The Topeka state journal., 1903-03-23

1t is not tn be expected that all Of the
mileage included in this table will be
completed during the present year. be-
cause the character of the work in
many sections precludes such q posi-
tiiiry even If operations should proceed
without interruption OF the $500 miles
under contract. over 5000 miles are be-
ing built i'm The interest of is COM
ranies indicating that the larger por-
riou Of the new work is being carried
ON by the great systems The Rock Is
land system has 450 miles under con-
tract. In addition 70 many extensions
which have been located. some of which
VIII be built this year The St Louis q
San Francisco has T55 miles under CON
tract. with numerous other extensions
surveyed While the consolidation of
these two systems VIII prevent the con
sstr1ctfou OF some Of the lines protected.
ir win hardly affect any of the work
already under way.
The Missouri Pacific is another sys-
tenn which is building extensively. II
has 491 miles under construction in
Louisiana. Arkansas and Missouri. and
has much other important work laid
out. The Wabash. which. with the Mis-
souri, Pacific, belongs to the Gould sys-
TEN. has 2S8 miles under contract or
ready for bids on its eastern extension
with surveys in progress on the remain
ing links necessary to complete its lire
through the Atlantic coast. The Mis-
souri,. Kansas & Texas is building 564
miles of new line most Of which is
located in Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tories and the Santa Fe system has 2s6
miles under contract in Oklahoma. New
Mexico and Arizona with a stin larger
mileage projected.
The southu -starn states have for sew
eral years past added a larger percent
age Qf rev mileage than any other
group and the fact that 4527 miles. or
nearly one-half of the mileage under
contract. are credited to this group in
Cicares that this percentage win be in
crea sed this year In Oklahoma and
Indian Territories work is in progress
on more 1nan 400 miles Of road. all but
35- miles OF which are being built in
lne interest Of the Rock Island. the
Santa Fe the St Louis & San Francisco
ana the Missouri. Kansas & Texas. In
Texas over J. 600 miles are under con-
traet while Missouri has 5S1 miles Ar
karsas 500 miles and New Mexico 900
miles unde- way
Next TO the southwestern states. the
southern states viii make the largest
contribution to the new mileage of the
year In the eleven states included in
the Gulf and Mississippi valley and the
south Atlantic groups. Zoo miles are
under contract When the exception Of
I'VE states and territories iu the south
western group the state showing the
largest projected mileage is PennsyIva-
MIA. where t57 miles are under contract.
l59 miles Of which are being built by
me Pennsylvania railroad system
outstanding this great activity in
the building Of new lines the work of
reconstruction is still proceeding On
g large scale Many of the large sys-
TENS are engaged in relocation and re-
building of great Importance. involving
The expenditure of millions of dollars
and altogether 1903 promises TO be a
record GEAR If the vast sums to be ex-
pended in reconstruction are added to
the millions being absorbed in the build
ing Of new lines
In addition to the work lin the United
States there viii be a large amount of
building In Canada. where three trans
continental lines are projected. These
are the Grand Trunks extension to the
Pacific coast. the Canadian Northern.