The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-30
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Rock Island Merger
Is Again in Air.
The Frisco Is Now Brought In
to the Deal.
ON EARTH.
Merger of These Roads Would
Mean a Mileage of 81 900.
Officials Are to Meet in New
York Tomorrow.

-AEN 1A H. Aldlfu rH.--L mere Is 10 DC
a meeting here Tuesday of Rock Island,
Frisco and Santa Fe officials 1t is
claimed that it means the formation of
a closer union of the roads which in
time may bring about a merger. 1t
would create no surprise here if the
three roads should appear under one
management and thus form the greatest
railway system of the world
So close is the alliance now between
the Rock Island and Santa Fe that they
are arranging to alternate California
limited trains during the summer, each
handling three trains per week, and the
Rock Island to use part of the Santa Fe
track
The pressure being brought to force
the two systems comes mainly from
parties interested in both. The Frisco
and Rock Island merger will be com
pleted very soon and earnest consider
alton resumed of the plan to merge the
ROCK Island and Santa Fe.
cOnSOlida ton of the Rock Island
Frisco and Santa Fe has been in the air
Tor months past and even before It be
came known positively that the Rock
Island was completing deal for the st.
Louis & San Francisco definite an
nouncement was made by Santa Fe of
Meals that an alliance had been form
ed with the Rock Island. 1t was an
--@ t-AAN-A Tia TIC proposed GUL-OIT OF
the Santa Fe in New Mexico would not
be built and instead a cutoff would be
constructed through Kansas which
would enable the two systems to share
IN the use of the tracks to California.
But this announcement seemed decided
ly premature as a few days later Presi-
dent Ripley announced that there was
nothing IN it. But this system has al
ways been considered as a possible ally
or purchase for the Rock Island and
there is probability that matters will
come to a head at the coming meeting.
A consolidation of the three great
roads would make the longest railroad
system Ia the world 1t would have Il
total mileage of p $40 miles, exclusive
OF the many extensions and cut offs the
three lines are now building in the diff
Ierent parts of the country. The Rock
Island has a line from St Louis TO
Kansas City under construction besides
its Oklahoma building. The Frisco has
an extension down the west bank of
the Mississippi river from Memphis to
New Orleans, while a road is under
construction from Oklahoma City
toward Denver which is said to be
Frisco property. The Santa Fee is
building in New Mexico and is after
new lines in California to share i'm thu
big lumber trade of the coast state
The mileage of the three individual
systems is; Miles
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific ~ 800
St. Louis & San Francisco. 5,0-5
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.-..- 1888
The next move of the great cOmbinl-
ton of which the Rock Island is thu
aggressor viii undoubtedly be to OBJ
tain an outlet TO the Atlantic coast In
this connection the Georgia Central has
already been coupled with the Rock Is
land Frisco deal 1t is said to be the
contemplated outlet to the east. The
connection could be made a Birnselg-
ham, Ala which is reached by the
Frisco. The road forms a network over
the southern part of Alabama ana
Georgia with its port at Savannah. The
system has a mileage of almost 1000
miles.
Wall street has been satisfied that
this merger of western lines was COM
ing. but there has been some surprise
that an official announcement has not
vet been made of the purchase of the
Frisco by the Rock Island Weeks ago
the details, even. of the deal were
known but for some reason the an
nouncement has been withheld 1t may
have been with the object of bringing
in the Santa Fe to complete the plans.