The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-11-08
NEW SOUTHWEST LINE.
The Rock Islands Texas Road viii BE the
@shOrt Line From the East TO the
Pacific Coast


Island & Pacific railway will throw |
open to the public its new line to Texas
aud the great south and southwest. |
The opening Of this new line viii mean
much to the travelling and shipping
public and will take its place as one Of
the great railroad improvements Of
that year.
This new line is an extension Of the
branch of the Rock Island extending TO
Liberal IN the southwest corner of
Kansas. The extension from Liberal
runs IN an almost straight line to Ell
PasO, Tex, the terminus. The distance
from Liberal to FL Paso is 80 miles.
A remarkable piece Of railroad con
structiOn is to be found on this extern
sion, being perfectly straight piece
of track, without a curve, for the dist
ance of 12s miles, thus becoming the
longest piece of straight track in North
America. The maximum grade is only
one per cent, another remarkable aud
important fact This will make the
Rock Island the only true southern
route, with the lowest altitude and
much lower grade than any other line.
Few people will realize what this means
until fully considered.
With. the completion of this new ex-
tension the Rock Island will become a
greater and more potent factor in the
railroad world. 1t will not only add
many miles to its already large mil
cage, but it will give to the Rock Island
the "short line" over its own tracks,
from Chicago to FL PasO, Tex, aud
with the connecting lines at FL Paso
will become the ''short line" between
Kansas City and the Pacific coast as
well as between Chicago and many i'm
portant points in Texas and Mexico.
This of itself is of great Importance in
/ the busy railroad world and it will
bring to the Rock Island an increase of
/ traffic, especially through business
both to and from the Pacific coast,
Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico.
To quote distances and show wherein
the extension will actually benefit and
shorten the time between the east, the
west, the south and the southwest, the
following figures may be given:
The distance between Chicago and
Ell Psso, Tex, via the Rock Island is
1,47I miles, while by the other shortest
route it is 1879 miles. The distance
between Kansas City and Ell Paso via
the Rock Island is 954 miles, while by
the other shortest route it is LIP
miles. The distance between Kansas
City aud Los Angeles via the Rock
Island is 1,765 miles, while by the other
shortest route it is 1907 miles. The
distance between Omaha aud FL Paso
via the Rock Island is l, los miles, while
by the other shortest route it is 1854
miles. The distance between Omaha
aud Los Angeles via the Rock Island to
81 Paso and connecting lines is l,916
miles. while by the other shortest route
IL i 1900 miles. Thus it viii be readily
sen that the Great Rock Island will
become pre- emiuently the ''strsight
lI,ne." the "short line" the slow altitu-
IL line" between Missouri river points
aud the principal points both west
south and southwest.
Then again IN addition to the im
mense gain in time to the freight and
passenger traffic, the building of the
! INV Rock Island extension will OpeI
Nd a vast aud as yet wholly undiscOv
cred territory, brim full of interest and
surprises to the tourist. 1t is reported
bv the engineers who have been ovel
the route that the scenery is delightful
II The resources of the country through
: ,hich the new extension passes are al
hat could be desired. There is ab
undant land, rich, fertile and we'll wat
cred, for the farmer; plenty of pasture
. and feed land for the cattle and sheer
raiser: abundant timber land for build
ing purpose; an iEexhaustable supp!
of coal within easy reach; deposits o
gold, silver, copper aud other minerals
j.. fact. land aud resources to suit al.
, ,nd all tastes
Tbe climate IS favOrably compared
nth that of California. IL l. just IA
enough south TO secure those warn
DAYS so necessary to raise grain, fruit
etc, ana those uellRnSAutlg COOi DAs =
so refreshing TO nature aud OeDencla
} 70 mankind. In fact IL is the reeORDl
: zed health zone of the United States.
. At the present time two gangs, com
? orlsinR several hundred men and team
: are working with all possible spee
toward each other from either end o
the route Those on the north hav
about 70 miles further 20 go Oefor
reaching Santa Rosa, the BestlD
t,oiut: while those building noFthEer
from Ell Paso are nearer by some te'
miles to the goal 1t is expected tina
: they will meet each other during IN
} latter part Of December Of this yea
and what time remains or ISO1 viii Q
emploved 10 putting on the finishin
touches tn this immense extension
z - l.. a.. CT RnnLr IsIan