The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-06
TEXAS COMPETITION.
New Yoakum Lines VIII Make Bid for
Heavy Traffic

|
Houston, Tex, Aug. 6.-Tbrae neu
railroads in Texas known as the yoaL.
| um properties, which are completed bu;
not all in complete operation, will open
| up new field of competition and will
| cut into both the Gould lines and the
Hartman lines in Texas business. TIE
Colorado Southern, New Orleans and
| Pacific, which is st. Louis and San
| Francisco property, consists of 3O3 miles
| from Baton Rouge, La, to Houston,
| Tex, with trackage into New Orleans
via the Illinois Central, 100 miles. OF
| the line between Baton Rouge and
Houston the Kansas City Southern
| tracks will be used between Beaumont.
Tex, and De Quincy, La The eastern
| end of the road, between Beaumont and
| Houston, is known as the Beaumont,
Sour Lake and Western This is the first
competition the Southern Pasific has had
| between Texas and louisiana. There is
very little difference between the mile
age of the competing lines, and the new
Yoakum property promises to give a
service equal to any in the country and
to be bidder for the travel, as we'll as
being in a position to handle freight
traffic of all kinds.
At Houston the Colorado Southern,
New Orleans and Pacific will have its
allied interest which will be valuable
for feeders. There has just been COM
pleted the Trinity and I3razos Valley,
which runs from Cleburne to Houston,
236 miles. 1t has trackage rights from
Cleburne to Fort Worth, twentyeight
miles, via the Santa Fe, and has a
branch from league on the main line to
WaXahachie. thirty-one miles. From
Waxahachie it has trackage rights over
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas to Dali
las. In all, when in full operation, it
will have 415 miles The significance of
this line is it's direct competition with
the Hartman line, the Houston and
Texas Central.
The att1ck on the Gould interests Will
be for business to Mexico. The st.
Louis, Brownsville and Mexico is
Yoakum property also. This lire owns
from Brownsville. Tex, to Algoa, 344
miles, with trackage rights into Hous-
ton and Galveston. Brownsville Is To-
Gated on the Mexican border, and direct
ly across the river is the Mexican town
of Matamoras. This line proposes to
build bridge at Brownsville, but even
without this bridge 1t affords through
line in connection with the National
Railroad of Mexico to Mexico City |
When in full operation much of the |
traffic that has come via the Hartman
lines and the Gould lines through Eagle |
Pass and Laredo to Mexico will be di- |
verted through the influence of the
Yoakum lines to this Brownsville route. |
BY traffic agreements with certain lines
it may be possible to establish a through |
sleeper service this way and make it the |
short line from st. Louis to Mexico |
City.
Another feature that has just become |
known in connection with the Yoakum |
activities in southern Texas is the re- |
port now that Mr.. Yoakum controls the |
Houston and Brazos Valley. This line
was formerly the Velasco Terminal. 1t I
was built by interests which sought
many wears ago to exploit Velasco, at
the mouth of the Brazos. as a seaport
Velasco deep water. how
ever. did not materialize as fast as was
necessary for the success of the PROPOSE
ton and what operation there was of
the line for years was by the Interna-
tional and Great Northern merely as
branch with intermittent service.
With all these interests there is bound
to be activity in competition in Texas,
and Yoakum will stir up things. The
will be in all directions.
because allied are the St Louis and San
francisco and the Rock Island properties.
Thus New Orleans, st. Louis, all Texas
points. Denver, Kansas City and other
great market centeTs will be the fighting
ground for the business that this new
network CT railroads will require.