad company is now nego-
tiating for terminal facilities in Omaha.
The probability is that the road will
make use of the facilities Of the East
Omaha Bridge & Terminal Co., whose
new steel bridge spans the river a third
of a mile above this city. This road
will run it's trains into Omaha late in
the summer, construction work being
pushed with great rapidity. The K.
C. P. &c. road will form a direct con-
nection with the great gulf ports which
are now bidding with the Atlantic sea-
board for grain shipments from the
vast region OF which Omaha is the ge-
ographical center. So active has be-
come the competition of the Gulftrans-
portation lines that the exporters OF
grain in New York and Baltimore have
sounded a note of warning, They ap-
preciate the fact that the reduced cost
transportation on the enormous surplus
of grain produced in this region is des-
tined to build up the shipping interests
of the Gulf to the detriment Of the lake
and rail transportation lines from this
section to the eastward. 1t is this
changed condition, becoming more
marked every year, that gives unusual
Importance to the completion OF the
new Gulf road,
The grain crop of this territory for
1896 was unprecedented. Nebraska
alone produced nearly 800, 600, 900 bush
els of corn, the low price of which pre-
cluded it's sale and export because OF
the long haul transportation rates to
the eastward. What is true of Ne
braska in this respect will apply with
equal force to Iowa, North and South
Dakota, Wyoming and Kansas. In
short, there is a prolific field for opera
ton upon the part of southern trans
~portation lines which may hereafter
penetrate the grain producing states
of the north, offering better transpor-
tation rates distance being less) than
can now be obtained from the great
trunk lines whichIhave long held a mo-
nopoly upon these shipments.
One of the prime objects of the
Trans Mississippi and International
Exposition is to bring the South and
the Central west into closer commercial
relationship. It will be the medium
through which the capitalists OF the
south may be given a better under.
standing of the resources of the centraI
west and to enable them to show and
to tell the people of this region the adj,
vantages that must accrue from a policy
calculated to foster and build up great
transportation lines between this coun.
try and Gulf ports in connection witt
the great steamship transportation
companies whose boats now ply be-
tween the Gulf ports and the leading
ports of entry of foreign countries. i
is this consideration which moved the
owners of the Kansas City, Pittsburs
& Gulf road to penetrate this territory
1t is understood that the Illinois Cen
trail will also enter this field in compe
tition for grain shipments to the south
The exhibits of these and othe
southern railroads at the Trans-Nissis
sippi Exposition, to be held at Oman;
in 1898, will be arranged with but on
object in view, namely: To familiar
ize the people Of the north with the ex
traordinary advantages afforded b,
southern transportation lines for
large share of the traffic originating il
this prolific region.
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