Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-18

lines. A line was needed to the south,
however, for the grain which this great
agricultural belt produces and Hartman
was figuring on building a line of his own.
This would. have been ready for some OF
the business which the Panama canal
would be sure TO bring to the southern
towns. There Is no doubt fthe southern
gateways will be of greater Importance
with the completion of the canal, for many
boats from across the Pacific will an
doubtedly be unlOaded at the southern
ports, and these cities being nearer by
rail than the east or the west ports to
the great middle west will furnish an i'm
mense amount OF traffic to the north and
south railroads. .... .. -. .
Since Hartman has gained control Of the
Illinois Central, which completes north
and south line for him and connects the
eastern terminus of his Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific roads, he may abandon
the plan of building the line from Kansas
City south. Residents in the grain belt
had hoped this road would be built, for
1t would provide a direct outlet for the
resources of this state and Kansas.
From Omaha TO Kansas City.
Within two years the Union Pacific will
have a good line between Omaha and
Kansas City, q line which will pass
through the capitals OF both Kansas and
Nebraska in making the trip, and the line
is being built OF the heaviest material and
on a par with the renowned main line
between Omaha and Ogden. A new line
is being built across country from Topeka
to Maryville, and the line from Maryville
to Lincoln is being rebuilt and put above
the reach of water. The greatest help to
Omaha is the air line which will be built
between Lincoln. and Omaha. Engineers
of the Union Pacific have made three sur
veys on this to try to get a short line
Railroad construction ia the United
States Canada and Mexico exceeds all
estimates this year and what the increased
mileage will be for 1907 no one seems to
want 10 hazard. That Il will be enormous
as compared with previous years no one
seems to doubt and that it will run TO
tens Of thousands OF miles In these three
countries seems certain. This. for steam
roads alone, and besides thousands OF miles
Of street railways will be built. The de-
mands on the steel mills, furnaces and
mines for the supplies of materials can
be readily seen In advance 70 be of record
breaking proportions. II is estimated that
the construction work Of three or four
Of the large systems VIII exceed in 1897
the eAtlit cOuhlIuCllon MOFh IN tue united
States of any year OF the last decade
Hartman is doing the most work in
Mexico in the construction of the Sonora
and the Rio YaGui x Pacific.
Millions for improvements.
Besides the new construction the rail-
roads are spending millions in improving
their property. An instance OF that is seen
In Omaha, where the Union Pacidc is
spending S5.OOOOOO at the present time.
complete automatic block system viii
soon be in operation on the Northwestern's
double track line between Omaha and Chi
cago and during the next year the Union
Pacific will build over 400 miles Of additional
track between Omaha and Wyoming The
business demands II, for without the double
tracks the roads would soon be congested
with the increase Of business which every
monthly report Of the roads show. The
Hartman lines between Omaha and San
Francisco VIII soon be fitted with the latest
electric block systems. All these improve
ments are being made in the great hght
for supremacy IN the west