Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-22

Omaha Plant of the Overland to BE
Considerably Extended.

Omaha Plant of the Overland to BE
Considerably Extended.
The report to the effect that the new man
agement of the Union Pacific had under
contemplation the removal of the company's
switch yards from Council Bluffs to Omaha
continued to excite considerable interest in
local railroad circles yesterday morning
While the prospective change is ridiculed by
the officers of the company, it is noticeable
that the chief reason for their doubt seems
to be that Mr.. Burt has not yet taken
charge Of the great railroad property.
The law department of the Union Pacific
road yesterday received q message from
New York, from the counsel of the new
Union Pacific company, saying: You are
authorized 70 deny the rumor that the
switching yards are to be removed from
Council Bluffs to Omaha, as it entirely with
out foundation"
Among the attaches Of other railroads it is
the consensus of opinion that some
change is very likely to occur soon after the
new regime is installed at Union Pacific
headquarters. 1t Is argued that the Union
Pacific will be no longer in the hands of the
government after the receivership shall have
been terminated and that the owners of the
road will be at perfect liberty TO remove
whatever parts Of the mechanical or other
departments from Council Bluffs to Omaha
that they may choose. The fact that such a
removal would be the means of saving much
time and money to the new owners of the
road is not doubted even by the
most doubling Thomases. Mr.. Rurt's
strong nclinations to effect as
great savings to the railroad property of
ho ho, obn
are taken as indicative OF such change
On the other hand 1t is argued that the
merchants of Council Bluffs are borrowing
trouble by seeking to oppose change that
is at the nearest a long way Off. Many of
the raiload officials who regard the removal
of the Council Bluffs round house to Omaha
as probable and the change in location of
the switch yard as quite possible do not
believe that such changes will be made for
some time yet
With the report that the Union Pacific
may locate large switch yards in Omaha
comes a report, more authenticated. to the
effect that an important extension OF the sys-
tenn will soon be made through Omaha and
South Omaha to Papilliou. 1t is reported
that on account of the immense business
now being handled In and out of Omaha
the Union Pacific will soon doube-track its
road from Omaha to Papillion, distance of
fifteen miles. The need for double-track
railroad this far out of the city has been
felt by the operating department of the road
for some time and several attempts have been
made toward securing the desideratum.
Whether the extensions contemplated will
come Immediately on the installation of the
new officers of the Union Pacific is not known
but it can be stated very authoritatlvely
that they are under consideration. With the
double-tracking of the railroad from Omaha
to Papillion and the laying-out of a new
switch yard in this city the Union Pacific
will be far better equipped for handling the
business OF its own road and of the other
roads using its tracks and terminal facili-
ties than any railroad entering the city.
The Union Pacific owns large tract of land
between Omaha and South Omaha, including
the tract called Summit. By most railroad
ers this is the piece Of ground that is re-
garded as the most likely plot for the
switch yards should they be brought over
from the Iowa side OF the river.