The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-22
Missouri Pacific g. Iron Noun
tain Extensive Improvements.
Six Hundred Miles of Track
Relaid in Two Years.
SEVERAL EXTENSIONS.
New Freight Cars Received for
the Autumn Traffic.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

St. Louis Aug. 22.-The Missouri
Pacific and Iron Mountain system
used 10000 tons of eighty-five pound
steel rails in reconstruction work IN
the year ended on June 80, 1906, and
the same quantity in the previous
year. In the present fiscal year at
least az much new rail Will be put
down on the various lines comprising
the system.
Tho rail used in a year, 10000 tons.
Is sufficient to relay 800 track miles.
or to build a road from st. Louis to
Kansas City. In two years 500 miles
of track have been relaid.
The company used 100000 new
ties last year, and contracted for the
delivery of 100000 new ties this
year, making a total of 100000 in
two years Half of the ties ordered
this year have been delivered, and
the remaining part is being received
week after week.
The delay in getting the ties was
due to rain in Arkansas, where the
white oak is obtained. AS fast as
they are delivered the management
will make additional improvements
The reconstruction work also includ-
ed the setting of 100 miles of new
track joints.
For handling the autumn traffic
the system has received 5000 new
freight cars and 35 new locomotives.
The Gould connecting lines in the
southwest. and the west, the Texas &
Pacific, and the Denver & Rio Grande,
have IN commission 1000 new freight
cars and 1876 new locomotives. Most
of the new cars and locomotives are
in service. and all will be in COM
mission by the middle of September.
The system has done conSidera BILE
work in the last twelve months on
new lines and extensions. Probably
the most important operations have
been I'm the southern Illinois coal min
ing district.
The Coal Belt Electric has been ex-
tended from Herrin, a distance OF
1895 feet to a connection with the
Herrin railway. The Herrin & john
Herrin to Johnson City, a distance
of As miles
The Marion & Harrisburg has been
extended from the Coal Belt Electric
to Harrisburg. distance of 1.95
mile.
The Marion & Johnson City, a con-
tinuation of the Marion & Harris
burg. has been extended from Marion
5.S7 miles. toward Johnson City.
As has been stated in The Repub-
lie. the Missouri Pacific & Iron MourK
tain will haul 100000 to 5,000,0O0
tons of coal a year from the Carter
Vile district in Illinois to points In
the southwest. the west and the north
west. The wabash Southern has been
extended from Ziegler to Benton.
In order to increase the facilities
for moving trains and handling freight
attention has been given to passing
track and sidings. Between Little
Rock and Bald Knob and between
Bald Knob and Wynne grading for
five passing sidings has been finished.
Between Hoisington and Pueblo grad
Ing has been finished for nineteen
passing sidtngs, each $500 feet long.
At Dupo yards, opposite South st.
Louis. 21.61 miles of new track has
been laid These yards will, when
completed, have tracks covering an
area of two miles wide and four miles
long. In the yards 1887 miles of
track were ballasted. Besides grad
ing work and the establishment of a
drainage system, a coaling station, an
eighteen-stal engine house, a power
house and a hotel for employees have
been completed this year at Dupo.
The Gurdon G. Fort Smith has been
completed from Antoine, on the Ar
kansas Southwestern, 1887 miles to
point near Black Springs. through
Pike and Montgomery counties. The
Eudora and Gilbert branch has been
completed from Eudora to Calvit, La,
distance of 37.47 miles.
The gauge OF the Natchez & West
ern has been changed from narrow
to standard. A new brick car repair
shop. T2x501 feet, has been completed
at Barring Cross. On the Springfield
Southwestern, the White river divi-
sion and other lines ballasting is be-
ing done. New yards and stations have
been constructed at several places.