The Topeka state journal., 1902-08-25
Double Track to Kansas City
Will Be Built
For Use of Union Pacific and
Rock Island.
THAT 99-YEAR LEASE
Prevents Rock Island From
Building Its Own Line.
More Rock Island Officials For
Kansas City.

In an interview given at Kansas City
c. A. Goodnow, general manager OF the
Rock Island system stated that the
Rock Island will not build its own track
from Topeka to Kansas City, but that a
double track is to be built by the IN
ion Pacific for the joint use of both
roads.
Mr.. Goodnow also stated that the Of
fees of the Kansas City-St- Louis line
will probably be located at Kansas
City, and that this line will be in op-
GRAFTON within year
Has the Rock Island purchased the
Frisco " he was asked.
Il think not said Mr.. Goodnow. II
am not. of course, connected with the
department that buys new roads, but
it is my judgment that the Rock Island
has not purchased the Frisco and that
it never intended to-"
Further Questioning along the line of
Rock Island purchases found no re-
sponse and the reporter endeavored to
ascertain the route to be used by the
Rock Island from Kansas City limits TO
the Union depot.
Don't know anything about it" re-
piled Mr.. Goodnow to this line of in
quiry. II know that the Kansas City
ST. Louis line will be IN operation with
in a year. maybe less.
Where will the offices of this line be
Socated?"
Il can't say positively" said the man
ager of the Rock Island system, but
am inclined to think that is where Kan
sas City will score. The removal of the
offices from Topeka short time ago
presages the establishment of the offices
for the operation of the Kansas City
ST. Louis line in Kansas City. There are
sure to be more offices in Kansas CITY
You will find lot of Rock Island office
employees living in Kansas City before
the year is out"
win the Rock Island continue the
use of the Burlington tracks the Han
nibal bridge and the Union Pacific
tracks into Kansas City?" was the next
question.
TT most certainly will do all of these
things. We are to use the Burlington
tracks. the Hannibal bridge and the
Union Pacific tracks. We are tied up
with a ninety-nine year lease with the
Union Pacific for the use of its tracks
between Kansas City and Topeka. 1
will tell this, however-the track be-
tween Kansas City and Topeka is to be
made double track. Then the traffic
of both the Union Pacific and Rock Is
land roads can easily be accommo-
dated"
An attempt to lead Mr.. Goodnow into
a discussion of the Bates bridge in
jected the union depot proposition into
the conversation.
-All of the railroads realize that Kan
sas City needs a new Union passenger
station. And it is going to be accom-
plished. and that very soon. 1t will
probably be located right where it is
now. And it will be a structure suited
to the needs of Kansas City and the
railroads Tor the next nifty years.
Il don't know what we are going to
do for freight cars this year." said Mr.
Goodnow, looking out of the window at
rows of loaded freight cars standing i'll
the Hannibal yards. THE corn crop of
the middle west and of Kansas. Ne
braska and Missouri is enormous. I
have Just returned from a tour of the
lines in Kansas and Nebraska, and l
never saw the like. Not only is the
amount of corn being raised something
enormous, unprecedented you might
say. but the quality of the corn is way
above the average.
There is a shortage of corn in for
eign countries and there is going to be
a demand for the moving of this crol
of corn of ours as soon as it be cut
Every railroad in the country has in
creased it's car equipment enormously
Not only in the number of cars ordered
but the cars are larger and the tonnage
capacity is greater. Despite this 1args
increase in equipment there are not 60
ing to be enough cars to move the crop
1t is a bumper crop and no mistake.
Mr.. Goodnow, accompanied by H. s
Cable. superintendent of the western
district, and John Sullivan, roadmaster
left yesterday afternoon for |. tour OF
the southwest lines of the Rock Island
system.