The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-15
ROAD PROJECTED
THROUGH TEXAS
Will Be Built From Oklahoma City
to the Rio Grande
Border.
CONNECTION TO TAMPIC0.
Philadelphia Capitalists Said to Be
Backing the Venture and
to Have Bought Ma
terial.
CONNECTION TO TAMPICo.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Guthrie, Ok. June 1.-THE prelim,naries
are now being arranged for another i'm
mense railroad project. one of the greatest
of the year. If not the greatest. the new
road to be known as the Oklahoma and Rio
Grande Southern.
This new line, according to the chief en-
gineer. Llano L. W. Van Horne. who rep
resents the capitalists back Of the enter
prise. will be built from Oklahoma City
south through the State of Texas to the
Rio Grande border and will secure con-
nection in Mexico to Tampico a nearby
port. A map, prepared in the engineering
Offices CT the company. shows the line
passing through Fort Worth. straight south
toward San Antonio. and thence to point
on the Mexican border.
a cutoff is also dotted from Fort Worth
to Dallas and a second track in the Fred
ericksburg region. south of San Antonio.
One of the proposed lines goes through
Llano to Fredericksburg and thence south,
while a second goes west of Llano and via
Kerrville, joining the main line below that
point.
An old abandoned grade between Llano
and Fredericksburg IS being inspected by
Van Horne. This grade was thrown up for
the exception of 4 cut the grade is still
intact all the way.
Upon the report of Van Horne depends
the purchase of this piece of work. which
it is stated belongs to railroad con-
tractor named Sullivan. and to him the
new railroad company has made an offer
for his property. Van Horne will ;nvesti-
gate both routes and make his report. The
engineer admitted that prominent railway
magnates are connected with this new ven
ture, and that material has already been
purchased. He claims that they have 5000
awaiting shipment This will be ordered
forward to points on the new line unoa :he
receipt of intelligence that the plans in
Oklahoma and Texas have been consum
mated.
The names of William F. Harrity, Charles
E. Ingerson and others of Philadelphia are
mentioned in connection with this new road.
Since tine inspection of the Grade conf
menced it has also leaked out that the
company will make an effort to purchase
the kerrvi.le branch of the Arkansas Pass
| road. and thus avoid some difficult con-
struction work in getting into San An
tonic. and also,, preserve the air line to the
Rio Grande. Should the efforts be success
full the new line will cross the Arkansas
PGss at Comfort. If the grade be bought.
-, otherwise it would go via kerrvile and the
Arkansas Pass would be used to reach San
Antonio. The distance from San Antonio
to kerrville is seventy-iive miles. The first
construction on the new line. it IS stated.
will begin in Texas, at various places but
first of al on the Lano- Fredericksburg
grade, if it is purchased.
The promoters of the road believe it will
he a feeder for the principal cities from
southern part of Oklahoma. especially for
the transportation of cattle and stock prod
lets
The country traversed by the road. is be-
through that region. it is believed. will be
a money maker from the start.