The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12

ADDING FIVE THOUSAND MILES
OF TRACKS TO ST. LOUIS'S TRADE TERRITORY

| pie evidence Of its intention to build a New
| Orleans-St. Louis line
Not alone in Missouri has the Frisco de-
veloped and extended its traffic facilities.
I LINES IN INDIAN TERRITORY.
With the Missouri Kansas and Texas and
the Rock Island, it has built and purchased
lines in the Indian Territory, Oklahoma and
Texas until its network of rails extending
into that section of the country taps the
finest agricultural fields In the United
States as far south as Brady, Tex, from
which point 1t is contemplated that extern
sions will be built to Spofford and San An
tonic. where the great cattle country can
be reached and a richly remunerative traf-
fic gained.
built by the Frisco from Red Fork to AL
word. Ok. a distance of 10 miles, penetrate
Ing a magnificent country. rich in aEricul-
tural products and holding wonderful
promise of future wealth.
1t is estimated that within the last fiscal
year the Frisco built 1919 miles OF railroad
in the Territories. Texas. Missouri and Ar
Kansas. and has purchased nearly 1907
miles of railroad. inclusive of the c. & Z. L.
and has under contemplation the building OF
nearly as many miles as were built last
year. with costly improvements Of its pres
ent tracks and equipment.
WONDERFUL GROWTH OF FRISCO.
1t is generally considered that nothing
iIole tlle OF railroads
can be found than the growth and develop
ment of the Frisco. Starting, as it did,
from small system. in a few years, under
the wise and careful management of Pres
ident Yoakum it was built into a great sys-
TEN of more than 900 miles and became a
feared competitor of the great Rock Island
system, which eventually purchased it at a
gilt-edged figure.
While the Rock Island has no connection
with ST. Louis, it is building a line which,
when finished. will be an important factor
in the Kansas City-St Louis traffic.
This line, known as the Colorado line ex-
tends from st. Louis to the Gasconade Riy-
er, a distance of ia miles. and is being
built as rapidly as possible to Kansas CITY
when it will be as short as some of the inn
portant roads now in this territory.
On the other hand. while the Rock Island
of railroad in Missouri. it has played an
important part in developing the great
Southwest, and has fairly enmeshed the
territories in a system of extensions which
extend to almost every important point
With the purchase of the Frisco it has
become in st. Louis line and will
naturally throw considerable part Of the
Southwestern traffic through the natural
gateway of the Southwest-St. Louis
With the purchase of the st. Louis and
Iowa Line the Burlington has gained ac-
cess to the rich coal fields of Missouri. and
II Is believed will extend the line. which
now extends for a distance of not more than
sixty miles. through Macon to st. Louis.
BY doing this the Burlington will not only
nave a rich coal field for its own use but
fic
To the Missouri Pacific-Iron Mountain IA
due the credit Of developing the resources
OF Missouri to an important and wonderful
degree. "a
The policy of this road seems to have been
TO go slowly but surely and build carefully
as 1t goes.
The purchase of the St Louis Valley road
extending down the east bank of the Mis-.
sSissippi River from point opposite St
Louis to Chester ILL.,, and with an extension
beyond. in all a distance Of 100 miles, has
P Iinn tn,! the Gold Lines with low-grade
formidable manner with the st. Louis and
Chicaso-New Orleans lines.
A spur from this line at Fordyce, Ill,
which extends for twenty-six miles into
the Big Muddy coal fields. where the Gould
and Letters have recently purchased 1000
acres of rich coal lands will prove a great
feeder for this road. and 1t is believed win
be continued to an extension which is be-
ing built from Efingham. ILL.,. a shorA,dis.