The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-12
Construction Of Two Colorado
Roads By Santa Fe Of Interest,"
Facts About the Development Of
Best Sugar Industry.
PREVENT COMPETITION
Santa Fe Has Occupied Field
Hay Keep Other Roads Out.
Gossip aud Matters Of Interest
in Railroad Circles.
PREVENT COMPETITION

The purchase Of the Arkansas Val
ley and the Holly & Swink railroads by
the Atchison, Topeka & santa Fe IS
matter Of more than usual interest
says the Railway Age. because the
completion of these roads, on which
construction already Is well advanced
win give the Santa Fe a line about 70
miles in length between Holly anu
Rocky Ford, Colo, along the noflh
side OF the Arkansas river parallel 70
it's present main line, which follows lhS
south bank of the river. The Holly q
swink was chartered last January IN
the interests Of the Holly Beet sugar
company, which owns sugar factories
at Holly and Swink, to build line pc
tween those points a distance OF 95-5
miles. and about the same time the
Arkansas Valley was Incorporated by
the American Beet Sugar COMPANY,
which owns factories at Rocky Ford
and Lamar. The charter OF the latter
called for a line from Pueblo east 10
the Kansas state line, but the ROAD
which the company proposed to build
was from Rocky Ford TO Lamar Dotn
points on the Santa Fe. distance OF
about 80 miles. The location OF these
two lines was practically ldentlcal
from point north of Swink to a point
north of Lamar, and as the roads We're
projected by rival interests, there were
spirited contests for right of way.
the Holly & Swink began construc-
tion work from both ends of the line
and the Arkansas Valley started grad
ing both from Rocky Ford and Lamar.
COnsidera BILE grading had been done
and some track had been laid on both
roads when the Santa Fe, whose ter
ritory MAS being invaded. called halt
to the contest by acquiring both prop
critics. and it is announced that 1t VIII
complete line from Holly to Rocky
Ford, ABOUT 80 miles, using the lOca-
ton OF the Holly & Swink from Holly
west to a point north of Lamar. and
that Of the Arkansas Valley from the
latter point to Rocky Ford. The line
into Lamar, as we'll as the line into
Swink, will become branches to con-
meet the new road with the present
line OF the Santa Fe. and there also
will be another connection from Las
Animas north. There will be branch
from the junction nor tn Of Lamar
north to May Valley. about 4 miles,
and another branch from Duval north
west to Big Bend Az miles The
status of construction work on Sep
TENDER 1 , was as follows:
Holly & Swink, 1913 miles graded
from Holly west and 1879 miles of
track laid. 177 miles graded from
Swink north and east and s. i miles of
track laid to the point where what will
now be known as the Swink branch
viii connect with the maip line.
Arkansas Valley. graded Rocky
Ford east 1876 miles and 1911 miles of
track laid; graded from Lamar north
and west IA 4 miles and 1877 miles of
track laid; the distance from Lamar
north TO the junction with the main
line is y miles; May Valley branch,
from the junction north of Lamar
north to May Valley, about miles
grading completed for u miles and
e miles of track laid; Big Bend
branch. graded from Duval northwest
to Big Bend AZ miles and , miles of
track laid; Las Animas spur, Las Anil
mas north to the main line, miles
no grading yet done.
While the primary object of the
Santa Fe in acquiring these properties
undoubtedly was to prevent the inva-
sion Of its territory by competing
lines, the rapid development of the
rich Arkansas Valley. where the beet
sugar industry may be said to be in its
infancy presages future business
which will justify the construction of
a north-bank line.
The Arkansas valley is regarded as
one Of the richest irrigated districts in
the United States. Aside from the
fruit crops. including peaches. APPLES
etc, and the famous Rocky Ford can
talOupe, the principal products of the
valley are beets, alfalfa and wheat all
raised under irrigation. There are
various canals in the valley the
lplEesl OIL WAlCA Is ll3 miles In length
through which the water is run from
the Arkansas river to the large reser-
yoirs some miles north of the river
From these reservoirs the water is
turned into two short canals and
thence into the Amity canal. from
which it is distributed throughout the
eastern portion of the valley At the
present time there are Approximately
100000 acres of land lying under the
various bitches of the valley. of which
nj ~~
ton The cost of the irrigation works
$4,000, 600, and there are about 1000
miles of main canals and bitches which
take the water from the river At the
present time the natural flow of the
river IS used about , Il times. the
tendency of the water diverted from
the river for irrigation purposes being
to return to the river bed after il has
been used. In the gravel beds under
lying the bed Of the river is a great
under-hoW which is being extensively
developed In western Kansas and
brought to the surface by means Of
pumps. In order to further increase
the ifrigable area several large reser-
voirs are being constructed for the
purpose of storing the flood waters.
Thus while the lands already under
cultivation viii furnish a good traffic
Tor the new railroad. a still larger and
constantly growing traffic is to be ex-
pected as irrigation is extended
The first sugar f. Glory in the VALLEY
was established at Rocky Ford in Oc-
tober. 1859. by the American Beet