Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-02-11
From Santa Fe to White Oaks.

The ~exigencies of the railroad sltua-
ton in New Mexico are of such a ma
ture, that it would not be advisable for
the ID. 4 r. G. railroad to build down
the river from Espanola to Albuquer-
que. The course that would benefit
the road and the territory to the very
best and would build up a large and
lucrative trade for the D. & r. G. rail-
road would be an extension of it's lines
from Santa Fe, through the coal and
mineral regions of southern Santa Fe
county, through the stock growing
regions of Bernalillo, Valencia, and
northern Lincoln counties to White
Oaks, or a connection with the Ell Paso
& Northeastern railroad to the Salado
coal fields. Such a line would give the
d. e. r. G. a short and through route,
free from washouts and other causes for
delays and repairs, into Ell Paso. 1t
would open up and develop the resour-
ces of a still virgin section OF this terri
tory and the traffic could not be inter-
ferred with. San Luis valley products,
specially -four and potatoes, could be
put into the western Texas and north
ern Mexico markets speedily and cheaply
and would quickly drive the Kansas
competition to the wall. In Lincoln
county an extensive mineral belt would
be struck, that would add to the bust
ness of the Colorado smelters.
Large shipments of sheep for the
Colorado and Nebraska sheep feeders
could be had by this route. Cattle des-
tined for northern points would go that
way in large numbers, although for
years the natural market for New Mex
leo cattle will be Kansas City. Railroad
building from Santa Fe to the White
Oaks section and to a connection with
the Ell Paso & Northeastern, would be
easy and cheap. 1t is but q question of
time until there will be a line east from
the Salado or White Oaks to connect
with Roswell and another line from
White Oaks north, namely the White
Oaks & Kansas City.
The route, herewith outlined, would
in three years give the Denver & Rio
Grande, If it builds to a connection
with the Ell Paso & Northeastern, say
a distance of about 200 miles, two more
eastern connections.
On the other hand, going down the
Rio Grande from Espanola, until the
road strikes Albuquerque there would
BE practically very little traffic to de-
velop. At Albuquerque the road would
strike the active competition of the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway,
and it will be years and years before
there will be sufficient traffic in the
Rio Grande valley that will support two
parallel lines within a mile or two of
each other.
This is the railroad situation in New
Mexico today and one of the finest
propositions in railroad building on the
North American continent, II not the
finest, and the n promising the very
best results. He who runs may read
and 1t is to be hoped the Denver 4 Rio
Grande authorities will carefully con-
slider this subject. Mr.. jeffrey, the sue
cessful, energetic and sagacious presi-
dent Of the D. & r. g., is too far-seeing,
too long headed and too experienced .
man, not to have taken in the advan-
tages Of the plan, as above, already and
the New MEXICAN believes, that before
many moons roll by something tangible
In this matter will be done, by the road
which he 80 ably, prudently and econom-
ically manages.