Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-02-25
PROJECTS roR NEW RAILROADS.

Plans of expansion and extension by
railroads IN the uew sodthwe which
have been made public within thr last
few months Indicate that the southwest
IL to become a center OF great activity In
railroad construction. Within the next
two years it is estimated more mileage
will be built In the region west of the
Missouri river IND south Of Kansas than
In all the western and northern states
combined. by the end OF two years 1t
IL estimated that 5000 miles Of railroad
will have been constructed In Oklahoma,
Indian Territory, Arkansas, Texas, Lou
isiana and New Mexico. Texas In par
ticular has become a great center VI ac-
tivity.
Among the mors important projects
are extensions OF the Chicago, Rock ISL
and * Pacific, also the Santa he ON
panies, which will enable both systems
to reach El Paso, Tex, the gateway to
the Mexican republic, by their own lines.
HI Paso il on the direct route between
the United States and the Gulf OF Mexi-
co, as II IL the terminus Of the Mexican
Central railroad.
The Santa Fe has also planned extern
sions which will considerably shorten its
present route TO the Pacific coast. and
the Rock Island Is also branching out In
the same direction. Contracts aggregat-
ing over 300 miles have been let by these
two companies In the southwest, while
the total distance to be covered by them
In new construction aggregates fully 500
miles.
The Choctaw, Oklahoma X Gulf com-
pahy has let a contract for about 100
miles OF extensions from Oklahoma
southwest. which will aggregate 400
miles, giving ii also a connection in Tex.
as and New Mexico.
In the same section the Kansas City,
Mexico * Orient is being promoted by
A. II. Stilwell, to be constructed be-
tween Kansas City and a point on the
Gulf OF California. OF this line over
600 miles have already been let to con.
tract.
The International n Great Northern
railroad company In Texas will build
over 200 miles to give it a line from
Houston into northern Texas.
The Missouri, Kansas * Texas is com.
plotting a 5O-mile extension to San An.
tonic, while the st. Louis 4 San Fran
cisco IL completing a new quite south
from 81. Louis, by constructing from a
Pout an ihuihu ltFTllOfy lufOukn east
Urn Oklahoma TO Denison, Tex, where
1t obtains connection for Fort Worth.
The Gulf, Colorado ~ Santa Fe has
made arrangements to build TO eastern
Texas. to connect with the Gulf, Beau.
mont a. Kansas City, which II now be-
ing completed through tho oil and timber
district.
In Louisiana contracts are about TO be
let for n railroad which win terminate
at Sabine Pass and form a new line be.
tween Arkansas and the Gulf of Mexico.
The reasons given for the EXTENSIVE
projects are the necessity for new lines
to develop timber, mineral, oil and agri-
cultural resources OF this section OF the
southwest aud the appreciation OF the
development OF Mexico by the great
railway systems west of the Mississippi
river. The freight and passenger bust
ness between the republic and the United
States has greatly increased with the
last few years and the traffic which will
accrue to the lines reaching the Rio
Grande. IL is believed will well repay
the cost of such extensive construction.