The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-25
TO IMPROVE TRACKS
Several Lines Propose I'M
mense Expenditures.
WILL REDUCE GRADES
Network of Proposed Lines
Cover Kansas and Oklahoma

The boom in railroad building and i'm
provement which took place in Kansas
| during the SOS seems likely to be dupH-
| Gated this year, and Wichita is again one
of the storm centers. A network Of lines
are projected across southern Kansas,
| Oklahoma and Indian Territories and the
Santa Fe and Rock Island roads are con-
tempIating expending hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in improving their lines
in this section which extend through this
city.
The Rock Island has already authorized
the expenditure of 100000 in permanent
improvements to its roadbed, tracks and
bridges. A large portion of this sum will
be expended on the division passing
through this city, and many Wichita men
will doubtless be benefited by gaining
employment next summer. 1t will be
winter before the work is completed,
which will require hundreds Of men, both
skilled and unskilled laborers.
But greater still are the plans OF the
Santa Fe. 1t is contemplating the ex-
penditure Of the vast sum of $3,0000e0 in
reducing the grades on its various di-
visions. The greater part Of this sum
will be expended in Kansas and a large
amount of the money will without
doubt eventually pass over the counters
of Wichita merchants as many Of the
men employed viii doubtless come from
this city. The Santa Fe has not yet au-
thorized the work, but it is thought that
it will
The Santa Fe wishes to reduce the
grades so that it can handle freight bust
ness to a greater advantage and pull
heavier tonnage in single trains. At pres
ent there are a number of heavy grades
on the Oklahoma division which greatly
restrict the number of cars one engine
can pull. If these are reduced the ne
cessfty of double-heading many trains
will be done away with.
Another section of the road which will
profit by the expenditure of this money
will be the freight division, or cutoff, be-
tween Emporia ard Ottawa Over this
division passes nearly all the freight
business on the main line of the Santa
Fe between Kansas City and western
points. The run is much shorter, but the
grades are quite heavy. They can be
easily reduced and the Santa Fee by re-
ducing them win gain, as it will on the
Oklahoma division, by being able to haul
longer and heavier trains.
Everything seems to point to the early
construction Of the extension Of the Mid
land to Dennison, Texas, and the line of
the Wichita and Southern to South Nc
Alester and Texarkana, Ark. If these
lines are constructed, as it now seems
likely, it will furnish employment to hun
dreds of Wichita men and will bring this
city thousands of dollars. Both are i'm
portant lines which will take many
months to build. Not only will Wichita
reap an immediate financial benefit but it
will increase the commercial Importance
OF the city, give it cheap rates and en-
courage the larger growth of the whole
sale interests.
In Oklahoma railroad building is no
less active The Santa Fe is building
number of lines. Dirt is flying on the
line from Guthrie to Caney, Kan, and
also on the line south into the McAlester
coal fields. In addition the Rock Island
and Santa Fe are Jointly constructing a
road from Guthrie to Kinghsher, upon
which construction work was commenced
during the past week.
The Frisco, the Missouri Pacific and the
Rock Island are each preparing to con-
struct new branches in the territory and
the Choctaw line is reaching out into
western Oklahoma and Texas. Numerous
independent lines are projected and some
Z
south to Augusta, o. T.. which viii even
tually extend to Oklahoma City. Rail
road companies and projected lines are
now so numerous in Oklahoma that a
new one no longer excites widespread
comment If all are constructed, how
ever, it means unexampled prosperity and
development for southern Kansas and
Oklahoma.