The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-26
RAILROAD NEWS.
Erection of Big Rock Island
Shops at Denver Rumored.
Five Million Dollar Investment
Planned by This Company.
MAY BE TRIUMYIRATE.
Clark Road May Also Be Inter-
ested in the Deal.
NAY BE TRIUMVIRATE.
Largest Project of It's Kind
Ever Attempted in the West.

Denver, June GA mammoth car and
locomotive works, costing in the neigh
borhood of s5,O0O000. will probably be
built in Denver by the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific railroad in cOnjunction
with other western lines. 1t is under
stood that the matter has progressed as
far as securing options on a large tract
of land for the plant, the organizing of
an independent iron company to sup
ply the material and the securing OF
the cooperation of other railroads.
1T was known two months ago" says
the Denver Post, that the Rock Island
had a man in the west looking over the
field with the object in view Of obtain
ing information regarding the erection
of rOundhouses, machine shops and re-
pair stations. He was at Colorado
Springs for several days and was said
to have taken an option on a large tract
of land in that city. This representative
then came to Denver and it is under
stood that an option was taken on big
tract Of land suitable for site near
ArVada- Both sites We're being consid-
cred and finally the decision made in
favor of Denver, with a change in the
plans to construct q car and locomotive
works large enough and strong enough
to compete with the big plants in the
east.
TT is understood that the works will
be owned and operated by an independ-
ent company from that of the railroads,
though the same officers will constitute
both companies and the Rock Island
viii furnish most of the money. Both
the Moffat and the Clark roads are said
to be interested in the deal, and that
this was one of the features figuring
in the financieTing of the Moffat line.
The Incorporation Of the American Fuel
& Iron company, with 81 600 600 capital
last week, IS considered the first step
toward the carrying out of the plans.
The Colorado Fuel q Iron company,
while turning out a good quality of steel.
ar nft "a
present for the manufacturing of steel.
especially adapted to the building Of loco
company was organized for that purpose,
securing its coal and iron in Routt coun-
THE fact that this company VIII be in
reach of the MOffat line and that the site
secured for the works is also on that
lief that the Moffat road is behind the
move in conjunction with the Rock Is
land
1T is pointed out that the time is ripe
for such an establishment in the west
and that Denver by reason OF its nat
cation. The locomotive and car works
in the east are all behind with orders
fat line. the Clark road, the new extern
siOns of the Rock Island, the building Of
nay , 49, - - 70 - - -
the absence OF any SuGh WORKS IN lile
west all 90 to make it's building q neces-
sity. Iron. coal and everything necessary
for sueh plant hes IN the state ahe
along the routes of the roads interested
and these Will all be easy of access to
Denver.
s'The Rock Island now has shops at
Chicago and Horton Kansas. but these
do not turn out locomotives and cars com
Dlete. and the recent extensions of that
line in the west with the carrying out
of the policy of forming a great system
makes it necessary to secure large con
signments of rolling stock The MofTat
road will have to erect large shops of It's
own. even if it did not undertake the con
struction of locomotives and cars and 1t
is but natural that the two COMPANIES
with others should combine and build
such a works.
THE Rock Island now has 6.979 miles Of
track all of which with the exception OF
706 miles lies west of the Missouri river,
vet outside of the Horton shops it has
no large shops of any kind. Not only
viii these roads buy their own equipment
from the joint company but the numer-
Gus small lines being constructed in the
west afford big market as well as the
possibility of entering into direct compe-
titlon with the eastern locomotive works.
The Colorado Fuel and Iron company IS
not considered in any way as being in
terested in the move and the building OF
the plant the erection of a steel mill and
the opening of the ROutt county iron and
coal fields win tend to give them strong
competition.
IN this connection the probable acquisl-
ton of the Colorado and Eastern Tor Its
terminal facilities at Denver by the ROCK
Island is being preached"