Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-07-18
RAILROAD PLANS OF CHANGE
OF ROUTE.
(From fridays Daiiy.)

man Inc Of the Santa Fe Pacific road
company IN this county and northern
Arizona, Judging from the number os
survey parties in the employ Of tbn,
company that are now in the field. 20.
gether with the fact that the com,,,v
IS spending millions Of dollars in tho
Improvement of Its main line between
Kansas City and California.
'nasmuch as the presence Of these
survey parties IN different par,s ~
'his county and the northern and east,
crn portions Of the territory have been
the cause Of many reports being circu.
'"'ed about the construction Of dif.
'erent branch lines into many dis.
tricts and localities rich in ovricul.
'ural and mineral resources. n .Journa,
Miner man seeking 10 gc, nj the founJa.
ton Of these rumors last even;nv call.
ed upon W. A. Drake. chief engineer
and superintendent Of the y. r. T.. and
T., who gave an outline in n pen.r,,
way OF the policy Of the company in
making these surveys. In part he
said:
About three years ago II appeared
TO the management Of the Santa =.
That many improvements could be
made to iis line in the way OF grade
ana alignment, and the company in.
augurated the work by starting u mum.
Der Of survey parties in the field In
New Mexico. These parties have
been gradually working west, until 10.
day there are several If them M work
IN eastern and northern Arizona, enyng.
ed IN seeking out new routes with n
view Of eliminating many heavy
grades and sharp curves along the
line. One " these parties is now In
the Williams country aud ano, her Is
working In the lower Bill williams
Fork section, working this way.
Following the survcys started in
New Mexico u large amount has been
expended in the Improvement of the
main line within the past two years.
and ] look forward 10 similar improve:
ments 10 be made in the line in this ter
r'tory nj many points where the pre-
sent grades and curves can be i'm.
Provel. The survey parties mentioned
are but two Of number now In the
territory. Surveys were made
year ago in order 10 establish n new
line around Thurston and Kinyman
canyons, and with the same end IN
view similar action was had in the
vicinity If Williams aud Winslow.
"Thc result Of these surveys will,
in my opinion. in no way affect the s.
i. j. and T.. or This city except per.
haps to bring the main line nearer "a
Prescott. Some new country may be
opened by u change In the main line. In
ease any is made. hut 10 not be.
licve that the company will consider
this feature II the proposition. the
principal Object in any change being
20 improve tbc grades and the align.
mcn.''
Speaking Of the improvements be-
ing made on the =. =. y. and r.. he
said:
"Two years ago three Of the frame
bridges on the line were substituted
with steel structures. last year two
more steel bridges were put in, and
this year the work Of changing the
bridges over the lIassnynmpa aud
Aqua Fria river. 90 steel structures
is under way and will be finished M
soon M material can be hsd.
"Two important changes were made
in the track n short distance south ~
Kirkland, where two sharp curves
were eliminated. AMI the bridge a
short distance below Ramsgate will
soon De replaced with steel struc'
turc as soon ~ the material is dcliv-
cred 10 MS.
"A large numbe' # men are nj pre-
sent engaged in dIling in the bridge
known NJ number lOJ n short distance
south Of this city, This bridge hns al
ways been considered among the most
Objectionable ones along the entire line,
and we expect TO have the work Of I'LL
ing il in completed in about six
weeks or two months.
"In fact he concluded, "'he policy
Of the company IL to spend all "f the
earnings Of the line over AMI above
the operating expenses in making sub
stantial and lasting improvements. y