The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-31
UNIoN PACIF1c REACHEs ON.
Hartman Changes Policy and VIII
Construct Many Branch Lines.

Hartman Changes Policy and Win
Construct Many Branch Lines.
Omaha, Neb., July 31.=Western
railroad men are exercised over the
new policy which Hartman has in
augurated in the Union Pacific, which
is at variance with every tradition of
the road Ever since its completion
the Union Pacific. has been essentially
through line from the Missouri river
TO the Pacific. Everything that inter
fered with that policy in any way has
always been compelled to give way. il
has always been the aim of its differ
ent owners to make the road the great
highway between the Missouri river
and the coast, and all their energies
have been bent on making it So Local
traffic was left for other roads to de-
velop; that which came to the Union
Pacific was taken at good rates, but
little effort was made at securing that
business. A few local lines we're con-
structed in eastern Nebraska, but in
the main the trunk line from Omaha
TO San Francisco, with a Denver con-
nection. and a line from Kansas City
to Cheyenne, has been the one great
object of the Union Pacific for forty
years.
But Hartman has inaugurated a
change in policy, and from now on the
Union Pacific is going after local
AASA4tN- w mere the lilt
Missouri Pacific, the Rock Island and
the Northwestern have constructed
branch lines and gobbled up the great
grain and freight traffic of eastern Ne
braska and Kansas, without being mo-
Tested by the Union Pacific the new
policy of the Union Pacific is such that
the eastern portions of those two states
will be gridironed with new tracks.
and Hartman intends to have full
share of all business developed in that
territory. One of the first lines to be
constructed will be from Omaha TO
Lincoln The Union Pacific has
roundabout way between those two
cities now, but the distance is so great
that no Lincoln business is secured.
Surveyors have just finished locating
the line and work Will begin during the
summer The new road will be an air
line between the two points. From
North Platte to Bridgeport the Union
Pacific has under construction a $50
mile line, which is half completed. and
will be in operation before the close of
the year.
From Stromsburg, Neb., to Central
City q connecting link is being built of
SO pound steel rails. This link of
thirty-five miles connects the end of
branch line with the main stem. From
Lincoln to StromSburg, distance of
about sixty miles, another line is being
surveyed and will be constructed this
summer. From Fremont a line is be-
ing run toward Norfolk and to Sioux
City, 100 miles away now a North
western and Great Northern strong
hold. The Union Pacific has long
coveted an entrance into Sioux City
but It's agreement with the Northwest
ern has prevented its construction.
This agreement ends this year.
From Hastings to Kearney link to
be used in the operation of through
trains from Kansas City to the west via
the st. Joseph & Grand Island road is
being surveyed and will be constructed
this year. From Onaga, Kan, to
Marysville, Kan. a line will be com
pleted this summer, permitting of all
Kansas-Pacific through trains coming
up through Nebraska and striking the
main line of the Union Pacific at
latter road, together with the Omaha
Lincoln line will permit of the Union
Pacific entering the Omaha Kansas
City trade with a line almost as short
and fully as good as the present lines
between those two cities.
In the past the Burlington and the
Missouri Pacific have claimed the
traffic originating south of the Platte
river. and the Northwestern has
claimed that from the north of the
Platte. The Union Pacific has only
taken the traffic from the towns along
its main line, with that from noncom-
petitive points along its few branches
in the state. But under the new az
gressive policy of Mr. Hartman the
Union Pacific will invade both the
North Platte and the South Platte ter
ritory, and branch lines will be con-
structed in every direction all with the
object of developing local traffic and
conditions.