The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-13
Santa Fe Stockholders and
President Ripley
Have Decided to Abandon the
Larger Portion Of
G. K. & W. PROPERTIES.
Some Will Be Abandoned En-
tirely and Mileage
OF Others CurtaiIed as They
Fail to Pay Expenses.

At the annual meeting of the stock
holders Of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railway in this city last
Thursday the purchase of all the brancn
lines now operated by the company with
the exception of those Incorporated un-
der the title of The Chicago, Kansas &
Western railroad, was approved On top
of the failure of the company to make
any arrangement for the purchase or
these branch lines comes the informa-
ton from an authentic source that the
shutting out of the c. K. & w. proper
ties is but preliminary to the abandon
nnent of the majority Of them.
The lines composing the Chicago,
Kansas & Western railroad were built
during the years William B. Strong
was president Of the Santa Fe- That
was at the time of the Kansas boom,
and in the construction of the branch
lines President Strong thought he saw
the opportunity Of supplying the main
line of the Santa E'e with number or
profitable feeders. The branches were
accordingly built, and at first they bore
out Mr.. StrOng's expectations, but 1t
was not long until the Santa Fe man
agement found that as a result of the
enterprising presidents venture it had
on its hands several hundred miles of
Improbable road. Year by year the
various branch lines have grown more
Improbable, and the majority no longer
pay operating expenses.
From the standpoint of economy it is
now said that President Ripley has de-
cided to abandon every mile of unprofit-
able track. Some of the c. K & W.
branch lines will be abandoned alto
gether, and the mileage of others will be
cuFtailed. Already a, portion of the
Great Bend extension has been torn up,
and the recent abandonment of that
part of the Burlingame & Northwestern
line from Alma to Manhattan goes still
further to show the spirit Of the pres
ent head of the Santa Fe.
The abandonment Of the branch lines
in part or whole will probably be grad
fta ffase hon he.
different counties through which they
run viii have to be satisfactorily ar
ranged. 1t is stated, however, that
President Ripley has determined that
Improbable branch lines shall no long
er sap the earnings of the main line,
and that within the next year the mile
age of the Santa Fe in Kansas Will be
cOnsidera bly, reduced.
The Chicago, Kansas & Western rail-
way includes 912 miles Of track, and is
made up of the following extensions:
Hutchinson ExtensiOn-From junction
with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe at
Hutchinson, to junction with Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe at Kinsley, a. 43
miles.
Great Bend Extension-From junction
with Atchison, Topeka & Santa F'e at
Great Bend, to west line Of Wichita
county, 1882 miles.
Colony Extention-From junction with
the Southern Kansas railway at Col
ony, to Yates Center, 1921 miles.
Burlington Professionalism junction
with the Southern Kansas railway a.
Burlington, to Gridley, 1105 miles.
independence ExtensiOn.-From juno
ton with the Southern Kansas railway
at Independence, to west line of Chau-
tauqua county, near Cedar Vale, 55 SO
miles.
Chanute Extension.-From junction
with the Southern Kansas railway at
Chanute, to junction with Southern
Kansas railway at Longton, 44.54 miles.
Benedict ExtenSion.-FrOm junction
with Chanute extension at Benedict
Junction, to Madison, Al II miles.
Little River Extension.-From juno
ton with the Marion & Mcpherson rail-
way at Little River. to west line of
Ellsworth county, 1927 miles.
Usage City Extension.-From junction
with the Southern Kansas railway at
Quenemo, to connection with the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad at
Usage City, 20.41 miles.
Iarned Extension.-From junction
with Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe rail-
road at Larned, to Jetmore, 1853 miles.
with the Wichita & Southwestern rail-
way at Mulvane. to west lone of Co
manche county, 1884 miles.
Augusta Extension.-F'rOm Augusta
to Mulvane, POS miles.
Strong City Extension.-From Glad
stone junction with the EllinOr extern
sion to Manchester and from there to
Abilene to Salina, 1901 miles.
Concordia Extension--F'rom point
~ of a mile north of Concordia depot,
to Nebraska state line, 37.6 miles.
DELAYED BY FROSTY RAIL
Railroads in Kansas Fail to Get Trains