The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-23
Mexican Central and Mexican
National in Conflict.
Central Forced to Build $50
Miles of New Line.
HARTMAN In CONTROL
Combines Mexican National and
Mexican international.
Prospects Of Great Develop
ments in Mexican Republic.

The action of the Mexican National
railway company is widening the gauge
of its system to standard width has
caused the Mexican Central to awaken
to the necessityof preparing to meet this
competition by building a short line to
the United States. So long as the Mexi-
can National was of narrow gauge,
thereby necessitating the transfer of all
freight delivered by and destined for
it's lines at the Rio Grande border, the
Mexican Central had no difficulty in
meeting this competition by its long
route via Ell Paso. The widening of the
gauge, however, will place the Mexican
National far in the lead of the Mexican
CentraPS existing line in the matter of
ShOrtneSs of route between the border
and the City of Mexico and connecting
points.
realized by the Mexican Central, and
steps were Immediately taken to meet
the new competition by constructing a
cutoff short line between a point on its
existing main line and San Antonio.
Tex. The survey for this line has been
in progress more than three months.
The distance between San Antonio
and the point of crossing of the Rio
Grande is 150 miles. and between the
latter place and San Pedro about 300
miles, making the total mileage to be
constructed in order to obtain the short
est possible line between San Antonio
and the City of Mexico about $50 miles,
The contract for the immediate con-
struction of a part OF this road. be-
tween San Pedro and Paredon has al
ready been let.
Another thing that led to the determ-
ination on the part of the Mexican Cen
trail to build this short line connection
is the fact that the Mexican Internation-
al which runs from Porfirio Diaz. on
the Rio Grande border, opposite Eagle
Pass, Tex, to Durango. Mexico. con-
h. <1A
Torreon and having a branch line to
Monterey from Reata. has passed into
the hands of the Hartman interests
| and is ultimately to be consolidated
| with the Mexican National. which is also
a Hartman property. Up to the time
of the recent change of ownership of
| the Mexican National the Mexican Cen
| trail and the Mexican Internati in
| terchanged a large amount of through
! business at TOrreOn, but practically all
| of This business is now diverted to the
| Mex lean National at Monterey.
4 prominent ffnancier of New York.
| who represents the controlling interest
| in Mexican Central, says the rearrange-
| ment of the capitalization of that COM
pany is progressing as satisfactorily as
could be desired.
| A director of Mexican Central in
| speaking Of the possible developments
| of the property, said today:
| II have made the prediction before
| and I am willing to make it again that
| the next ten years will see greater
enhancement in the value of the securi-
] ties of tn Mexican railroads, and espec-
| tally the Mexican Central, than will
/ take place among any of the railroads
| of this continent.
| ct is because of this belief that the
| present controlling interest in the pro-
| perty bought so heavily of the stock OF
| Mexican Central when it was quoted at
| a lower price, and are continuing to
! buy it at the present time.
ITO my personal knowledge more
| than SIS, O08, 900 of United States capital
| have been invested in the territory
| along the Mexican Central during the
| last two years.
| ''These investments will inevitably re-
| suit in large increase in the company s
| traffic The public is only beginning tc
| appreciate the almost inexhaustible re-
| sources of the republic of Mexico.
| within six months most of the mo-
tive power of the Mexican Central will
have been changed to oil. AS soon as
oil equipment has been made ready
| Beaumont oil will be used entirely.
| During 1900 it cost Mexican Central
81, 7O0,476 for coal and $780, 900 for wood
fuel.
with the Introduction of oil as sup
| plies of motive power the total cost OF
fuel will amount to only about one
half of those figures-a saving in this
one line of more than 81, SOC, 900 yearly