The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific
Working in Sympathy.
May Have Some Bearing on st.
Louis Connection.
BUILDING JOINT TRACK
Santa Fe Helps NJ. P. Around
Independence Hills.
Santa Fe Anxious to Get Into
Union Depot.

Kansas City, MO, Oct 9.-The Mis-
souri, Pacific Railway company new
river route between Kansas city ana
St. Louis is to be further improved by
the building of a double track on the
Santa Fe from Congo to Etons- The
grading is well under way and the new
track win probably be laid TINS winter
There are people who see in this lnt-
mate association between the MISSOURI
Pacific and the Santa Fe a possible close
association of the two roads, ana per-
haps an explanation of Why the santa
F'e was so willing to let some Otner COM
pany, the Rock Island as it finally turn
ed out to be, get the new direct road
between Kansas City and st LOUIS.
The Santa Fe once controlled the Colo
RADIO road, now the Rock Island new
Kansas City and St Louis line. Wheth-
er the Missouri Pacific and Santa Re
are working in harmony IN other tnlnSS
or not the Santa F'e furnishes part OF
the Missouri Pacific's new route, and II
the reciprocal contract that provided
for this it was agreed that the Santa
Fe should bring its trains from the chi
cago line into the union depot over Mis-
souri, Pacific tracks, but the burlington
was able to deprive the Santa Fe of that
advantage.
The river route of the Missouri Pa
cific is q source of pride to the officers
and representatives of that company. Il
is now in full operation and at the Of
flee of the superintendent of terminals
it was stated this morning that it is as
easy to haul ZOO tons with one engine
over the river route as $50 tons over the
hills. The Missouri Pacific is now in
condition to compete in heavy freight
hauling with any other road between
Kansas City and st. Louis. Everybody
who has ridden over the Missouri Pa
cific to St Louis remembers that the
main line between Kansas City and
Jefferson City is one of hills and curves.
Independence is on a hill. Going
either way trains have to climb steep
iUfO IndRnAndenCe and
slide down the hill going away There
is a hill near Pleasant Hill, another
close to Warrensburg, a long hill east
of Sedalia and the CentertOWn hill this
side of Jefferson City is one of the most
famous railroad grades in Missouri. 1t
was to avoid these grades and sundry
other ones that the river route was
built and it is commonly spoken of as
being a water grade" 1t is a fairly
level route and the difference in the
loads that can be hauled tells for itself
how much was gained by its building.
To avoid the independence grades the
Missouri Pacific leased that part of the
Santa Fe tracks between where the tV 30
roaGs cross east of Kansas City and
point close to AtEertOn. The station is
called Elton but it is not a place of any
consequence. From Elton the Missouri
Pacific built across the prairie to its
own line of the Lexington branch, reach
ing it between Levasy and Lake City
in the northeastern part of Jackson
built just east of where the Santa Fe
runs over the Missouri Pacific on a big
trestle only a short distance outside of
Kansas City. This connects the two
roads at the Kansas City end and COM
pletes the Missouri Pacific connection
with jefferson City.
1t was supposed when the connection
was built and named. for convenience.
Congo though it is not station that
the Santa Fe would also use it for ats
passenger trains between Kansas City
and Chicago, Santa Fe through trains
from the west are compelled to back
into the Union depot. By going out on
the Missouri Pacific tracks they would
simply run through the depot and lose
no time turning around or climb bling the
steep grade of the Belt Line on the
south side. 1t could shorten the time
between Kansas City and Chicago sew
eral minutes and between points west
of Kansas City and Chicago at least
half an hour. But the Burlington owns
the east entrance to the Union depot
and nobody can go through it without
the consent of the Burlington. The Bur
lington notified the Missouri Pacific that
its lease of a right of entrance to the
Union depot from the east did not carry
with it the right to sublet the privilege
to somebody else. Now Missouri Pacific
officials say the Santa Fe can use their
tracks into the depot any day il can
make terms with the Burlington IT is
also stated that the Santa Fe does no.
propose to help build a Union depot on
the present site unless it can get into ii
like other roads.
Meanwhile the Missouri Pacific is get
ting the full benefit of its end of the
contract. Because the two roads have
so much business going over the Sec
ton between Congo and Elton the Santa
Fe is building a double track over that
part of it's line. T. J. Smith of Kansas
city has the grading contract and has
IF of his work finished