The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-24
MORTON In KANSAS CITY.
His Travelling Companion Is William
Allen White, of Emporla-

AA46A W n1Ic, % GupoE4d-
Kansas City, Mo-, Sept. 24.-The Star
says:
Paul Morton, second vice president of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail
way company, was at the union depot
this morning. He was accompanied by
w. B. Biddle, freight traffic manager of
the system, and William Allen White,
the Kansas editor
What is the state of the union depot
propositions" asked a reporter Tor the
Star.
I'VE build depots on Thursday" said
Mr.. Morton, land today is Wednesday.
Seriously, however, the Santa Fe wants
to go into union depot with all the
other lines centering in Kansas City.
Any proposition of separate depots will
not receive consideration at this time.
1t would be very unfortunate if it
should become necessary to build sepa-
rate depots and 1 do not believe that
the Santa Fe would go into a PROPOSE
ton for separate depots. The lines cen
tering in Kansas City are working for
a union depot and that is what we ex-
pect to get. But it takes time to har-
monize all of the conflicting interests.
1t took fourteen years to work out an
interchange of tracks to afford facili-
ties for three railroads to get into the
stock yards. 1t may take twenty-four
years to work out a depot proposition,
but we have already been at work on
the proposition for twenty years.
rs it probable that the lines owning
the Kansas City Belt railroad will unite
in separate passenger depot IN the
neighborhood of Twenty street
and Grand avenue?"
Il should say notS' said Mr. Morton,
'as l said a moment ago, we want
Union depot in Kansas City and that IS
what we are going to have. have said
that it might take a long time to work
out the proposition, but my candid
opinion is that it will work out good
deal sooner than is now expected.
HAS the Rock Island-Santa Fe traf-
fic agreement been finally NADER" in
quired the reporter
The proposition is still pending re-
piled Mr.. Morton. and until the agree
ment is perfected all construction work
has been suspended The plan most talk
ed of provides for an interchange of
track rights, by which we eliminate the
climb over the mountains between La
Junta and Albuquerque. and use the
Rock Island tracks from Liberal, Kan.
to a connection with our tracks west of
Albuquerque the Rock Island using the
Santa Fe tracks from Albuquerque TO
the coast But as / said, the whole pro-
position is still in the air and the whole
scheme may go by the board. We can't
conjecture the finish of deal until 1T is
all closed up; something may occur to
break it at any time"
Concerning the report that Santa Fe
stock was falling into the hands of other
lines to an extent that the control of the
Santa Fe might pass into other hands,
Mr.. Morton said that he had no advice
of any such transaction.
Il am taking a look at the crops
said Nh Morton I'VE are going to have
splendid corn crop in Kansas and the
southwest. and the railroads are getting
ready to handle it. / am advised that
the congestion in Kansas City is thing
of the past Conditions are improving
right along, and we anticipate no further
trouble in the handling of freight traf-
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