Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-05
TOMAKENEW RECORD.
MANY NEW LINES OF RAILROAD
PLANNED FOR SOUTHERN AND
SOUTHWESTERN STATES
Most Of These Are Entirely New Rail-
roads and Not Extensions Of Exist
ing systems-okIamoha Takes the
Lead in Railway Building.

Railroad construction and extension
work appears to be as actively in pro-
gress IN the southern states as in any
other section of the country. 1t now is
questionable If that territory will not
have the record for the year.
During the first four months of the
year there were 104 new corporations
organized and chartered in the south.
with an avowed purpose of building
S,O22 miles of road. Ii the southwest
ern states are included, so that Mis-.
souri,, Indian Territory and Oklahoma
may be embraced in the list, the total
number of new companies will be
raised to 120 and the total new mile
age to 11.515.
Oklahoma appears to be most active
In this direction. Ten new companies
have been incorporated there, the
plans Of which include the construc-
ton of 3,27S miles of new road. OF
this, however, a considerable part will
be outside the limits Of the territory.
Louisiana comes next with fourteen
new companies and a projected new
mileage of 2,145, much Of which, how
ever, will be outside the state boun-
diaries. Texas has to be credited with
eight companies and a new mileage of
1,07S. In none Of the other states or
territories will new construction ex-
coed 1000 miles.
Are Entirely New Lines.
In the entire territory embraced only
three or four companies have been
formed for the purpose of extending
existing systems. All the others are
for the creation Of entirely new lines.
The largest enterprise in the list is
that in Oklahoma of the Canadian Mid
land railway, chartered to build road
from Kansas City to 81 Paso. with a
total of 1000 miles. Next would come
the Kansas City, Tulsa, Texas and
Gulf, to build 975 miles of road.
The Colorado, Oklahoma and Soutl
,ern proposes to build $40 miles
make part of route from Denver
New Orleans The North Louisia
and Gulf, having $50 miles of project
road, also desires a tide water Quit
on the Gulf of Mexico. The WichiI
Mountain and Orient proposes to bull
400 miles of road in Oklahoma and In
dian Territory connecting with the
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient.
In Texas the Brownsville, Hidalgo
and Northern will be close ally o.
the Rock Island and Frisco lines.
will open up a territory in southeastern
Texas which is yet wholly undeveloped.
but Is described as rich in productive
qualities.
Many of the new undertakings If
West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Arkansas and Louisiana are for tn
purpose of developing coal and timbf
lands, both of which are favorite feel
for enterprise with railroad manager
at present.
A Record Year in Summer Travel.
Passenger traffic managers Of the
roads throughout the entire northern
section of country are unanimously OF
the opinion that this year will be a
record breaker so far as summer resort
business is concerned The movement
already has begun, even in advance OF
the regular season, and the volume is
increasing at rate which is surprising
even to those who had formed high
ideas of what is in prospect. The
movement will not be confined to any
particular direction, but will be gener'
al over the entire country. 1t now APP
pears as if all the resorts, east, nortki
and west would be taxed to their ut
most capacity to furnish accommoda-
| ton to the summer holiday makers.
| Colorado, as for two or three years
past, will receive large share of pop
ular patronage.
| The San Francisco disaster has
caused the abandonment of a number
of conventions which were booked for
that point, but still officials of the Pa
cific coast roads expect a large move.
ment coastwise. They have not with.
drawn their reduced rates because OF
the announcements that the conven'
lions will not be held Michigan, Min.
nesota and Wisconsin resorts all will
| be full and larger number than ever
| before will go to the Black Hills, to
Yellowstone Park, to the Yosemite
Valley and other points of attraction
in the Harvest, while the Atlantic sea.
side and mountain resorts all will be
/