The Topeka state journal., 1902-04-28
into ST. LOUIS.
Santa Fe Wants to Buy Back
Worlds Fair Line.
Rock Island Also After the
Same Prize.
OFFICIALS DENY IT.
Say the Reports of Purchase
Are Premature.
Line VIII Extend From st. Louis
to Kansas City.

It is reported from St Louis that a
deal is pending for the sale of the St
Louis. Kansas City & Colorado line to
thesSanta Fe or Rock Island. The Col
orado line has acquired control of the
Wiggin Ferry company, giving it So
miles Of yard trackage in addition to its
Union depot terminals and it's Forest
park station.
Whatever road acquires the Southern
viii have one of the best possible St
Louis terminals for handling Worlds
fair business
Chicago officials of the Santa Fe deny
that the Santa Fe has purchased the
Colorado, but intimate that it may be
purchased ultimately.
The Santa Fe originally owned the
Colorado line. but the latter was not
a paying property when sold to Messrs-
Francis and Scullin for S5O0,000 about a
year ago. They had mapped out a com
prehensive plan to run the line to the
western limits of Missouri They have
right of way traversing the state. John
Scullin was also president of the Wig
gins Ferry company, the disposition II
the majority of the stock of which com
nany is now disputed by two St. Louis
trust companies. the Mercantile and
they are-purchasing for Others
As planned. the St.Louis. Kansas City
& Colorado will be the shortest line be
tween Kansas City and St. Louis by 30
miles or more. 1t may be extended TO
this city and held by its present owners
as an independent property, the com
pany leasing use of the tracks to the
Santa Fe, Rock Island and perhaps 9TH
er lines, such as the Frisco or Union
Pacific rentals being made sufficiently
low to enable whatever lines may desire
to do so to use it.
With the approach of the Worlds fair
this idea, if it should be followed out by
the buffuers, would stand an excellent
chance of success. The fact that MI
Francis is head Of both the fair and the
St louis, Kansas City & Colorado may
have only a sentimental connection with
this idea, but if the plan should be put
into operation, whatever the cause,
Kansas City would have occasion for
rejoicing
Trains leaving Kansas City and st.
Louis at midnight and reaching the
other terminal of the line the following
morning viii be entirely practicapss
when the new road Is fairly IN opera
ton The work is nearing Kansas City
and the surveyors definitely locating
the line will come within sixty tz1lle5
of there early next month This wiu
enable the completion of the line IN
time to have settled and been put IN
good shape for the worlds fair traffic
should several roads decide to use the
line the roadbed and rails viii prob
ably be brought to the highest stand
ard money can produce.
The St Louis, Kansas City & Colo
rado was built from the north line Of
Forest park, in st. Louis, to Union,
Mo, about So miles. several years ago
It uses the tracks of the Wabash from
Forest park into the Union depot in 81
Louis, in which it has rights. The road
was controlled by the Santa Fe prior
to receivership, but the ownership was
relinquished few years ago.
It began extending west from Union
before the worlds fair movement
gained headway, but was forced to sus-
pend work for a time because David
r. Francis, chairman of the board OF
Louis, Kansas City & Colorado inter
fered with subscriptions to the fair
fund bX-some of the other roads. The
project was consequently again allowed
&c slumber.
Some months ago, however, it was re-
viVed, since which time construction
work has been pushed west The line ls
now in operation to Belle, lo5 miles
from St. Louis. and is building to Yer
sailles, 20 miles to the west
The dispatch from Chicago concerning
the sale of the road is as follows.
"Chicago. April 2S.-The report that
the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe had
purchased the st. Louis, Kansas city K
Colorado line was denied by a Santa Fe
!
lin owned one-half of the St. Louis,
Kansas City & Colorado and also con-
trolled the Virgins ferry He had been
trying to combine the two properties
for some time and the real meaning OF
the St Louis dispatch might be that this
consolidation had taken place. IL so, he
believed it would be a fortunate union
of the two properties. IT would give
terminal facilities in St. Louis superior,
possibly. to any other road. The Wig
gins ferry property covered eighty three
miles of yardage track, while the St
Louis, Kansas City & Colorado line has
union depot terminals and it touches
Forest park in a way that viii cover
most of the worlds fair business
The official stated that doubtless
some prominent roads such as the Rock
Island or Santa Fe would ultimately buy
the consolidated properties or the prop
critics could be held and leased to Rock
Island, Santa Fe. and all other lines
wanting to reach st Louis trade. As yet
he was positive that the Santa Fe had
not purchased or leased the Southern
properties with the view of entering St
Louis and what might happen. he could
not say"