The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
RAILROAD NEWS.
Union Pacific Plans Big I'm
proVements in Kansas.
Joint Track Between Kansas
City and Topeka Included.
TO COST A MILLION.
Rock Island Benefited and Can
Make Still Faster Time.
Union Pacific Will Cut Out Har-
ker Hills Big Grade.

Plans are being made by the Union
Pacific to spend an enormous sum of
money during the coming year on the
Kansas division of the road, which com
prises the old Kansas Pacific road and
branches in Kansas. The work contem-
plates reducing grades and Strengthening
tracks. The bulk of the work viii be
done between Kansas City and Topeka.
for one stretch, and Salina and Ellsworth
for another.
A party of engineers is now engaged in
surveying for the proposed reduction
and track changes between here and
Kansas City
The Union Pacific track between Kan
sas City and Topeka is used jointly by
the Union Pacific and Rock Island roacS
The Rock Island has for several years
wanted its own tracks from the Kansas
capital into Kansas City, but as yet the
possibility OF a third line between the
TWO cities is remote, and the Rock ISL
and viii contribute some share of the
contemplated expenditures. On repairs
to the Joint line the Union Pacific IS al
lowed by the terms of its contract with
the Rock Island to draw on the latter
road for almost one-half, but in the mat
ter of new work the percentage is not
nearly so great. The cost OF the work
to be done between Kansas City and To-
peka is estimated at close to a million
dollars.
With a number Of the heavy grades
reduced and sharp curves abolished,
much better time should be made by
trains on the 81 miles Of track between
Topeka and Kansas City. This would
especially favor Rock Island passenger
trains. as they make no stops after 1eaV-
ing either Kansas City or Topeka.
Another important change in the Un-
ion Pacific route is that to be made west
of Salina- The problem is to escape the
heavy grades in the Harker hills and al.
especially exaSperating ten mile stretch
of road in the vicinity of KanODoIiS. in
to shorten the main line As miles by a
cutoff running from Buffalo Park in
Cove county. on the main line to Zurich.
in Rocks county, on the Lincoln branch
This change will have considerable ef-
tect on the towns west of SaIina and
viii boom the towns along the Lincoln
branch From Salina west to Erainfiel
the main line encounters a heavy grade
in the Harker hills of Ellsworth and
Russell counties, which has necessitate5
running double headers on all the heavy
trans. By building the cutoff the heavy
traffic viii go over the Lincoln branch,
which has an easy grade thus escaping
the hills Freight from Salina west Will
go UP the Lincoln branch at this point
and running as far as Zurich will be run
over the cutoff to the main line at Buff
falo Park and thence on west East
bound freight will be TRANSPORTED in
like manner, the road saving much time
and expense in the operation The Oak
ley Colby branch viii remain as it is
although the bulk of the traffic will be
sent over the new branch. Eventually
the passenger and mail trains may go
over the new route, as there will be
saving OF time that will be used to an
advantage This change viii be an ad-
vantage to shipping cattle as the i'm
portant cattle stations of Sheridan and
Cove counties viii be reached.