The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-30
DEAL CONFIRMED.
Traffic Alliance Made Between
Santa Fe and Rock Island.
Proposed Santa Fe Cut OF Is
Abandoned.
GO VIA DODGE CITY.
Santa Fe to Build from Dodge
to Liberal.
Will Use $50 Miles of Rock
Island Track.
Rock Island Will Use Santa Fe
Coast Lines.
GO VIA DODGE CITY.

General Manager H. U. Nudge today
confirmed the essential features of the
rumored Santa Fe-Rock Island trafhc
alliance which was reported in Mon
days State Journal
The Santa Fe viii build a so mile line
from Dodge City to Liberal Kas.s con-
Meeting the Santa Fe main line with the
Rock Island main line. Surveyors ara
now in the field working on this line.
From Liberal to some point in New
Mexico, where the new Santa Fe cutoff
crosses the Rock Island, a distance of
about $50 miles, the Santa Fe viii use
the Rock Island tracks.
From the Santa Fe-Rock Island juno
ton to the Pacific coast, the Rock
Island will use the Santa Fe traces.
That part of the Santa Fes Nev, Mex
leo cutoff which was to be built east of
the Rock Island junction IN New Mexico
viii not be constructed.
The plan for rebuilding the Santa Fe's
PecOs Valley lines and the Panhandle
division will come to naught, for the
through traffic of the Santa F'e viii not
be sent south through Wichita, Wei
lington and Alva, but will go west from
Newton to Hutchinson, Kinsley and
Dodge City, thence south on the pro-
posed new line to Liberal.
When asked whether or not the Rock
Island has secured any voice in Santa
F'e affairs by means of purchase OF
stock, Mr.. Nudge said:
THAT is something which I know
nothing at all about All I know is
that at present it is the plan to build
our line south from Dodge City, IN
stead of making our main line over the
Panhandle as was contemplated
.'Win the proposed Santa F'e cutoff
I in New Mexico be built east of its
junction with the Rock Island?"
That point has not been fully de-
/ termined.'
The fact that the Santa Fe had sur
veyors in the field south of Dodge City
was reported exclusively some time ago
in the State Journal The Santa Fe
: officials at that time denied all knoWl-
edge of the work. and said that the
! surveyors must be working for the
Rock Island In view of recent de-
Velopments, it may be that the officials
! told the truth, and that the surveyors
were working for the Rock Island as
much as for the Santa F'e
The contamination of the Santa F'e
alliance with the Rock Island is a deal
! of immense Importance, the outcome of
which can not be easily fOreseen at
movement in Santa Fe stock, reported
in the State Journal several weeks ago.
in which nearly 100000 shares were
/ transferred. was due to the attempt of
the Rock Island to obtain a Santa Fe
foOthold The reports of this kind are
denied by President Ripley, who is the
official chiefly concerned with the fnan-
cial future of the company.
The Santa Fe and Rock Island have
for some time been on the verge of a
serious conflict. and the consummation
of the traffic alliance has been brought
about it is believed, by the fear that
such a conflict might result disastrous
ly to both roads. Com bination is bet
ter than competition has been the key
to the delicate situation.
On its part, the Rock Island is not
Loot sd III
coast. It has been suspicious of the
4 Southern Pacific. which is a Hartman
line, and not disposed to be friendly
with Harrimans rivals Consequently
/ the Rock Island has been boldly plan
ming for new line of its own to the
Pacific coast. The natural place for a
new line would be between the Santa Fe
and the Southern Pacific. probably
/ paralleling the Santa Fe. This was the
club which the Rock Island held menac-
ingly over the Santa Fe.
/ There is reason to believe that for
some time the Santa Fe has decided to
abandon its proposed new line via the
! Pecos Valley road and the new cutoff.
1t was a surprise when only a portion Of
the proposed line was contracted for
! Then came a rumor. published exclu-
sively in the State Journal that survey
ors were working for the Santa Fe
south of DOd2e City. This rumor was
denied by Santa Fe officials here.
These moves on the part Of the Santa
was making ready to threaten the Rock
Island with a parallel line from Dodge
City to the New Mexico junction
Each road therefore threatened the
other with a parallel line along a por-
ton Of its territory The only logical
result is a traffic alliance. with mu-
tual concession of ira ackage rights.
Whether the traffic alliance of the
Santa Fe and Rock Island will develop
into a merger is something which only
the f1nanciers who head the rival insti-
tutions are in a position to know. It is
not likely, however. that any actual
merger of the two properties under one
management will be carried out for the
present. The Santa Fe stock is scat
tered among so many stockholders that
it is difficult to corral. while the Rock
Island is owned by the NIoores. who ap-
parently have no intention of letting go
The Rock Island is said to be almost
certain to get line through to the
Atlantic. which will, with its new
Santa F-e deal place it in a position OF
great command among the railways OF
the country.