The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-28
RAILROAD news.
Santa Fe VIII Have Two Routes
to the Coast.
New Line VIII Follow the ella
River.
KEEN COMPETITION.
Litigation With Southern Pa
cifc Delays Progress.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

The Santa Fe is now a in the
construction of a very important line
through Arizona and through the very
best part of the territory. This new
line will practically follow the ella
river through the territory. It has been
completed from Phoenix to Florence
and is now in operation. From Florence
the road is intended to follow the ella
river to a point above Duncan, on the
New Mexico line and then across the
country to Deming. From Phoenix the
line goes over the present Santa Fe
north and south road to Wickenburg
and goes from there west to yuma.
From Yuma it viii go on to San Diego.
The building of his line will give the
Santa Fe two trunk lines from the
Missouri river to the coast. A new road
is now being built from a point TWEEN
ty-fve miles west of Albuoueroue.
oonnect with the Pecoss Valley, with
the Santa Fe line going north from
Pecos, Texas. up through Oklahoma
and the Indian Territory.
The work of the Santa Fe has been
delayed the past year by the litigation
which has been encountered with the
Southern Pacific involving a dispute of
the right of way in the vicinity of Dud-
leyville on the Gila river and above
there in the box canyon on the way to
San Carlos. Whatever is the result of
this litigation it will not prevent the
construction of h proposed Santa Fe
line. The law suit is for the best route
up the canyon. The one who wins will
get a good route for a railroad while
the road which has to take second
choice &C routes through the box can
yon viii be subject to great danger of
washouts and other difficulties in
grade.
The new Santa Fe route through the
territory will pass through an agricul-
- H. I
The exceptions will be where the ella
valley passes through the box canyons
It will travers the entire length of the
rich ella valley in Graham county,
from Duncan to a Carlos, and pass
through the very heart of the Salt river
valley, touching at Temple. Mesa and
Phoenix. Again it will pass through
the cultivated valley along the CHA
river above Yuma Such a through nne
through Arizona will do a vast anount
of good in exhibiting to travellers the
rich cultivated valleys of Arizona The
line will pass through the garden
spots of Arizona
In discussing the forthcoming bond issue
of $50, 900, OG0 by the Santa Fe company, a
railroad official recently shed some Eght
on the subject, especially as to the rea-
He said: For a number of years the
Santa Fe has been in a position to make
far better time from Chicago to southern
California, the mecca of the tourist, Onan
any other trans-continental line. This has
given the SANTA z Il great aaN OAAAa6C -
getting a big share of the passenger trav-
ell which comes to the coast through the
Chicago gateway
Now the Rock Island. by its arrange
ment with the SOuthern Pacific, is max
ing as good time as the Santa Fe, and the
completion of the Salt Lake road within
the coming few months gives promise OF
adding another active competitor to the
list, as the Salt Lake will, through its
connections. be able to also compete in
time from the east.
These new conditions arising from new
competitors coming into the field, make II
imperative on the part of the Santa Fe
to protect itself to the fullest extent by
maintaining a time schedule from Chica-
go that will still be shorter than that OF
any other line.
1.-THE only way for the Santa Fe to ac-
complish this is to build cut-ofs and re-
duce grades at every point possible along
the entire line from Chicago to Los An
geIes. 1t is for this purpose the bulk OF
the bond issue will be used, 1t is under
stood.
1T is a well known fact that the Belen
cut off in New Mexico and Kansas IS al
ready under construction, and other short
cuts will oe built. The Santa Fe eX-
poets, with these contemplated improve
ments, which are very extensive in cnar-
acter, to be able to make much better
time. by several hours, from Chicago TO
Los Angeles than has ever been done be
fore, and thus be in a position to sun pc
the controlling factor in the through Dusi-
ness 10 the coast from Chicago and vlcln-
ffr -