The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-23
RAILROAD NEWS.
The New Southwest to Become
a Center Of Activity.
Projects For Railroad COnstruc-
tiOn West of the Mississippi.
PLANNING EXTENSION.
Santa Fe and Rock Island VIII
Reach Ell PasO.
PLANNING EXTENSION.
New Lines VIII Develop Timber
and Other Resources.

Plans OF expansion and extension by
railroads in the new southwest which
have been made public within the last
few months indicate that that territory
Is 70 become 4 center Of great activity
in railroad construction. Within the
next two years il is estimated more
mileage viii BE- built in the region west
of the Missouri river and south of Kan
sas than in all the western and north
ern states combined By the end of two
years it is estimated that 5000 miles Of
railroad viii Heve been constructed in
Oklahoma. Indian Territory, Arkansas,
Texas Louisiana and New Mexico.
Texas in particular has become a great
center Of activity.
Among the more important projects
are extensions OF the Chicago, Rock Isl
and & Pacific. also the Santa Fe com
panies. which viii enable both systems
to reach I'll PasO, Tex, the gateway TO
the Mexican republic. by their own
lines FL Pas0 is on the cSect route
between the United States and the Gulf
Of Mexico. as 1t is the terminus Of the
Mexican Centrel railroad
The Santa E'e has also planned extern
sions which will considerably shorten its
present route to the Pacific coast, and
the Rock Islard is also branching out in
the same direction. Contracts aggregat-
ing over 800 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 CnOCfaW, Oklahoma & Gun COM
pany has let q contract for about 100
miles of extensions from Oklahoma
southwest. which VIII aggregate 400
miles, giving it also a connection in
Texas and New Mexico.
In the same section the Kansas City.
Mexico & Orient is being promoted by
A. E. Stilwell. to be constructed be
tween Kansas City and a point on the
Gulf of California. OF this line over 500
miles have already been let to con-
tract.
The International & Great Northern
railroad company in Texas will build
over 200 miles to give it a line from
Houston into northern Texas.
The Missouri. Kansas g. Texas is COM
pleting a 50-nile extension to San An
tonic, while the St. Louis & San Fran
cisco is completing a new route south
from St. Louis. by constructing from
point in Indian Territory through east
ern Oklahoma TO Den1SOn- Tex where II
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 & Kansas City. which is now be-
ing completed through the OIL and TIM
Der district.
In Louisiana contracts are about to be
let for a railroad which VIII 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 agrl-
cultural resources of this section of the
southwest and 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 Unit
ed States has greatly increased with the
last few years and the traffic which will
accrue to the lines reaching the Rio
Grande. it is believed. viii well repay
the cost OF such extensive construction