, 1906-03-24
OVERLAND STILL IN BUSINESS.

Those who are of the opinion hat
the Union Pacific is to take a back seat
when the Hill interests %gridiron Wyo-
ming are likely to have their minds
changed. When the Overland passed
into the hands of the present manage
ment it was little more than two
streaks Of rust across the continent
1t was just emerging from the great
panic of 1898. Its business was de-
pressed and its management was dis
couraged. Important feeders such as
the st. Joe and Grand Island, the Ore
gon Short Line, the Denver, South Park
and Pacific and the Colorado and
Southern had been Topped off and there
was really nothing left but the parent
stem, worn and haggard with trouble
and borne down by the weight Of a ire
mendous government debt, But the
nation was on the verge of unprece-
dented development and there was in
store such business as western rail
roads had never before experienced.
The reorganization company infused
new blood-many millions Of int
the veins Of the oldest and best trans
continental route. It's Q]uickened pulse
responded to the call of commerce and
the result was like a tale from the Ara
bian Nights. Business flowed in from
all directions and the profits paid for
the rehabilitation and left many mil
lions in the treasury. New steel of n
greater weight was laid and the line
was ballasted with Sherman gravel
from one end to the other. In many
places double track was put in and
this process is still being pushed Wig
orously forward.
The tremendous business and the
wonderful rehabilitation was carried
forward through one of the most colos-
sal strikes ever fought by a western
railroad, and it made money during
every day of that fight.
Now there is a little time for a
breathing spell and the old road is look
ing about a little and taking stock.
Other roads are fighting for its field,
like flies around a molasses barrel,
Inc it is compelled to stop occasion
ally in the mad rush and brush them
away. Recently a connection has been
affected by the way of Grand Island
with Kansas City, in order that the
trade of the southeast may be more
firmly cemented to the parent road. A
line is beng pushed up the North
Platte, in order that the new agricul-
tural districts of western Nebraska and
eastern Wyoming may not pass from
Overland control. The Encampment dis
trict of southern Carbon county is be-
ing watched with a jealous eye and
many parties of surveyors are search
ing for better routes where bends are
now made One of these short cuts
has been made lust west of Omaha and
the line from that point to the Elkhorn
has been shortened by several miles.
There is quite a bend between Valley
and Grand Island and still another be-
tween Grand Island and North Platte,
both of which have been an e~ye-sore
to Mr.. Hartman and General Manager
Mohler. The routes that would be tax
en- in eliminating these curves are al
ready partially covered by Union Pa
ciffc rails. Again, there is a piece
Of track in Sweetwater county that
can be Strengthened with a saving of
eight miles, but the work is expensive.
Away beyond the Union Pacific there
is also work to be performed. A tun-
nell many miles in length and to cost
S1O,O00,00O is to pierce the Sierra Ne
Vada mountains. The snowsheds that
have been such an annoyance will be
lone away with and the grade win be
reduced to less than one per e
In addition to these contemplated
oetterments, it is known that it is not
the purpose of the Overland to permit
any line to take away its business with
out a struggle Feeders will be con-
s~tructed wherever business warrants
the expenditure of money.
And where is the revenue coming
trom to perform all these wonders?
during its last fiscal year the Over
lands net profits were in excess of
tWenty-seven millions, and during the :
past seven months, its profits were S
more than ninteen millions. There is
said to be a surplus of undivided pro- :
fits in excess of one hundred millions. c
This is quite sufficient money to hold
the business of any railroad, if feeders S
and betterments will hold 1t,
1t will be a straight path and a
broad way that leadeth from Omaha n
San Francisco.