New-York tribune., 1901-02-04
PRESIDENT BURT ON u. P.
CONDITION OF THE ROAD THAT HAS
ACQUIRED SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
THE GREAT TRANSACTION WILL NOT Az
Feet PRESENT TRAFFIC. ARRANGE
MENTs-UNION PACIFICs M
PROVEMENTS.

Railroad. is at the Waldorf Astoria. He is ac-
companied by his wife and several friends. in
Guiding j. II. AfiIland. president Of the Omaha
National Bank. and Judge w r. Kelly, general
solicitor of the Union Pacific. The party arrived
from Omaha a week ago. and will spend ten days
more in the city.
Mr.. Burt talked to a Tribune reporter last
night upon his favorite theme-the Union Pacific
Railroad-and his remarks are especially timely
in view Of the recent gigantic transaction by
which this road gets control of the big system
Of the Southern Pacific:
II come East several times year." said Mr..
Burt "to talk matters with our people
and to secure money and authority to carry on
the improvements which the Union Pacific has
been energeticalIy carrying on for the last three
years. I do not interest myself in the road from
the point of view Of banker or broker. because
1 am fully taken UP with the practical physical
side of the property. I know much less about
Wall Street operations than do Of bridge
building and ballasting and grading prairie rail-
roads. consequently I am not cOnversant with
the facts concerning the recently announced
transfer Of control of the Southern Pacific TO
Union Pacific interests. If the Speyer- Hunting
ton shares purchased by the Hartman
syndicate. they purchased by people inter-
ested in Pacific securities and not by the Union
Pacific Railroad Company
NO CHANGE IN PRESENT PLANS.
This union of interests. il such a step has been
taken, will bring the Union Pacific into even
closer harmony with the Central Pacific whose
entire capital stock acquired by the South
ern Pacific in 1890 The Union Pacific will con-
tinue 10 run through trains over the Central
Pacific tracks, as heretofore. There will be no
change in the relations which now exist between
the Union Pacific and the Oregon Short Line.
OF 4S9 miles which it controls. nor will there
be any violent disturbance in present traffic ar
rangements with the Southern Pacific If the
reported deal Is really fact, every one inter
ested will receive a direct benefit thereoy'
Greater economies. through the elimination or
agencies. will be effected. and every mile of the
entire system will increase in value in proper
ton as we are able to put more and more capt.
tai into general equipment and Improvement OF
the roadbed."
1T might be we'll to emphasize at TINS ume
that. If the two great systems have been brought
under one control no attempt will be made to
, hurt the interests Of the thousands of producers
who are practically dependent upon our lines for
the marketing OF their products The western
farmers and wheat men, as well as the mining
and cattle interests. may rest assured that tne
cordial relations which now exist between
them and the Union Pacific will not he dis
turbed The strength which the company now
/ possesses must necessarily result greatly TO the
! advantage Of the country traveTsed through
fairer and more stable adjustment Of transpor'a-
| tion rates"
| v1r Rurt then outlined the improvements Of
| .he roadbed which he has vigorously pursued
| since he assumed control
aOn February 1. 1895" he said. "the present
company took possession Of the Union Paclhe
main line. and the road became the property OF
the stockholders Improvements long held in
allowance by reason of the joint ownership in
the corporation by the Government and the orig
inaI stockholders were initiated. These I'M
nrovAnents consist in important changes in the
main line in Wyoming, where there are ths
heaviest gradients and curvatures. About two
hundred miles of this section have been prac-
ticaIy rebuilt thus reducing the grades from
maximum of 10 feet on Sherman Divide. and
from 60 10 So feet in other portions of the line.
TO a uniform maximum of 43 feet 10 the mile.
In another two years sun more HhPOrlan1
changes on the Divide and the SILT Lake sectloh'
in Western Utah. will be completed In addltlon
to the reduction of gradients. the road VIII be
Shortened about thirty-fOur miles making the
5istance between Council Bluffs and ogden prac-
ticaIIy one thousand miles. In wyoming the
main line will be ballasted with dislntegrated
granite and gravel. and in Kansas with burned
CLAW This work will be completed in two years.
In 1909 eighteen hundred miles OF road Will be
thus treated. Many heavy new rails nave oeen
put down. Our freight and passenger equip
ment has been increased. New locomotives or
Increased weight enable us to haul heavier trains
with largely reduced cost
BRIDGES HAD TO BE REBUILT
"The introduction of this equipment has mads
n necessary 10 rebuild throughout the bridge
structures Modern stone and steel bridges have
repIaced light timber structures to such an ex-
tent that the roadbed compares favOrably with
that of the best Eastern railways. Modern sta
tions are going up at the principal towns and
cities along the route. The company Is also
spendfng thousands of dollars in developing new
coal fields which will materially increase its
already large bitumnOus coal traffic
'The railroad owns large amount or land IN
Nebraska Kansas. Colorado and Utah. which is
being rapidly disposed Of to settlers. Prosperity
reigns in these States. Winter wheat prospects
are good and a busy summer in the fields Is pre-
dicted There has been little snow thus far to
water the mountain crops of alfalfa. but stock
men are looking for heavy fall during this
month and next. Nebraska and Kansas have
had heavy rainfalls and all signs point 70 a
season OF greater crops than ever before There
never existed better feeling between the farmers
and the railroad company. State legislatures
have grown more sensible in their treatment OF
the company. The people are growing 10 feel
that the company has their interests in mind
well as it's own. The railroad and the people
have learned the value of conservatism