Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-03-02
STATE or UNION PACIFIC
Facts About the Road That Has
Acquired Southern Pacific.
PRESIDENT BURrs STATEMENT

The Great Railroad Deal. He Says
VIII Not Affect Present Traffic Ar
ransements improvements Made
on the Union Pacfac's Roadbed.
Bridges Had to be
Horace G. Burt. president Of the Tn
ION Pacific railroad. talked to a New
York Tribune reporter the other night
at the Waldorf astoria upon his favor
lite theme-the Onion Pacific railroad :.
and his remarks are especially timely
in view of the recent gigantic transac-
ton by which this road gets control OF
the big system of the southern Pacific
81 come east several times a year"
said Mr.. Burt, ITO talk over matters
with our people and to secure money
and authority 20 carry on the improve
ments which the Union Pacific has
been e%nergetically carrying on for the
last three years. | do not interest my
self In the road from the point of view
of a banker or broker. because | am
fully taken up with the practical phys
ical side of the property. know much
less about Wall street operations than
| do of bridge building and ballasting
and grading prairie railroads. conse-
quently | am not ~conversant with the
facts concerning the recently announc-
ed transfer Of control of the Southern
Pacific to Union Pacific interests. If
the Speyer-Huntington shares were
purchased by the Hartman syndicate
they were purchased by people interest
ed in Pacific securities and not by the
Union Pacific Railroad company.
"This union of interests. il such a
step has been taken. will bring the Tn
ion Pacific into even closer harmony
with the Central Pacific. whose entire
canital stock was acquired by the
| Southern Pacific in 1899. The Union
Pacific will continue to run through
trains over the Central Pacific tracks
as heretofore. There will be no change
in the relations which now exist be-
tween the Union Pacific and the Ore
gon Short Line. of 1880 miles. which
it controls. nor will there be any vio-
lent disturbance in present traffic ar
rangements with the Southern Pacific.
If the reported deal is really a fact,
every one interested will receive a di-
rect benefit thereby. Greater econo
mics. through the elimination Of agen-
| cies, will be effected. and every mile
of the entire system will increase In
value in proportion as we are able to
put more capital into general equip
ment and Improvement of the road
bed.
cit might be well to emphasize at
this tim. that If the two systems have
been brought under one control 10 at
tempt will be made to hurt the inter-
ests of the thousands of producers who
are practically dependent upon u
lines for the marketing of their prod
ucts. The western farmers and wheat
men, as well as the mining and cattle
interests. may rest assured that the
cordial relations which now exist be-
tween them and the Union Pacific will
not be disturbed. The strength which
the company now possesses must nee
essarily result greatly to the advantage
| Oh tue COuliIy IdNClStd thiOtSh a
fairer and more stable adjustment Of
transportation rates." M s~8a
Mr.. Burt then outlined the improve
ments of the roadbed. which he has
vigorously pursued since he assumed
| control. ION Feb. 1. 1885," he said,
"the present company took possession
of the Union Pacific main line, and the
road became the property Of the stock
holders. Improvements long held in
allegiance by reason of the joint owner
ship in the corporation by the govern
ment and the original stockholders
were initiated. These Improvements
consist in important changes in the
main line in Wyoming. where there are
the heaviest grades ard curvatures.
About 200 miles of this section have
been practically rebuilt. thus reducing
the grades from a maximum of ITO feet
on Sherman divide and from GO to so
feet Ia other portions of the line to a
uniform maximum of AZ feet to the
mile. In another two years still more
important changes on the divide and
the Salt Lake section In western Utah
Will Dt COuDpitlSu- III duuiilou 10 tire
reduction OF. gradients the road will be
shortened about "a miles. making the
distance between Council Bluffs and
Ogden practically 1000 miles. In Wyo-
ming the main line will be ballasted
with d~isintegrated granite and gravel
and in Kansas with burned clay. This
work will be completed In two years.
In 1905 1900 miles Of road will be thus
treated. Many heavy new rails have
been put down. Our freight and pas
senger equipment has been increased.
New locomotives of increased weight
ENABLE us to haul heavier trains With
largely reduced cost.
The introduction of this equipment
has made it necessary to rebuild
throughout the bridge structures. Mod
ern stone and steel bridges have re-
placed light timber structures to such
an extent that the roadbed compares
| foyarahlu mffh that af <ha hnot ooutarn