The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-31
RAILROAD NEWS.
RumOr of Rock Island Line From
TT. Worth to Galveston.
Trip of Officials Said to Have
Significance.
DISTANCE 800 MILES.
Nicaraguan Canal VIII Make
Investment Profitable.
Other Railroad News of General
and Personal Nature.

The annual trip of inspection OF the
officers and board of directors of the
Rock Island railroad, and their visit
to Fort Worth has given risen to new
rumors for the purchase or construc-
ton of a line from Fort Worth to Gal
weston.
1t is said on good authority that this
project is now under serious considera-
ton by the management of the Rock
Island. The construction of this line
has been talked of more or less ever
since the building of the Rock Island
into Fort Worth about ten years ago.
The matter has now been revived ana
fresh impetus given the rumor.
Such a line would be of advantage
to the Rock Island There are many
who believe Galveston and New Or
leans will be the important ports in
the handling of the Philippine and Or
iental business from a time dating not
far in the future.
1t is generally conceded that the
treaty to be ratified between England
and the United States at the next Ses-
sion of Congress will be favorable to
the United States and particularly to
Galveston and New Orleans as ports
for handling trans-oceanic, trans-cQn-
tinental trade in the Nicaraguan canal
matter
Inasmuch as it is known the senate
of the United States Congress viii
ratify such a treaty, it is generally be-
lieved England has waived all claims
on the canal, and that the construction
of the much needed channel will be soon
commenced by the United States and
that all responsibility will rest here
In event that this proposition is car
ried out it is plainly seen that the
greatest portion of the Oriental trade
will be diverted from San Francisco
and other Pacific coast points, to send
the cargoes by way of the Nicaraguan
canal to either Galveston or New Or
leans.
BY the construction of nearly three
hundred miles of road between Fort
Worth and Galveston. or the acquisi-
ton of Houston and Texas Central, the
connection now used by the Rock Island
to reach Galveston, the Rock Island
would have the short line between the
Gulf of Mexico port, and Kansas City
and Chicago, and the territory conting-
ent to the EOad in the north and about
the Great Lakes.
The policy of the Rock Island rail
road is for extension into new terri
tory and whenever it may be demon
strated that the additional mileage of the
road in any direction may be turned to
advantage by the road, the construction
is ordered.
With the completion of the Ell Paso
line by Jan 1. the road will stretch
from Chicago across the middle west
states to the border of Old Mexico The
new lines to Ell Paso tap an excellent
cattle and coal country and shortenS
the line from that territory to the
Great Lakes about 200 miles The line
of the road through Topeka is thereby
made the through line between Mexico
and Chicago. and all shipments pass
through here.
In event the Galveston line is con-
structed the road will have three lines
reaching out to tap a rich territory
practically uncontrolled by any other
road
A reason is to be found in the policy
of the Rock Island in branching out
in entirely new territory. In the first
place il costs less to build in new ter
ritory where the country is not cut VI
with other roads. 1t isn't so difficult
to obtain right of way In fact, that
is usually the easiest part of the build
ing.
And it will be admitted that while
the territory traversed by the new lines
of this road is sparsely settled as COM
pared with the country east of Chicago,
it is to be seen that the territory IS
sure to expand and the population to
increase.
And the road that gets in on the
ditions. A road built through a COM
paratively thinly populated country
will aSSuredly have business enough to
more than pay running expenses. And
the construction of one line effectually
shuts out other lines through the same
territory for years, until the country
develops to the extent that the one
road is not adequate for the needs of
the territory.
The proposed Kansas City-St. Louis
line that will probably be opened be-
fore the Worlds Fair in 1908, will be
of immense advantage in the matter OF
giving outlet for through business
lines having terminals at ST. Louis