The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-27
IN RAILWAY CIRCLES
Will Be Considerable COnstruc-
ton in Utah This Year.
THE AFFAIRS OF THE UNION
PACIFIC COMPANY.
Plan For the Reorganization Is
Backed by Unlimited Means
The Latest by Wire-Railway
Notes.

1t is the opinion of most well-in-
formed railroad men at this point that
Utah will be blessed during the ap-
preaching warm season with an era
of construction work on the part of the
Short Line, the Salt Lake & Los
Angeles, and the Rio Grande Western.
The recent sale of the Short Line
and the imminent foreclosure of the
Union Pacific system by the govern
ment will, it is said, establish the in
centives for such general activity. Some
practical conclusions of the railroad
situation in Utah were furnished to
The Herald yesterday by one of the
keenest observers of railroading who is
now stationed at Salt Lake. According
TO the views of this official plenty of
eastern capital will be at the disposal
of promoters contemplating extensions
into the territory of the state, when the
natural advantages have been de-
veloped beyond a prospective stage.
He is of the opinion that McKinley's
election will at least induce capitalists
to risk their money in ventures that
have some promise of commercial re-
turn. and none possess so much induce
ment as the pushing of several lines
into sections of the state where the
natural resources are thing of GER
tainty. Along these lines of reasoning
he predicts an extension of the Rio
Grande Western from Marysvale, south
to within a few miles of the Arizona
boundary. At one pcint of that line
the distance into Los Angeles is only
500 miles.
Recent agitation of the Salt Lake &
Los Angeles railway interest by the
visit of President George Q. Cannon TO
the east may help the Western to de-
eide upon an extension into California.
The Salt Lake & Los Angeles manage
ment, it is known beyond any reason
able doubt, has its eyes upon g, Deep
Greek extension. which is only one long
step toward connection with the other
destination signified by its title
There has already appeared in The
Herald a summary of the intentions Of
the reorganiZed Short Line, in the di-
rectiOn of Deep Creek, and how much
beyond that section is not known. At
ter another 40 days the plans of that
important corporation will be more
clearly understood Donald Mclean
has again entered the field and threat
ems invasion of territory over which
several roads cannot help but become
envious. The logical move of the sew
eral systems which have or are to
have their principal. operations within
L TAN, Is al outlet through the western
reserves of this wealthy domain. Much
of the field has been entered both to
the north and south of the opposite
boundary lines in each of these direc-
tions. The Northern Pacific, Great
Northern and the Short Line have
traversed the sections Immediately de-
pendent upon railway connection with
more populous points. To the south
the Southern Pacific extends across an
area that is vet practically unde-
veloped. 1t is true that New Mexico
and Arizona are open fields for the up
building of q great traffic, but the need
of the hour is some direct route into
California across Utah and Nevada,
and the road which first opens the
way will gain an indisputable prestige,
though it is certain to be followed by
other lines. In the wise foresight of
The Herald's eminent railroad ad-
vison, it is folly for any of the systems
in this state to disguise the fact that
the goal which must be struck is only
to be obtained by a prompt move di-
/ ectly for the west and that such a
idea will be the issue of 1897
in western. railroading is put down as
to be absolutely depended
upon.