Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-28
Observation-Disclosures CUTOFF
Some Reasons Why That Projected Line
Will Not Be Built.
(Raton Gazette.

(Raton Gazette.)
The matter of the construction of a
railroad by the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railway Company from or
near the present terminus of it's south
ern Kansas line at Washburn to Albu-
auerque has often been discussed by the
people and press of northern New Mex
leo. By many of the citizens of this
town, and other towns along the line
of this road in this part of New Mexi-
co, the belief exists to-day that such a
line has been fully determined upon by
the officials of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railway, to be built oon or
later.
We have taken some pains recently
to investigate this matter from thor
we confess that after such investiga-
ton the whole project seems to be so
absurd that it is a wonder the con-
struction of such a line by such shrewd
people as those who now control the
management of the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railway could eve have
been believed in. 1t is easy to draw a
line on a map from n point to the
other, measure the distance and fancy
there is a big cutoff for through trans-
continental business. A location survey
in this, as in all such cases, shows a
radical difference between a straight
line and a feasible route for a railroad.
We have it on perfectly reliable infor-
| nation that surveys show that not
more than forty miles between Kansas
City and Albuquerque would be saved
| by the construction of such a through
line. The grades would be by no means
| easy, and the divide at the head of Te-
| jeras canon would have grades ap-
proximating those of the Glorieta d.
| vide. There is absolutely no coal or the
route, nor timber to speak of, and wa
ter is very a and bad. This Of it.
| self would be a most Objectionable fea-
ture. Can any sensible person under
these circumstances conceive such fol-
ly as for a railroad to build a parallel
| llIt " ulNlut pIcScIll uuolilCoo wv IN
the company would be glad to %increase)
over two lines instead of one. Two lines
on which the fixed charges of interest,
maintenance and management would
have to be kept up, instead of one, to
handle but very little more business
than can be secured by the present
route? For, on the whole of this piece
of new line to be constructed, >over ar
u%ninhabited and barren country, ap-
proXimating a little over 300 miles,
there are no towns and there would be
practically no local business. We could
elaborate on this proposition, but 1t is
unnecessary to any thinking person.
1t may be safely concluded that in
view of the heavy increase of traffic
over the Santa Fe route in the past two
years, and its prospective growth, the
management will seek to find a way to
handle this increased volume of traf-
fc with the lightest possible operating
charges; but, rather than build this
suggested parallel road, a way a bet
ter be found by substantial improve
ments on their present roadbed in the
way of taking out unnecessary heavy
grades in many places, Strengthening
the line and possibly by making some
improvements in the facilities for han
ding the business over the Ration
mountain. 1t must be remembered that
a large amount of traffic emanates on
the present main line of the Atchison,
! Topeka & Santa Fe railway through
New Mexico Immediately in the neigh
borhood of Ration.
There is at present an average of
seventy-five ears of coal leaving here
daily, besides a large number of cars
of coke, and this business bids fair to
greatly increase in the near future. This
does not include some thirty or forty
cars of coal and coke which is now
coming over the Ration mountain from
the Trinidad coal fields daily to help
supply the demand south of Ration,
which the Ration mines are at present
not able to take care of. The handling
of this coal traffic alone would suggest
the easiest grades and best track pos
| sible on the line from Ration south. In
addition, there is a steadily increasing
local traffic all along the line through
, northern New Mexico, which viii in
crease as the country settles up.
In conclusion, we may say that we
not only know, of our own knowledge,
that the construction Of a line could
not now be reasonably considered by
the Atchison company, but that as a
matter of fact the company is lot con-
templating the construction of anv such
line, for it has been already carefully
| considered and rejected as no feasible.