The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-21
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Improvements at En-
pOria, Kansas.
Greatest of Any Point in State
the Past Year.
AT COST OF $4,000.
Three Solid Concrete Bridges
Among Other Things.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
In Railroad Circles.
AT COST OF $4,000.


Emporias Kan, Jan. 2l.-The greatest
Improvement the Santa Fe company
has made during the past year on its
right Of way in Kansas has been made
at Emporia- The company has spent
$4,000 this year for improvements in its
yard here. Tt has just finished the most
magnificent piece of concrete work ever
done in the country.
The bridge farthest west is no feet
ished at the west end of the right of
way are second to none in strength,
plan, and workmanship. The company
used 123 car loads of crushed rock, O.
Of cement, and AZ of sand in the con-
struction of these bridges. the smallest
one employing A men 6s days, and the
largest 6S men 80 days.
The bridge fartherst west is no feet
long, 80 in width at the base, and tap
ering to 5 feet and inches at the
top. There are three single tracks over
this bridge and one lead for four tracks.
Part of this bridge is the plan of Mr..
George, Santa F'e yardmaster. The
company had planned to runt each track
over the bridge singly. This wOuld
have neceSSitated three more leads. Mr..
George conceived the idea of running
the four tracks over one lead and drew
up the plan and sent 1t to the COM
pany. After investigating, the COM
pany saw the plan was the more FEAST
bic and economical and followed it.
thereby saving $4,000. This bridge is
constructed over a small creek which
has heretofore caused the company con-
siderable trouble. Between the leads
over it a frame work is built and COW
cred with screening, making it very
much like a pavement. The bridge is
made of solid concrete.
The largest bridge is los feet long,
and 915 feet wide at the base, and tap
ering to AZ feet wide at the top. 1t is
solid concrete also. Ten leads are built
across this bridge with as many tracks
running over it, with another track to
be added in the spring. 1t is built over
a section line. Heretofore the wagon
road has been going over the tracks at |
this point, and because Of the large |
number of accidents, the company con- |
Guided to construct a bridge making |
bottoms of the bridges are paved with |
rock and sand. This is the finest piece |
OF architecture in the west.
Another piece of architecture just |
completed is the arch bridge just a lit |
tie ways west OF the roundhouse. The
plans and supervision of this was sole /
~ that of Mr.. George It was built by 4
Harry MOsley. 1t is 1872 feet long, z feet /
wide at the base, and tapering to feet |
at the top. It is built of solid concrete
and the bottom is paved with rock. Mr.. /
George has had considerable expert /
ence in this work. having had entirely /
under his supervision a part Of the
CRIB tunnel at Lake Michigan, which /
is considered one of the master pieces |
Of architecture of the world. Mr.George, |
having charge of the two jobs and COM |
pairing them from his own personal
knowledge, says the new arched bridge
here is equally as well constructed as
the one at Lake Michigan
The building of the new StOckyardS is |
another big feature in the way of i'm |
It was also built at MI |
Georges suggestion and according to 1
his plan. It accommodates on an aV-
erage Of 600 cars of stock a month. one
#
handled at the yard at one time
The company now has the appropria- |
ton for a new yardmaster's office un-
der advfSement. Nothing definite mas 4
been done about it at the present time |
but it is very likely the company will |
follow the suggestion Of the yardmaster
in the matter. In the spring an a1rplpe
system will be installed. The yard VIII /
be laid with air pipes and will be used
to take the place of steam in such work /
as blowing out the boilers. A treating /
plant Will also be built. The use OF
this will be to take the alkaH out OF
the water used in the engines.
The Santa F'e yard is 292 feet wide
and 3z miles long, the longest yaTo
along the system. Fifty-one regular
trains pass through it every day ana 1
quite a number Of specials and second
sections of the regular trains On an
g. trains pass through the
yards every day. 1t employs nearly as
many men as the rest of the city.
N. Fl. George is yardmaster. He IS |
one of the Oldest employees of the com
pany, having been in its service since /
July 5. 1884. He has worked in nearly /
every capacity, and all over the sys-
tenn. He was transferred from Arkan-
sas City to Emporia November ID, 1914,
and has remained here continuously.
He tends strictly to business and push
es matters expeditiously which has
made his services to the company IN
valuable. His judgment and estima-
tons on matters of Improvement are
always the best and the company, rec
ognizing this, has placed unlimited con-
fdence in him and consult his ideas IN