The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-03-27
THE EXTENSION A CERTAINTY
A Representative Of the Could Road
Says it Is Coming.
Central Branch fthe Missouri Paeilc to b,
Built This Summer which VIII Be the
Initiative Toward Larger Construe-
tions in the west and south

The Denver Times OF Mondays issue
contained an article concerning the con
teuplstsd extension of the Gould sys-
tenn Of railroads, which includes short
eninZ Of lines IN Colorado, building the
Central Branch into Denver and the
construction OF an air line to New Orleans
to connect with steamship lines to Cen
I trail and South America. On this sub
Jet the Times says:
Surveys made last fan for building a
( Texas road into Colorado to connect
I with the Missouri Pacific and Denver q
Rio Grande did not meet requirements
and have been abandoned for a new
route farther to the east.
"Fhe new surveys were started from
Texarkana and went through the south
ern parts Of Indian territory, Oklahoma
territory and into Denver from the east,
crossing the line into Pueblo and form
/ ing part Of the extension from Lenora.
Kan, into this city. The change put the
line through a rich local territory, gave
an almost air line to New Orleans and
added another Gould road to the four
that now touch at Texarkana. These are
the Texas & Pacific, the International &
Great Northern connections, the Kansas
City Southern and the Iron;. Mountain
road The new road furnishes an outlet
through the steamship line to Central
America for mining machinery and sup
plies, and export business OF every ma
ture that is reached by the Rio Grande
system and the Missouri Pacific west Of
Kansas City.
"a representative of the Gould roads
said yesterday: I think the plan Is to
first extend the main line Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific into this city from .Lenora,
Kan, and this will likely be done before
work on the Texarkana. Oklahoma &
Northwestern begins. The Texarkana
road win then likely connect with the
LenOra extension east Of this city and
both of them come in together. The
company IS not ready to make any furth-
or announcements concerning the plans -
The Denver News also had an article
on the same subject from which the fol-
lowing excerpt IS taken:
by the construction OF the old Cen
tral Branch on the Union Pacific from
the half way point in Kansas directly
across the plains to Denver, the Mis-
souri, Pacific. also part Of the Gould
system, viii be able to come into Denver
without going to Pueblo thereby saving
about 200 miles. This will give the
Gould system direct line from Denver
to st. Louis. The Goulds viii then be
on an equal footing with Hartman on
an air line to the coast"
There seems TO be no question that
the Central Branch Of the Missouri Pa
cific viii be continued from Lenora, il
Norton county, direct to Denver. That
is the talk, not only Of the people in
the western counties Of Kansas, which
may be effected by the extension but is
Of current report along the western line
Of the Missouri Pacific as we'll Not
long ago an employee in an important
position on that road was IN this city
and said that the Lenora- extension was
all the talk among his people
The question now comes, will the new
road run through GOOdlsrd? 1t has
been pointed out that Benora is on a
line about 10 miles north of Goodland.
Denver is still farther north. An air
line between these two points would,
therefore, cross the country somewhat to
the north, making its way through Chey-
eune rather than Sherman county
But there are grave objections to this
view. The Rock Island company in
building through from Norton to Den
yer was the first upon the ground ana
had the pick of the easiest and most
feasible way. In point Of time and speed
the company was brought into eompeti-
ton with the Burlington road on the north
yet the Rock Island made detour south.
passing through the center Of Sherman
county-au this to avoid the rough and
broken territory in Decatur, Rswlins
and Cheyenne counties.
If the Rock Island company was dis
Greet in this, which has never been
open to doubt, what would be the sensi-
bic and economic course Of the Missouri
Pacific with the same objective point in
view?
GoodIand should get that road be-
cause it is in line along the smOothsst ter
ritory and because it is the most consid-
cradle town in the western part Of the
state.