Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-04-04
AGAIN IN THE AIR.
Santa Fe-Rock Island Merger-The
Frisco In the Deal.

n futttlnS WIS Htiu lthttluhy IA
New Yorl. of Rock Island. Frisco and
Santa Fe officials, says a New York
dispatch II is claimed that II means
the formation OF a closer union OF the
roads which In time may bring about
merger. II would create no surprise
II the tree roads should appear under
ono management and thus form the
great 81 railway system OF the world.
So close is the alliance now between
the Rock Island and Santa Fe that
they are arranging to alternate Call.
fornia limited trains during the sum
MGR. each handling three trains per
week. and the Rock Island 10 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 Re.
A consolidation of the Rock Island,
Frisco and Santa Fe has been In the
air for months past and even before II
became known positively that the
Rock Island was completing a deal for
the st. Louis and San Francisco def
/ mite announcement was made by Santa
! Fe officials that an alliance had been
| formed with the Rock Island. II was
announced that the proposed cut OFF of
the Santa Fe in New Mexico would not
he built and instead a cut on 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 decid-
eddy premature as a few days later
President Ripley announced tnat there
was nothing in IL. But this system
has always been considered as a posi-.
ble ally or purchase for the Rock
Island and there is a probability that
matters will come to a head at the
coming meeting.
| A consolidation OF the three great
roads would MAKE the longest railrcs
eystem in the world. II would have a
total mi cage of 81 $40 miles. exclusive
of the many extensions and cut offs
the three lines are now building In the
! different parts of the country. The
/ Rock Island has a line from St. Louis
to Kansas City uuder construction be.
sides its Oklahoma building. The
Frisco has an extension down the
west bank of the Mississippi river from
Memphis to New Orleans, while road
is under construction from Oklahoma
city toward Denver, which is said to
| he Frisco property. The Santa Fe is
building In New Mexico and is after
new lines in California to share In the
big lumber trade OF the coast state.
The mileage of tie three individual
systems is:
/ Miles.
Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific. 1880
| St Louis e. San Francisco. 49,. 5,O2b
! Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe... S,6s5
The next move of the great combina'
ton. OF which the Rock Island Is the
aggressor, will undoubtedly be to OBJ
tain an outlet TO the Atlantic coast. In
this connection the Georgia Central
has already been coupled with the
Rock Island Frisco deal. II Is said to
be the contemplated outlet to the east
The connection could he made at Bir
mingham, Ala, which is reached by
the Frisco. The road forms network
over the southern part of Alabama and
Georgia with its port at Savannah. The
system has a mileage OF almost 2,o0'
miles.
Wall street has been satisfied tina
this merger of western lines was com
ing. hut there has been some surpris'
that an official announcement has no
yet been made OF the purchase OF thu
Frisco by the Rock Island. Weeks ag'
the details, even, Of the deal wer,
| known. but for some reason the an
nouneement has been withheld II ma,
} have been with the object OF bringing
in the Santa Fe 10 complete the plans