The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-22
Railway Building I'm Progress
for 1907 Less Than 1906.
Antirailroad Legislation Re-
sponsible for Conditions.
NO NEW. PROJECT S.
Present Plans Provided Before
Adverse Sentiment Appeared.
Other Items Of Interest to
Railroad People.

According to the last number of the
| Railway Age, which is issued today the
| outlook for railway building in the
| United States is not as promising as It
| was year ago. There is as large
mileage projected there was l..
| March, 1906, but the conditions are
| not as favorable. The country is as
| prosperous as it was IL months ago
and the demand for the construction
| of extensions into new territory and for
| increased railway facilities is as great
| but, as has already been pointed out in
| the columns of the Railway Age, the
| campaign which has been so merciless-
| ly waged against the railways has caus-
| ed many of the large systems to adop'
policies of retrenchment, and the re-
| suit is that much important work
| which had been planned for the pres
ent year has been Indefinitely post
poned. There is no market for rail-
way securities except at prohib1tlVe
rates of interest, and nearly all the
loans that are being made are OF a
temporary nature and are to provide
for urgent capital needs.
year ago the records OF the Kali
way Age showed that over $4,000 miles
of new railroad were then under con-
tract, nearly one-half Of which was
completed before the close of the yeas
in any other single year since 1883
There is almost as large a mileage
under contract today, and while there
will be great activity during l9Of IN
which the work of construction already
is well advanced and financial arrange
ments for which have been made, the
launching of new projects, TOT whlcn
the capital must be provided, in many
instances has been postponed until con-
ditions improve.
Although the mileage under contract
is LOO miles less than that reported
a year ago, there is every reason 70
believe that the mileage of track lalC
in 1907 would equal, if not exceed, that
for 1906, except for the conditions above
referred to. There was large amount
of grading completed last year in addi-
ton to the 600 miles on which the
rails were put down, and the work OF
tracklaying has progressed steaQi'y
since the first of the year in 1ocaItleS
where the weather would permit. Grad
ing also has been pushed with as large
forces as could be secured, although
the difficulty of securing laoorers mas
by no means disappeared. Even though
no new projects are taken up and WORK
proceeds without Interruption on only
such lines as already are under con-
struction, there viii be large aooltloIls
to the railway mileage OF the country
before the close of the year, bat II
the state legislatures continue their
threatening attitude and proceed 10 en-
act bills to Cypress and harass rail-
WAYS there is no telling where re-
trenchment will stop.
The Hartman 91ines. including the |
Union Pacific, the Southern Paclhc,
company, and the Oregon Short Line, |
have 663 miles under construction in |
Nebraska, Kansas. Colorado, Wyom,
ing, California, Idaho. Montana and |
Washington, and the indications are |
that the greater part of this mileage |
will be completed during the year.
The Kansas City, Mexico & Orient |
announces that 1t expects to complete |
Oklahoma and Texas sections of its
line. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS sys-
tenn has $50 miles to complete in order
to connect up the Virginia and West
Virginia sections of its system, and the
work is being prosecuted with vigor
from both ends of the line. The Wis
consin Central has the greater part of
grading completed on its extension
from Ladysmith to Superior, Wis, 104
miles. The New Orleans Great North
ern is extending it's line north to jack
son, Miss. and, including branch, has
los miles under construction. The
South & Western has 168 miles under
contract in Virginia, Tennessee and
North Carolina, and the Florida East
Coast has the work well advanced on
it's line to Key West, los miles of which
remain to be com pleted
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
has $50 miles under contract, but
probably less than one-half of it will
be completed this year. The North
ern Pacific has So miles under con-
in Idaho and 81 miles under
construction in Washington, but there
is heavy work in Idaho and slow prog
ress is being made. The Portland &
Seattle. joint line of the Great North
ern and the Northern Pacific. has been
at work for over year past on it's
line from Kennewick, Wash, to Port
land, Ore, 23O miles, and is now ready
to lay track on portions of the COM
pleted grade. The Norfolk & South
ern proposes to build 172 miles in
North Carolina in order to complete its
line to Pamlico sound, with necessary
branches, and all of the mileage is I'M
der contract, with grading well ad-
on certain portions.