Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-22
SANTA FE N. M, TUESDAY, OCTOBER %, 1901
ROCK ISLAND RAILROAD
CONSTRUCTION
A Out Off in Kansas Is Planned and Will
Shorten the Distance Between Chicago
ElPaao and Los Angeles,
PUSHING ITS LINE THROUGH
NEW MEXICO.

|
Island railroad is contemplated from
Belleville, Kas., through Clay Center
and Salina to Mcpherson, maxim E-con-
nection with the main line from Nc
Pherson through Liberal to Ell Paso.
The length of the contemplated con-
strueiion is but 80 miles, arS ,vill
greatly lessen the distance from Chi
cago west to the coast. This will be
an important move of the road in the
next year.
When, in the first days Of January
last, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pa
cific railroad broke ground at Liberal,
Kas, for it's great southwestern ex-
tension, it had 402 miles of road to
N. NJ, with the Ell Paso and North
eastern railroad, Carrizozo being ia
miles from Ell Paso, thus giving to-
tai length of line between Liberal and
Ell Paso of SAG miles.
For the special purpose Of complying
with the behest of the Texas law that
every railroad within that state shall
have state operating headquarters and
also for general construction facilities
and convenience, the road building
was placed under the charters of five
different railroad corporations, viz;
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
itself, the Chicago, Rock Island and
Mexico, the Chicago, Rock Island and
Ell Paso, the Rock Island and Ell Paso
railway and the El Paso and North
eastern. The road from Liberal to
Santa Rosa, NJ NJ, a distance of 272
miles, was placed under direct Chica-
go, Rock Island and Pacific construc-
ton, with j. H. Conlen, vice president
of the Chicago, Rock Island and Mex
leo, as chief engineer and general man
ager, while from Santa Rosa to Carri-
zozo, a distance of 1870 miles, the con-
struction work was given to the Ell
Paso and Northeastern.
The road from Liberal to Carrizozo
will be equipped with S0-pound steel;
oak or pitch pine ties, and modern bal
lasting. The construction work is su-
perb, heavy construction trains max
ing 35 miles an hour with smoothness
and safety over fresh laid rails
This construction work constitutes
the initial instance of S0-pound steel
being laid on an actually new railroad
to which can be added the even
greater construction fact that the
Roberts track-laying machine is put
ting down S0-pound steel at faster |
rate than any has heretofore laid &C. |
pound rails-while, after the crossing |
Of the Canadian river and the coming |
of cooler weather, Mr.. Conlen expects |
to increase the track-laying pace from |
the present two and one-half miles to |
three miles per day.
Depots, sidetracks, switches, station |
houses, yardage, water tanks and |
Western Union telegraph lines have
all kept pace with actual road build
ing, so that the line as fast as con-
structed is also ready for full and fin
al operation.
COAL FOR THE SOUTH.
In connection with the Rock Island
Ell Paso line is the new 130-mile rail-
road which is to develop the immense
Dawson coal fields, owned by the !
Rock Island in the northern part of
Colfax county, N. M. This road will
cave the main Rock Island rails at or
near Liberty station, 20 miles south
west of the Canadian river crossing,
and will plant its rails in the counties
If San Miguel, Mora and Colfax. The
route is now under survey, and the
road will be fully constructed by May
Is, 1902 This New Mexico coal Is to
feed the southern portion Of the Rock
Island-El Paso line, and Is also doubt
less largely to supply Southern Pacific |
demand with, and in addition |
a heavy southern domestic custom.
This road will also develop extensive
and valuable New Mexico stock, min
ing and agricultural interests, and as
it will cross the Santa Fe at Maxwell
City or Dorsey, will afford general
new north and south railroad connec-
ton.
A NEW RAILROAD PACE.
The completion of the Ell Paso road |
will give the Rock Island a route 222 |
miles shorter between Kansas City |
and Ell Paso than that Of any other |
railroad between the same points, to-
gether with saving Of Is hours Of |
time, the latter fact being largely due |
to the favorable alignment and maxi
mum 1 per cent grade of the new Rock |
Island road. Again, the Ell Paso route |
will shorten Rock Island distance 40
miles between Kansas City and Los
Angeles over any other railroad, while |
the building this fall and winter Of
the new Rock Island Missouri CUTOFF |
between Trenton and Belknap will |
give that road an advantage of IS !
miles out Of Chicago to Los Angeles. |
In other words, the building Of the |
Rock Island-El Paso road constitutes |
a veritable western railroad revolution |
as the other great lines must meet |
these new speed schedules.