Williams news., 1903-12-19
PLANS BIG CUTOFF
Report That Santa Fe Intends
 to Abandon Old Route

A rumor of an extensive cut off on the line of the Santa Fe to the east, has become current here. and while not confirmed comes from such sources as to entitle it to considera- tion. In consequence of the great Improvements in time saving, made by Hartman on the Central Pacific railway the Santa Fe, it seems, has had to consider similar undertak- ings in order to handle quickly passenger and fast freight. The great Belen cutoff around the Glorietta mountains was stopped some time ago, it is now said on good authority, to enable the comp any to mature plans for a still more extensive plan which if carried out with the 'Belen plan would mean the partial abandonment of the old Atlantic and Pacific route through western California and Arizona.
 This plan involves a departure from the main line at some point near Holbrook Arizona, cutting southwesterly through the rich mineral country near Prescott, and along Bill Williams Fork to the Colorado river, crossing that stream near Parker, at the northern boundary line of the Parker Indian reservation. thence northwesterly through the desert joining the old route at Cadiz in San Barnardino county.
 The cutoff would mean the sav- ing of many miles of track, to say nothing of the steep grades west of Needles, at Kingman and in the San Francisco mountains which will be avoided. The intentions of the company, it is said, do not in : clude the abandonment of the old line through Needles, Kingman and Flagstaff, local trains will attend to the business of those thriving communities.
 But the through trains would go over the cutoff and it is predicted that from ten to twelve hours would be Topped off the timetable for the fast trains of the Santa Fe between the coast and Chicago by means of the Belen cutoff. One important point that would keep the company from abandoning the old line is the famous Grand Canyon. A branch line has just been built to the canyon and each year adds to the number of tourists who journey over the Santa Fe expressly for a view of this wonderful work of nature.
 Surveying parties have been over the route proposed for the t-off, and it is said that their preliminary reports are very favorable to the company's plans. A few weeks ago President E. P. Ripley was in Cali fornia and on his way east he stop ped off at Kingman, Arizona With General Manager Wells of the coast lines, and Superintendent Denair of needles, he went into the country south of Kingman, ostensi- ply for the purpose of looking into some mining propositions, but it is announced that the real object of the trip was to investigate some pro- posed town sites along the new route.
 Since the Colorado river water has been adapted to nourishing the soil along its banks, the country be- tween Needles and Yuma has been the scene of much investment and the cutoff is promised large reve- nue from what will be rich agri- cultural section within a few years. Among the large corporations which have invested in the vicinity of Parker is the Riverside Trust com pany, and it is said that the officers have had tip of the Santa Fe's intentions.
 The above plan is no doubt con templated by the Santa Fe but is