The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
What the Santa Fe Is Doing
in Eastern Kansas.
Vast Sums Expended in I'M
q proving the "Cut-Of."
FOUNDRY FOR TOPEKA.
Iron Castings For System May
Be Made Here.
Plans Drawn For Fine Fire
proof Freight Depot.

But little is generally known of the
enormous amount of money which the
Santa Fe has been and now is laying
out for improvements on its eastern
division which extends from Kansas
City to the west end of Emporia yards
Most of this has been going on from
Holiday west at different points along
the line, a large portion on the Ottawa
cutoff in the way of track improve
mems and the rest principally at To-
peka in the building of new shop
plant, besides other changes which are
10 come a little later.
Between Holiday and Ottawa for
many months the work of reducing
grades, putting down new steel, erect
ing water tanks and coal stations, and
rebuilding depots have received the
principal attention. Until a short time
ago big gangs of men, steam shovels
and other similar machinery We're busy
rushing the job. They have been pulled
of until spring opens when the weather
becomes favorable to further opera
tons. Already the grade of tracks and
depot grounds at the town of Gardiner
have been lowered about eighteen feet
and there the survey has been changed
One-half mile. At WilSOnVille, the route
also has been changed, the present line
entering that place about three-fourthS
of mile south of the form er road-bed-
At one point where before $500 feet of
bridging stood, a I'LL has been made dis
pensing with the trestle work Plans
for double track in many places have
been made and for this purpose the
necessary right of way has been pur-
chased, the immense traffic which the
road has been handling recently and
which is prospective, making this pro-
vision imperative The matter of MAX
ing these betterments has required the
employment of much skill and fore
thought in the handling of trains with
out delay. The heavy machinery re
Quired in the work had to be moved
much of the time over the rails of the
line proper, and it will be seen that it
was no small task to keep the force
busy at the same time keeping a clear
road for traffic.
In Topeka the shop extension is par
ticularly important, but there has been
such a small beginning that people
scarcely realize what the completion
of the final plans will mean. By it the
population of shop employees is to be
increased fully One-third, possibly more
The construction of locomotives almost
entirely from the rail up to the smoke
stack will be one of the great advan-
tages of the new plant. Already a great
many engines have been built here, but
the work always has been hampered on
account of small space, and the number
of locomotives after the new buildings
are finished will be between forty and
fifty annually. 1t is possible, too, that
the present structures in which the me-
chan1cal department is located will be
turned to purposes which will mean
much to the town. For instance there
iE talk that the m achine shop may be
given over to an iron foundry where
the company will mold all its castings,
a large portion of which are purchased
from outside companies. When the new
shops are ready for occupancy, men who
are authority say that the Topeka shops
of the Santa Fe will outclass those of
any western railroad of the United
States.
Further, the company has in view the
erection of a fine structure for the
handling of the local freight business.
Plans have been drawn and no doubt
will be approved which will give To-
peka brick freight depot to be located
on the northeast corner of Fourth and
Adams streets, the location now of the
railroad Y. NJ. c. A 1t will be fire
proof and the best that skill can build
with the allowance 1t is probable that
before long a new passenger station will
supersede the present one The Santa
Fe Is rapidly getting a line in on Easy
Street, and this is a source of gratifi-
cation to the patrons and to the en-
ployes alike.