Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-04-16
WORK TO COMMENCE SOON.
A Bloomington Paper Gives Some of
the Details Of the Deal for the
Short-Line Between Mexico
and Old Monroe.

Regarding the bui ding cf the Chi
cago x Alton and the Cnirago, Bnrl-
Iingtor & Quincy short-line betse ecn
this city aud Old Monroe, a late edi-
tion Of the Bloomington bulletin says:
| ''I'he two reads have just drawn ~
an agreetnert signed by b til prtsi-
dents which is said 70 De ip the shape
Of lease for % years. The work Of
construction will be commenced wi;h-
out delay and the line pushed to an
early completion so thaS the jJlnt ar
rangement will be in operation pfHr
to the openingof thrSt. l.quls Wpfia's
Fair ia 1914 Mr. A. L Newton, of
this city, WHO has been first assistant
to Chief Eneiuper u H. Baldwin, has
been honoted by The appointment Of
superintendent Of 6 instruction and
will have sole charge uf tie work He
returned this afternoon frUn st. Louis
where lie has been ia consultation
with the Burlington officials relative
to the work for which he has just been
engaged. Mr. Newton is regarded as
one OF the best posted civil engineers
in the we i and when tae Alion had
the idea under discussion last fail Mr.
Newt n lad charge Of the surveys.
This spring the idea ofa joint arrange
ment was brought up When it became
known that the Burlington was also
seeking shorter line between st,
Louis and Kansas City. AS the two
systems could not be regarded as COM
petitive 1t was thought to be a wise
move to act In unison and save mill
| lions for both. The Burlington has
tracks from the Alton TO st. Louis on
the Missouri side OF the river aud its
line extends along the Mississippi up
into Iowa. BY building from a point
known as Old Monroe, a short distance
west Of Alton, to Mexico and thence
using the Alton tracks into Kansas
City, both lines will have very short
stretch Of track. In the case OF the
Alton, the route will be about 70 miles
shorter than their present route via
Roodhouse. The Burlington will have
the advantage Of the Atoms termi-
nails into Kansas City, saving enorm'
GUS expenses in this direction and also
the expense OF building from Mexico
to Kansas City. The Alton will give
shorter line and at absolutely no ex-
pense as the Burlington pays the en-.
tire cost Of construction between Mex
leo and Old Monroe and will permit
the Alton to use the new track as well
as the track on the Missouri side be-
tween Alton and St. Louis now con-
structed. 1t is predicted by those in |
a position to know that the Alton will
shortly send all Of its passenger trains
into st. Louis via the Burlington at
Alton and use its own tracks south of |
Alton for freight business and local
passengers. This will save the heavy |
bridge charges Of the Merchants COM
pany as well as the Eads. The pas
senger business for East st. Louis is
never very great and II any of 1t tshould
be handled on the fast trains, a change
could be made at Alton for plug
train starting from the latter point. |
Mr.. Newton will be very busy from
now on letting contracts, purchasing
supplies, etc. There will be consider
able bridge work and also grading be-
fore the ballast ties and rails can be
laid. 1t is intended to commence the
work OF construction as soon as the
men can be employed and the supplies
reach the ground"