The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-08
RAILROAD NEWS.
The Heavy Crop Of Corn All
Over Kansas.
Causes the Santa Fe to Increase
Terminal Facilities
AT ARGENTINE YARDS.
Capacity of Kansas City Track
age to Be Enlarged.
Much Money to Be Spent on Ar
gentine Improvement.

One of the next big moves of the
Santa Fe will be the improvement of
its terminal facilities at Kansas City
in the west bottoms at Argentine.
From $3.50, 900 to $780, 600 will be the sum
expended and the work will be begun
this year, perhaps in the next sixty
days.
A party of officials, consisting of Cen
eral Manager ]. J. Frey, H. U. Nudge,
general superintendent; c. T. McClel-
Ian. superintendent of the eastern di-
vision; John Player, superintendent of
machinery; James Dunn, chief eng1-
neer; J. ]. Meade, resident engineer,
and John Mccarthy, Mr.. Frey's private
secretary, went from Topeka yesterday
to Kansas City to look over the grounds
and determine what was most needed
in the way of improvements.
Under the guidance of j. w. Starr
superintendent of terminals at Kansas
City the party inspected the Kansas
City terminals and the yards at Argen-
tine and made a trip over the Belt
line to the Santa re bTldge across the
Missouri east of Sheffield, which is I'M
dergoing repairs. Returning, they were
Joined by President E. P. Ripley and
Third Vice President J. NJ. Barr, who
arrived from Chicago in Mr.. RIPLEY
special car, attached to westbound
train No. II. Mr.. Freys and Mr..
Mudge's special cars were also attach
ed to No. II, and the entire party went
=.
The conference of the officials was to
determine what improvements are
most needed and which can best be de-
layed. The increased business which
is bound to come as a result of the i'm
mense crops makes certain improve
mentS imperative.
while the details of the improve
nents have not been decided upon, it
is certain that we shall provide track
age for LOCO additional cars said one
of the officials. ITO do this we must
entirely remodel our Argentine yards.
A new coach yard viii be built north
of the present tracks and the present
coach yard will be used for freight ex-
clusively Our purpose is to get the
coaches far enough away from the
rOundhOuse and engines on SldetrackS
that they will not catch the SCOT and
dirt Then we will build a new repair
track with a shed over it so that the
men can work rain or shine The shops
at Argentine already have capacity
for turning out 200 repaired cars day
and this will be increased to meet the
demands of increased business, which
necessarily means increasing damage
A great many additional tracks for
freight cars both at Argentine and KAN
sas City viii also be provided, but, as
I said, the number has not been defin-
itely decided upon and I cannot state
just the extent of the improvements"
Are you making any other prepara-
tions to meet the increased business
YOU expect2" was asked.
Yes indeed was the response. I'VE
are working our shops at Topeka to
their full capacity and calling in our
freight cars the country over"
General Manager Frey was asked
Just before he left town when it was
expected that the Santa Fe would en-
ter San Francisco over its own tracks.
I'VE had expected to get in there by
the middle of September" he replied,
but I am inclined to think now it will
not be before October /.
He said that the equipment for the
new line was being furnished as fast as
the roads facilities permitted. Freight
cars at the rate of twenty a week are
being turned out at the Topeka shops
and being sent west for the new line.
They all go loaded with freight, as it
is the policy of the road never to dead
head except when it is absolutely nee
essary.