The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-17
Roads Begin Spring Improve
ments ON Track.
Santa Fe is Re-Iayfng New Steel
West of Usage City.
BETTERMENT OF WAY.
Rock Island Laying Heavier
Rails and BalIasting.
Other Railroad News of General
and Local Interest.


The season for track Improvement and
the construction Of new lines is at hand
From April, or when railroad men be-
Heve winter has spent itself, until the
return OF the cold weather, s'mainten-
ance Of way people have anything but
idle thoughts and hands, In the fan the
heavy gangs OF section men, that have
been busy catching up with the work
that it was impossible 70 do during the
bad weather. are cut down in numbers
to the least that will keep the lines open
and In as good shape rs limited oppor-
tInlty affords. The same is true Of
bridge and repair forces. except that III
many cases entire crews are pulled off.
This year there is mere than usual 60
ing on IN the way of track work. Two
weeks ago the Santa Fe began RELAXING
its branch from Hutchinson to Kinsiey
with new steel heavier than that here
tofore in use there. Much Of the traffic
that belonged to that line properly has
been run over other parts of the system
In order that the work might be pushed
as rapidly as possible. Lately a gang Of
40 laborers has been putting down 75
pound rails west of Usage City, replac-
ing those of Sc pound weight per yard
In all about five and a half miles win be
relaid, the job occupying a little more
than two weeks time.
The Rock Island VIII put down 40
miles of new 80-pound rails. from Her
llSLCA southwest IQlS Is TO take the
place OF the 60 pound steel which thus
Ear has stood the traffic When this 20
miles is completed the Rock Island will
have a track of S0-pound steel from TC-
pelSa to Peabody. Two stone crushers
are running full blast, getting out bal
last for the track The crusher at Mont
rose will turn out sufficient stone for the
ballasting Of so miles of track. At Mar
ion is another crusher and with the pro-
duct from this the line for so miles on
either side of that place will be put in
the best possible shape. Roadmasters of
different lines running into Topeka say
4 that this Spplng has been one of the
Worst in years for keeping track in
shape, in order that the best service
might be obtained. Rain after rain has
fallen until the ground is now thorough
" soaked and tracks are so soft that
trainmen have to be given slow orders.
But lew II any complaints of WaShOuts
have been made this spring, but the
rains have come SO gently that all the
water has soaked into the ground max
ing trouble for the railroads as well as
for other people. The ballast which the
different roads are putting in will to
some extent prevent TIE recurrence Of
this difficulty in other years The Rock
Island also has out five gangs of 20 men
each doing concrete work on BRIDGES
wherever necessary These crews viii
make repairs all over TIE northern lines
west Of the Missouri river. The work on
the bridge across the Platte river in Ne
braska will be one of the important joDs
OF its kind to be undertaken this sum
mer. New ties, piling. woodwork and
whatever else is necessary Will replace
the old.
of the Santa Fe have been delayed IN
definitely on account OF the lack of mo-
tive power occasioned By the heavy bus
mess all over that system.