The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-30
These Places Chosen for Rock
Island District Terminals.
VIII Make Four Relays Instead
Of Three on FL Paso Division.
5OsT TO BE 100000.
Bucklin VIII Be Abandoned as
an Operating Point.
Handling of Trains Facilitated
to a Great Degree.

Pratt. Kan, and Liberal, Kan, will
be the new terminal district points on
The FL Paso division Of the Chicago
Rock Island & Pacific railway. An
nouncement that these places had been
decided on definitely was made today
by Dan Z. Cain, general manager of the
company and the selection of these
places means that before long Bucklin,
kan. VIII cease to be a district ter
ninal on the division. In establishing
the new terminal districts an expendi-
ture Of about $500, 600 win be involved.
Some weeks ago the Rock Island Off
cfais let 1t be known that there was to
be- a arrangement Of the district ter
uEnals on the FL Paso division in order
70 facilitate tie operation Of trains on
the division. Under the conditions
which have heretofore obtained and
which VIII until the changes are made,
this division Of five hundred and twen-
ty-dye miles has beer divided into three
,iistricts- It begins at Herington, Kan,
and the first division runs to Bucklins
q distance of enc hundred and seventy
six miles. The next division runs from
Bucllin to Daihart Tex, a distance OF
one undred and ninety-seven miles
and the third extends from Dalhart to
Santa Rosa, a distance Of one hundred
and fifty-tWO mlles.
These distan~@s were manifestly too
great for the proper handling Of trains,
especially the heavy through freight
trains. the wear and ter on the motive
power in hauling trains these distances
was great and freight crews were kept
on the road hours beyond reasona bic
working period Ever siLce Mr. Cain
assumed the position of general man
ager OF This portion Of the system and
ar z. T. Dolan, the general superin-
tendency, last summer they have had
in mind a change in the district ter
nainal points so as to shorten the haul
between them and this could only be
done of course by tie establishment
Of q new district.
DurinE the last two months, Afr.
Cam and Mr.. Dolans as we'll as the
higher officials of the road, who heart
41y approved OF their plans, have made
numerous inspection trips over the Et
Paso division for the purpose OF Sc
Iecf1ng the points best suited for the
new terminal districts, and after look
ing into the matter thoroughly Mr..
Cain. with whom the dnal decision
rested selected Pratt and Liberal as
the points best suited for the new dis
tricts-
Pratt Is one hundred and rwenty-six
miles from HerinStOn, Liberal is ono
hundred ana thirty-six miles from
Pratt From Liberal TO Dalhart it is
one hundred and eleven miles and the
last district from DaIhart to Santa
Rosa viii remain the same, one hum
dred and hfty-two miles. This will
make an average haul on the districts
OF the division Of about one hundred
and thdrty-one miles.
The establishment of these new dis
frict terminals VIII mean much TO the
towns where they are located New
round houses and yards, coal ehutes
and water stations viii be built at both
places together with such other facili-
ties as may be necessary for the inn
mediate repair Of cars and rolling
stock. Train and engine crews, to-
gether with train dispatchers, and all
the other forces OF employees needed at
q. district terminal will have to move
TO either Of the Two towns, and an
additional force OF operating officials
for the additional district viii have to
be provided. 1t is probable that the
force at Bucklin now viii be divided
between Liberal and Pratt. or it may
be sent in its entirety to either one OF
the places
Mr. Cain said today that It would
cost the company approximately
100000 to make the changes on the
division, 500. 600 being put into the
facilities at each of the places and
that work in connection with their
establishment will begin at once.