The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-18
RAILROAD NEWS.
Missouri Pacific Officials Need
More Room for Tracks.
Must Increase Trackage to Meet
Demands.
TRAFFIC INCREASES.
Wheat Shipments Make the
Matter More Serious.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Wichita, Kan, July 1S.-How to han
die its immense business in Wichita is
the problem presented to the officials
of the Missouri Pacific railroad. The in
crease of business on the Missouri Pa
cif1c in the territory of which Wichita
is the commercial center during the last
five years is astounding. This is partly
due to the further development of the
country west of Wichita and the grow
ing popularity of the road with the peo-
pie.
The moving of the roundhouse and
repair shops from El Dorado to this
city was necessitated by the great in
crease of business on the lines running
out Of this city to the westward and
the constant growing of traffic in this
city. 1t is supposed that the division
point Will also have to be brought to
this city, and that matter is now tn-
der consideration by the officials of the
road.
Many of the people believe that the
building of the fine passenger and
freight depots in this city is the cause
of the present prosperity of this road.
1t is a fact that the Missouri Pacific
does date its great advance from that
time and while the officials of the road
admit that the building of the depots
helped business men can see that the
growth of Wichita and the territory
tributary to this city has been the
greater factor in the increase of busi-
ness.
Superintendent A. H. Webb said:
What can we do to relieve this terri
BILE blockade Of cars is the question
that the Missouri Pacific is compelled
to solve or drive business away from
it.
I'VE were overwhelmed with busi-
ness before the farmers began to run
their wheat and yesterday "a cars of
wheat were loaded on our tracks west
of this city. There were fl cars loaded
the day before and there will probably
be so loaded today. Perhaps nobody
but a railroad man can comprehend
what this means. A large switch yard
outside the center of the city is the
only remedy that I can even imagine.
Our roads west of this city have a
better grade than to the east and all
of the trains for the east have to be
made up here. Just imagine a freight
train of say 40 cars coming in this
morning when our switches are all full
of cars. 1t has to be broken up and
the laws regulate the number and place
of cars with air brakes to be allowed
in a train, and this neceSSitates more
switching.
I'VE have been sending trains away
from Wichita to find switch room, and
this is very inconvenient. We are COM
build larger switch yards" said the
superintendent, and when asked as to
their probe location he said:
That matter is now up to Vice Pres
ident c. S. Clark and I think he is IA
vorable to the location on the west
side; but when you come to take in the
business of the city it seems to me that
up north of the city about where the
old plow works are located would be
the most convenient. If we had a large
switch yard in that section the big
trains from the west could be run on
through the city and be made up for
the east. The switch yards in that To-
cality would also help to relieve the
congestion at the packing houses, stock
yards and at the mills and elevators.