The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-29
RAILROAD NEWS.
Great Activity in Construction
in the Southeast.
Many Roads Pushing Into Arkan-
sas and Louisiana.
A HOT SPRINGS LINE
Kansas City Southern Striking
Out for the Gulf.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
In Railroad Circles.
A HOT SPRINGS LINE

The Kansas city Southern railway is
building a line from Leesville. La,
southeast. crossing the Watkins & Gulf
road at Oakdale. the Colorado &
Southern's New Orleans line at Eunice,
and the Southern Pacific at Crowley.
Beyond Crowley the route has not been
determined definitely and probably will
not be for some time. It is possible
that the line will have its terminus
there. but this viii not be the case
provided the officers OF the Kansas
City Southern are able to obtain salts
factory entrance and terminal facilities
ait New Orleans.
Work on this road has been in pro-
gress for some time but more or less
of mystery has shrouded its ownership,
Kansas City Southern interests dis
avowing financial connection with it. It
develops now that this road is directly
behind the project, furnishing the
money and building the line, a fact
high officials of the Kansas City South
ern no longer deny. although not will
ing to make an official announcement
to this effect. The line is being con-
structed in the name of a subsidiary
company controlled by the Kansas
City Southern
The Kansas City Southern has also
projected a road from Mena, Ark, east
TO Hot Springs. 1t has bought a short
line making up a part of the proposed
route and its attorneys in Arkansas
have Incorporated a company to build
the connecting roads. This work will
not be pushed. however, as rapidly as
viii the extension toward New orleans.
II may be carried a part of the dis
lance toward Hot Springs, and stopped
for a time, although the intention is to
go to Hot Springs ultimately
Both of these extensions are building
into rich sections where railroads are
needed. The line from Leesvflle south
east will tap a section into which sew
eral other big systems are building.
The Rock Island is extending line
south through Alexandra to Eunice,
where it viii connect with the Kansas
City Southern new line, and also with
the Colorado & Southern's line build
ing now to Baton Rouge The YOa-
KUN interest in this new Colorado &
Southern road is such that 1t will have
8 close alliance with the Rock Island.
letting the latter into Baton Rouge and
thence into New Orleans. the Colorado
& Southern having made q deal with
the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley for an
entrance into the latter city The
Colorado & Southern's line is building
from Houston. It crosses the Kansas
City Southern main line at De Quincy,
and its proposed Leesville Crowley ex-
tension at Eunice.
me LDnZ-E6lI Luu1DeF company ana
the Santa Fe. which means, of course,
the latter. are building into the same
territory. Their line from Kirbyville,
Tex, TO a connection with the Kansas
City Southern main line at De Rider,
La. is completed but not yet in opera
ton. The line is building east to Oak
dale, where a connection will be made
with the Leesville-Crowley line of the
Kansas City Southern.
The Texas & Pacific, a Gould inter
est, is building a line southwest from
Buukie via Eunice to Lake Charles,
and another line southwest from Mel
Vile to Eunice- This latter town,
which bids fair to become a railroad
center of some importance, Is now the
terminus of a branch line of the South
ern Pacific. 1t had a population Of 500
according to the last census, and is the
seat Of an agricultural section.
The Southern Pacific, the territory
Of which is being entered by these
other lines In their building opera
tons ia louisiana is itself projecting
6. cutoff from Lafayette to Baton
Rouge, which will save hauling Chi
Cago freight for the west via New
Orleans. reducing the distance about
150 miles. The Southern Pacific is
also planning to enter Port Arthur,
the present gulf terminus of the kan
sas City Southern. The tracks of the
Southern Pacific run now within about
three miles of Port Arthur, but it has
never built into the city. having sup
ported Sabine Pass in the rivalry be-
tween the two towns. Tt is now con-
ceded. however, that Port Arthur is
TO be the city and Sabine has become /
of small commercial Importance. part
~ as a result of the great tidal wave
which swept the gulf coast. causing
the Galveston disaster and destroying
Sabine while Port Arthur was un-
affected
1t is stated that the Port Arthur
ship canal is 10 be accepted by the
government It is now said this was
understood before the formal prefer
of the canal to the government was
made Port Arthur, as port of
entry. viii now be able to secure
credit for its shipping. Heretofore all
foreign vessels loading or unloading at
Port Arthur had to clear through Gal |
weston