The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-27
Santa Fe to Establish Relay
Station at La Junta.
Topeka and Las Vegas Offices
Will Be Consolidated.
OFFICIAL MAY MOVE.
Important Changes Planned For
Telegraph Department.
Two New Assistant Superinten-
dents May Be Appointed.

Instead of having two relay stations
for its Chicago-Los Angeles telegraph
system, as at present, the Santa Fe will
take away the stations now located at
Topeka and Las Vegas. and establish an
important mid-continent quadrupIex re-
lay station at La Junta. Quadruplex
messages will then be sent from Chi
cago to the Pacific with only one re-
lay
Another relay station will be selected
to handle the Gulf line telegraph bust
ness
1t is probable that an assistant sup
erintendent of telegraph will be located
at LaJunta and another on the Gull
lines. There is even rumor that the
office of the newly appointed suDerin
tendent of telegraphs, c. H. Gaunt. viii
be removed from Topeka to LaJunta--
This is part of the important plansfor
the installation of quadruplex telegi "a
ply on the whole Santa Fe system from
Chicago TO the Pacific, and from Kan
sas City to the Gulf of Mexico.
1t is another big gain for LaJunta,
which under the present Santa Fe man
agement is being developed into the
most important Santa Fe town west o.
Topeka.
The consolidation of the Topeka and
Las Vegas relay offices at La Junya
means the addition of a number of ex-
pert telegraphers to the force at La
Junta. 1t means that La Junta will be
the most important telegraph station on
the Santa Fe road There are some
Santa F'e men who believe that 1t
means that the Santa F'e expects to re-
move the headquarters of the new sup
erintendent of telegraphs, G. H. Gaunt,
from Topeka to La Junta, but this ral-
NOR lacks confirmation. c. H. Gaunt
will be a system official, the same as
Superintendent Sholes is. and it may be
deemed best by the chief officials to
have him located at the heart of his
territory, La Junta.
rhnT4c ic 7an r9Fn n a a
move will be made for some time. how
ever, for if anything of the sort is con-
templated it is not likely to be done un-
til the proposed new Santa F'e Office
building at La Junta is ready for occu-
pancy. Plans for this building are now
in process of completion, having been
subject to frequent revisions and
changes. The La Junta Office building
will be a large structure, capable Of Civ
ing accommodation to an official head
for all of the various departments of
the Santa Fe.
If the office of SUPERINTENDENT of tele-
graphs is not removed to La Junta, it
is believed very probable that an as
sistant superintendent of telegraphs will
be appointed to take charge of the La
Junta office, whose jurisdiction will be
similar to that given to c. A. Morse, the
principal assistant engineer of the west
ern grand division.
All these prospective changes are of
course to be decided upon by the new
ly appointed superintendent, c. H.
Gaunt, and the definite announcement
of what is to be done is not to be made
public except through him.
One other important relay office is to
be selected on the Gulf lines. The name
of the town has not been given out. 1t
is said that the plan is to have another
assistant superintendent of telegraph in
charge of the Gulf Office.
A relay office is an office where
through kilograms are taken off the
wires by one set of operators, and re-
sent by another set of telegra piers.
They supplement the automatic repeat
ers located at intervals on the line.
Through kilograms to Los Angeles, un-
der the present system, are sent from
Chicago to Topeka, then resent to Las
Vegas, and then again resent to Los
Angeles When La Junta is made TIE
single relay station between Chicago
and the coast, one relay" will be saved
in the transmission.
It win be complete quadruplex sys-
tenn from Chicago to the coast and to
the gulf. 1t will necessitate a large in
crease in battery power, and the string
ing of considerable new wire at certain
parts of the line which are now unable
to make room for handling the quadru-
MEX system.