The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-05
EYES THIS WAY.
Southern Pacific May Get Into
Wichita Territory.
WANTS THE FRISCO ROAD
That Is a Current Report
Which viii Not Down.

In Wichita yesterday there was a very
/ pronounced ramor that the Southern Pa
cihc Railroad company IS after this ter
ritory and its management is seriously
contemplating the purchase Of the St.
Louis and san Francisco railroad TO that
end
While no one among the railroad men
here seems to know anything about II,
the information that such movement is
on the board may Be regarded as some
thing distinctly ont Of the realm Of
dreams and misty conjecture.
The Southern Pacific Is one o. the most
powerful corporations On earth, and ats
entrance into Kansas, Oklahoma, Mis-
souri, and Arkansas would mark a rail-
road epoch in the history Of the transpor-
alton development Of the central west.
The thing which is credited with bring
ing this last possibility about, is the ac-
tiyity in the great territory southwest
OF wichita About a year ago very
prominent railroad man in an Office n
Chicago placed his outspread hand on
northeastern Texas and New Mexico, that
broad tract lying between Wichita and
FL Paso. Texas, and said: Watch this
territory. It's all that's left"
What he meant was that all cis-Rocky
territory, save this. was supplied with
railroads. and that IN construction work.
this great area would see great activity.
A few weeks ago It was predicted in the
Eagle that the Rock Island would extend
from LIBERAL. Kansas, ontowards and in
10 the Rio Grande. And It was also
said that the Santa Fe might come into
possession of the Pecos Valley lire 10
protect itself from this inroad. The other
day the Pecos Valley read became Santa
F'e property which shows how closely
that great system is watching its right.
Stiu another road which IS sure b push
down through the territory IS the Orient.
and possibly the Choctaw as well.
It IS said that the Southern Pacific.
while not particularly resenting, yet is
not unmindfuI Of this invasion OF its ter
ritory and that this Is the motive which
IS leading it TO seek means Of getting
at once into territories II both the Santa
Fe and the Rock Island. Such a move
would put the Southern Pacific into St 1
Louis, Kansas City Wichita and Okla
homa City and a connecting line would
probably De constructed through Texas /
from Denison TO Houston.
Those who take a large view Of rail- (
roads believe that outside this area
mentioned the era Of railroad construc- 1
ton has passed and that the day OF con-
solidauon or other similar evolution has 4
come. Speaking Of this James J. Hill /
said this week:
The forces likely to determine IN ~ I
ture the construction Of new lines q .
railway in the United states are the need /
for better terminal facilities an dthe spec
.al requirements Of particular sections. (
That the buudiug Of great trunk lines /
has come 20 an erd Is shown. think. by I
the fact that during the past dozen years
there has beeen steady decline In rail-
way construction in all parts Of the Unit
ed States. A railway that viii not yield
2 prospective profit TO It's projectors has
10 legitimate reason Tor existence. and as
The existing lines between the west and
he east are prepared to transport twice
pr thrice the tonnage now Offering or
likely 70 offer for many years t. come,
10 attempt 10 parallel them with new
7nes wouid De a financial blunder little
better than crime The competition
4 older rivals and the consequent divfs-
ON Of business would render the stocks
and bonds If the newcomers practically
worthless. and investors have learned
'auti0n from tha disasters OF the past
lines now IN operation are pretty sure
70 seek ard secure improved outlets. and
here is bound 20 be small but steady