The Globe-republican., 1901-11-07
The Rock island Route,


| to the public, IFS new line to Texas and
the great South AMI Southwest The
opening of this new line will mean much
to the travelling and shipping public and
will take its place as one of the great
railroad improvements of that year.
This new line is an extension of the
branch of the Rock Island extending to
Liberal in the southwest corner of Kan
sas. The extension fresn Liberal runs in
an almost straight line TO Ell Paso. Texas,
the terminus. The distance from Liberal
to Ell Paso is 542 miles. A remarka bic
piece of railroad construction is be
found on this extension. being perfectly
straight piece of track. without "A curve.
for the distance OF Us miles, thus be-
coming the longest piece of straight
track in North America. The maximum
grade is only per cent, another remark
able and Important fact. This will make
the Rock Island the only true Southern
Route, with the lowest altitude and much
lower grade than any other line Few
people will realize what this means until
fully considered.
With the completion of this new ex
tension, the Rock Island will become
greater and more potent factor in the
railroad world 1t will only add
many miles to its already large mileage
..Short Line.'' over its own tracks, from
Chicago to Ell Paso, Texas. and with the
connecting lines at Ell Paso will become
the ..Short Lfne'' between Kansas City
aud the Pacific Coast we'll between
Chicago and many important points in
Texas aud Mexico. This of itself is OF
great importance in the busy railroad
world and it will bring to the Rock Is
land immense increase of traffic,
especially through business both to and
from the Pacific Coast, Mexico, Arizona,
and New Mexico.
To quote distances and show wherein
the extension will actually benefit and
shorten the time between the East, the
Vest, the South and the Southwest, the
following figures may be given.
The distance between Chicago and FL
Paso, Texas, via the Rock Island, is 1471
miles. while by the other shortest route
it is 1879 miles The distance between
Kansas City and Ell Paso. via the Rock
Island, is 954 miles. while by the other
shortest route it is 1872 miles. The dis
lance between Kansas City and Los
Angeles via the Rock Island is 1766 miles.
while by the other shortest route it is
1907 miles. The distance between Omaha
and Ell Paso via the Rock Island is HOG
miles, while by the other. shortest route
Omaha and Los Angeles vias tle,< Rock
Island to Ell Paso and connecting lines. is.
1918 miles, while by the other shortest
route it is 1000 miles. Thus it eASilllibe
readily seen that the Great Rock Island
will become pre-eminently the s'StraI ght
Line.'' the 'sShort Line,' the Low Al
titude Line,' between Missouri River
points and the principal points both West,
South. and Southwest.
Then again in addition to the aiinmense
gain in time to the freight and passenger
traffic. the building of the Rock Is
land extension will open up vast and as
yet wholly undiscovered territory, brim
full of interest aud surprises TO the
tourist 1t is reported by the engineers
who have been over the route that the
scenery is delightful.
The resources of the country through
which the new extension passes is all that
could be desired. There is abundant
land. rich, fertile and we'll watered, for
the farmer; plenty of pasture and feed
land for the cattle and sheep raiser; album
dant timber land for building purposes;
an inexhaustable supply of coal within
easy reach; deposits of gold, silver,
copper and other minerals, in fact, land
and resources to suit any and all tastes
The climate is favorably compared
with that of California 1t is just far
enough south to secure those warm days
so necessary to raise grain, fruit, etc.
and those delightful cool nights, SO re-
freshing to nature and beneficial TO
kind. In fact it Is the recognized health
zone of the United States.
AT the presen: time two gangs. COM
prising several hundred men and teams
working with all possible speed
toward each other from either end of the
route. Those on the north have about
% miles further to go before reaching
Santa Rosa, the meeting point; while
those building northward from FL Paso
re nearer by some few miles to the goal.
1t is expected that they will meet each
other during the latter part of December
of this year, and what time remains of
1901 will be employed in putting on the
finishing touches To this immense extern
sion, which will make the Great Rock
Island the .tShort Line" between the