Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-06
PLANS OF NEW SHORT LINE.
Rock Islands Texas Extension and
What Il Means.


BY Jan. LIST the Rock Island expects
to be able to open for business its south
western extension to Ell Paso, Texas.
This line in connection with the South
ern Pacific and the Mexican Central
railroads will give the Rock Island the
shortest line both to southern California
and the City Of Mexico, and make it a
dangerous competitor of the Santa Fe.
1t took just one year to construct the
546 miles Of the new extension from
Liberal, Kas., to Ell Pasc, Texas.
For the purpose of complying with the
Texas law that every railroad within
that state shall have state operating
headquarters and also for general con-
struction facilities and convenience, the
new road was placed under the char
ters Of five different railroad corpora
lions. viz: The Chicago. Rock Island &
Pacific proper, the Chicago, Rock Island
& Mexico, the Chicago, Rock Island and
Ell aPso the Rock Island & Ell Paso, and
the Ell Paso & Northeastern.
DETAILS OF THE PLAN.
The road from Liberal to Santa Rosa,
N M, distance of 272 miles, was
placed under direct Rock Island con-
struction, with j. H. Conlen, vice presi-
dent Of the Chicago Rock Island &
Mexico, as chief engineer and general
manager, while from Santa Rosa to
Carrizozo, distance Of 100 miles. the
construction work was given to the FL
Paso & Northeastern, which already
had constructed line from Ell Paso to
Carrizoxo.
The road from Liberal to Carrizozo
will be equipped with eighty-pound steel
rails, oak or pitch pine ties and modern
ballasting. Depot, side tracks, switch
es station houses, yardings. water
tanks, and Western Union telegraph
lines have all kept pace with actual road
building, and when the road is opened
by the first of next year 1t will be In as
perfect condition as any OF the lines of
the Rock Island system that have been
In service for years.
TO DEVELOP COAL FIELDS.
In connection with the Rock Island Ell
Paso line is the new thirty-mile railroad
which is to develop the immense Daw-
son coal fields, owned by the Rock Is
land, on the Beaubien and Miranda
grant. in the northern part OF Colfax
county, N. NJ. This road will leave the
main Rock Island rails at or near Lib
cTdl StatiOu, twenty miles SOutnWeSt Oh
the Canadian River crossing, and run
thru the New Mexican counties of San
Miguel. Mora and Colfax. This branch
will be completed by May Is, 1902.
The coal is to feed the southeastern
portion of the Rock Lsland-El Paso line
and probably will largely supply the
Southern Pacific railroad in addition to
heavy domestic custom in that section
Of the country.
BIG GAIN OVER DISTANCE.
The completion of the FL Paso line
will give the Rock Island route 22o
miles shorter between Kansas City and
Ell Paso than that of the Santa Fe be-
tween the scme points, together with a
saving of fifteen hours OF time. the lat
ter fact being largely due to the favor
able alignment and maximum per cent
grade Of the new Rock Island line.
In connection with the Southern Paci-
fic, the Rock Island will have shorter
line from Chicago to Los Angeles than
will the Santa Fe.
The construction cost OF the Rock Is
land-El Paso line will approximate ST.
100000. an average of about SOL 900 per
mile.-Chicago Tribune.