The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-16
RAILROAD NEWS.
Race Between the Santa Fe and
Rock Island Lines
For Mexican Trade-El PasO
the Objective Point.
FAST CONSTRUCTION.
Santa Fe Interested i'm the
PecOs Valley Line.
The Rock Island Rushing the
White Oaks Road.

railway construction unique and IN
paraueled in these latter days. 1t is
really a race between two rival lines
for the trade of one of the richest sec
tiOns of the southwest. More than that,
it is the opening skirnish in a contest
for the control of a carrying trade
which promises to reach enormous pro-
portions in the future.
The two railways which have COM
menced the struggle are the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe and the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific, and, while the
ostensible object is to open UP the rich
mineral and agricultural sections of
southeastern New Mexico, the real pur-
pose is to secure the growing traffic be-
tween the United States and the sister
Republic of Mexico. Ell Paso, Texas, is
the objective point of both lines. 1t is
the only city of any pretensions on the
American side of the border, and
through it will probably pass the great
er portion of the trade between the two
countries. 1t is the terminus of the
Mexican Central railway, which trav-
erses from Paso del Norte (Juarez) to
the City of Mexico, 1900 miles of the
richest mineral and agricultural section
of the neighbOring republic. It is on
the line of the Southern Pacific, and is
entered from the east by the Texas Pa
cif1c and from the north by the New
Mexico line of the Santa Fe.
To this growing commercial center
both the AtchisOn and the Rock Island
propose to build with all possible speed.
The lines are being constructed by in
dependent corporations, but among rail-
road men there is little doubt that the
two roads named are back of the enter
prises- Colorado men are at the head
of both projects, and the money has
been secured to construct and equip
both roads. For the past eight months
J. J. Hagerman, of Colorado Springs,
has been in New York city negotiating
for a loan of $4,000. 900 for the building
of the Pecos Valley & Northeastern,
and the last day OF January it was Sc
nOunced that the money had been Sc
cured and turned over to the company
that day. The proposed road will be
built from Roswell, n. NJ, to Wash
burn, Tex, a distance of POS miles. At
Washburn it Will connect with the Den
YER & Gulf and a branch of the Atchi-
son now completed to that point. The
country through which the road will
pass offers little in the way of either
mineral or agricultural resources, and
there can be no other reason for its
construction than to secure a direct line
from Chicago and St. Louis to Ell Paso-
The PecOs Valley road is already con-
structed from PecOs City, Tex, on the
line of the Texas Pacific, to Roswell.
Mr.. Hagerman announces that con-
tract for 20, 500 tons of steel rails has
already been signed with a large east
ern rail mill, the deliveries to begin at
once.
Contracts for the proposed extension
will be let Immediately, and it is the in
tention to have the new road compile
ted and in operation in six months. 1t
is expected to have the road in opera
ton in time to handle the fail harVestS
of the PecOS Valley
The extension from Roswell to Wash
burn will be known as the PecOS Valley
& Northwestern, and it will absorb the
present Pecos Valley Railroad The
building of the new line is one of the
most important projects of the year in
the southwest It means incalculable
benefit to the great agricultural regions
of southeastern New Mexico, and will
put that section in direct cOmmunica-
ton with eastern and Colorado mar
kets. 1t will enable the farmers and
stOckmen there to compete with their
more favored neighbOrs. It will reduce
the time between roswell and Kansas
City st. Louis and Chicago by SO hours,
and permit the shipment of live stock
through to Kansas City without stop
ping for feed or water, besides reducing
freight rates materially. heretofore
shipments have been greatly curtailed.
and even when made returned small
profit to the shipper. 1t is expected
that fully 20. 600 cars of stock from the
PecOs Valley will find a market within
a year after the new line has been built,
and the amount of agricultural prod
ucts that viii be exported is almost in
estimable.
The Pecos Valley raises almost every
variety of vegetables and fruit except
the citrus fruits, and when the large
markets of Colorado and the MISSISSIPPI
ri valley points can be quickly reached
the development of the valley will pro-
coed with wonderful rapidity.TwO years !
ago the beet sugar industry was started
in the valley by the erection of a fac
tory having a capacity of 200 tons per
day at Eddy. The factory has just
finished its second successful season,
and will be enlarged for next year. The |
building of the new road will undOubt-
eddy cause a considerable boom in ROs-
well, Eddy and other towns. These !
towns are the center Of the largest 1r-
rigatiOn system in the west. Several /
hundred thousand acres are under the |
canal system, and over so, 600 already in |
actual cultivation. 1t is understood |
that the new bonds will carry 3 per cent |
interest per a.nnum. The interest on |
the bonds for the first two years has !
already been paid This will give the /
three years in which to con-
struct the line and get it on a paying |
basis.
While the Pecos valley people have
been active the bankers of the other line /
have not been idle.
Mortgages recorded in New Mexico I
by the Ell PasO-NOrtheastern railroad [
in the interest of the New York Trust 1
company for S., 900, 600 on coal lands and /
other property shows that the Eddy !
Brothers, who are constructing the line, /
are ready for active operations The !
Ell Paso- Northeastern, best known as /
the White Oaks road, is now being /
built from FL PasO to White Oaks, one /
of the richest mining camps of New 4
Mexico, a distance of about $50 miles, |
and will be extended from there to, or
near, Texline, nearly 200 miles, where it \
will be met by the branch of the Rock /
Island running to Liberal, Kan. which /
will be extended to Texline. This line |
will pass through a section rich in coal, |
gold and silver, but of only moderate /
AGRICULTURAL possibilities. By either line |
the distance between FL Paso and the |
east will be reduced by nearly 200 miles. |
and as the international trade passing /
Z, haliaNed n g the |