The Topeka state journal., 1904-06-13
NEW ROCK ISLAND LINES.
Promise to Do Much for the 'Back-
Noods'' of Missouri.

Within the last month Rock Island
and Frisco interests have completed
lines which, it is believed, will in
years to come prove of inestima bic
benefit to Missouri.
Rich territory in southeastern and
western Missouri has been tapped by
these lines, and it is believed that
within a few years the development
of these sections will bring them up
to the standard of the most prosper
Gus regions of the great southwest
With almost insuperable obstacles
in the way of transportation facilities
the people of the southeast and west
ern sections, penetrated by the new
lines, have brought their products to
market, and by the excellence of their
corn, wheat and other products have
the trouble and cost of reaching a
market.
The need of railway facilities has
been long understood in these sec
tiOns, but to a great extent this lack
was compensated for by the richness
of the soil and the many opportuni-
ties which nature offers for making a
living.
The st. Louis. Memphis & South
eastern and the st. Louis & Gulf rail-
roads, built by the Frisco and now
consolidated under the title of the
third district of the st. Louis division,
extend from st. Louis to LuXora and
Big Creek, Ark. distance of nearly
900 miles,
Technically considered, this rail-
road is an excellent proposition, af-
fording a water-level line to St. Louis
from the Frisco connection to the
southwest, making it availa BILE for
heavy freight which can be sent over
the T5-pound rails rapidly and easily.
At present this line is used only
for local passenger traffic, but within
a Few weeks a fast through train will
be put on to and from the southwest.
In the completion of the St Louis KAN
sas City and Colorado line from St Louis
TO Kansas City the great Rock Island
o7,t s,iit 80 sans ~ d uIrsct entrance into St
from the Pacific coast are now arriving al
Inlon station, coming in over the Rock
Island and the Pacific coast tourists may
take a sleeper in st. Louis and go direct
TO the coast without change of cars.
Aside from its through connection, the
so-called Colorado" line is expected to
serve as means by which the middle
serve.
The line is 2Ss miles in length and it is
expected that by July the Schedule will
be shortened over it, materially reducing
present the officials of the Rock Island
are bending every effort to promote local
business along the route. 1t is believed
that the vast crops of wheat and other
products, notably watermelons, will prove
a fruitful source of revenue in due sea-
SON Especially Is this said to be true of
the watermelon crop, which amounts to
several thousand cars each year.
What is true of the timber tracts of
southeastern Missouri is also true OF the
middle and western section and heavy
freight business is expected over the
S5-pound rails, with which the road is
equipped. West of Versailles the road has
opened a ricF farming country, where
large quantities of wheat and corn are
produced. In the middle section there are
good mineral properties, which, it is be-
lieved, being properly developed, will
prove profitable
Towns which have benefited by the
Colorado" are: Labadie. Windsor Pleas
ant Hill, Versailles and other smaller
places which are from all accounts pre-
pairing to avail themselves of the benefit
of the new line.