The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-30
Details of the Santa Fe I'm.
prOvements at Newton.
Twelve 4,OOO-ft. Switch Tracks
to Be Built.
MORE ROUND HOUSE.
Eleven soft. Stalls for the Big
DecapOds.
New Tank House, New Bridge
and More Double Track.

The Newton Kansan-RepubIfcan
grows enthusiastic about It's $3.50 900
Santa Fe improvements and saws:
Comparatively few Of the citizens of
Newton fully understand the extent
and importance of the improvements
the Santa Fe has mapped out for its
plant in Newton. Commencing early
next month. there will be entered unon
/ by the company a work Of building
and enlargement that will be contf7,1ed
or several years and win make New
Ton, II carried out as planned one IF
the nrst towns in point of importance
on the great Santa Fe system. The
improvements planned are even more
extensive and important in their char
acler than the most optimistic New
tonian had fondly hoped for. Some of
the work will be finished this summer
and fall; the rest Will be carried out
IN later years, some Of it very likely
next year
As has been related in the Kansan.
contracts have been let for some of
the work. One great system of tracks
is to be laid out southwest of the city
10 IufnlSh much-needed increase in
the switching facilities in the Newton
yards. Twelve tracks. 1000 feet long,
VIII be constructed west of Sand creek
II the county commissioners agree to
Vacate two roads, these tracks will ex-
tend 1920 feet west of the Koran cor
ner while the two leads will extend
three-q quarters of a mile further west
It is the intention to handle the main
line freights in these yards the south
trains being handled in the Newton
yards Across Sand creek there will
be built a. double track. ballast deck
bridge. The stock yards tracks will be
prolonged westward and will cross this
bridge, afterwards dividing no twelve
tracks The outer or north track viii
be exclusively for engines which have
cut loose from their trains and are
making for the round house. The other
tracks will be used for switching. y The
wye west of the carriage factory will
be made of easier curvature and one
track will be run parallel with the
branch track for a considerable dis
tance. The round house in the Newton
yards will be increased by the addi-
ton of eleven ninety-foot stalls to ac-
commOdate some of the decapodS be-
100 feet viii also be built. The line
from Newton to Lehman, the first
block station east, will be double
tracked This much has been agreed
upon and has been ordered.
But the plans drawn up contemplate
improvements even more extensive
The Santa Fe has the room and the
tracks. These changes include the
twelve 4000-foot tracks north of the
yards that are to be laid out this sum-
mer. When this system OF tracks is
installed, it is proposed to use them for
handling the east bound trains. Be
tween the two systems of tracks viii
be a SPUR track leading to the round
house. which is to form a complete
circle ana will be built just east Of the
line running north and south past the
old fair grounds. East of the round
house will be the coal chute, the ash
pits and the sand house. West of it
will be the store house and oil house
which if the plans are carried out.
will be where the public highway now
stands, and still further west will be
the master mechanics office, the
blacksmith shops the machine shops,
the carpenter shop. and the rip tracks
These changes, it should be remember
ed, are not ordered as yet; they have
merely been outlined But the new
Yards are being laid out with this idea
in view and the probabilities are that
in time the work viii be done as con-
templated.
]. NJ. Meade. assistant chief engineer
of the Santa Fe, presented the plans of
the company to the Commercial club
at their meeting last evening and the
club aDpointed a, committee consisting
of r TVarkentin, s. Lehman and 5. r.
Peters to consult with the county COM
missioners in regard to getting the
roads vacated. This morning the COM
uissioners. z. S. Nudge OF resident
Engineer Earrs force, and the Com
mercial club committee drove out TO
the scenes of the proposed changes
and this afternoon Mr.. Earl IS IN con-
sultation with the commissioners