Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-16
HUNDRED MILLIONS
ON SOUTHERN
PACIFIC
HARTMAN ANNOUNCES
GREAT RETIREMENT PLAN
Will Double Track Great SyS-
tenn to the Coast and Put
Electric Motors on the Noun
tain Runs,

Chicago, Sept. 15.-As a result OF
his trip throughout the west and ow-
ing to his unbounded faith in the con
tinued prosperity of the country, r
II. Hartman has approved plans foI
spending between SIS, 1000 900 and
500, 600, 600 to complete what he be-
lleyes will be the best double track
transcontinentai railway from Chi
cago to the Pacific coast at San Fran
cisco. Portland and Seattle, and its OPP
Grafton over the mountain sections by
electricity generated by water power
from the Rockies and Sierras.
The completion of this enterprise
practically will have the effect of adj
ding three single track roads, so far
as capacity to handle tonnage is con-
cerned. to the transeontinental sys-
tenn,
Among the preliminary steps which
have been taken is the employment Of
Frank j. Sprague of New York to be
consulting engineer for the Hartman
lines. He has been made a member
Of the Hartman system hoard to carry
out the plans.
Mr.. Spraguc will investigate the wa
ter supply in the mountains along the
line Of the Southern Pacific for a dis
lance of $50 miles and If he makes a
favorable report, all of the trains VIII
be operated over the mountain divi-
sion by electric motors, the mount
ain streams furnishing the power.
Mr., Hartman contemplates the i'm
proyement of the mountain section Of
the Southern Pacific by building an
entirely new line for a distance Of
thirty-two miles between Rockland
and ColfaX, Cal.
The company has lust completed
the frightening of all sidlngs or the
Sierra mountains SO that each VIII
hold forty-two cars and three locomo-
tives such as are used in taking a
single freight train owe the mount
ain divisions. Borings are being made
and shafts sunk for the new summit
tunnel. which is to be five and one
quarter miles long.
Il is expected that $50 miles of the
double tracking OF the Union Pacific
will be completed by the close of the
year.
The Electrical World says: The
Sacramento division of the southern
Pacific, running over the Sierra Ne
vada mountainss is a vital link in IN
terocean travel. The road passes over
the Sierras at an elevation of 1000
feet, at Summit. at the section be-
tween Rocklin on the west slope, n
Sparks on the east, and eastbounSI
freight has To be lifted nearly 1000
feet In a stretchaof eighty.three miles
of road. Tue line Is single track anu
tortuous. with frequent grades of "a
per cent, and a maximum grade OF
near ~ per cent.
The distance from Rocklin to
Sparks. across the range. is 1876 miles,
and Il is on this section that the enor-
nous grades occur. But these are not
the only adverse physical conditions
There are over thirty-one miles "
snow shed and rock tunnel to encoun-
ter. and all the ordinary difficulties
Of summer are aggravated in winter
by overwhelming falls of snow.
The present service, both passen-
ger and freight, is maintained ~
of powerful oil-buining looo-
OF the best type e~xtant; with
good results are obtained, but
although the road is kept to a high
Of efficiency. IL is only at times
there is absolute blockade. Moreover
At some periods the traffic is so great
hat it has already reached the limits
Df the present capacity of the system.
The problem that has been before
management for two years Is how
10 increase the capacity-to double
he track, To build an additional lipe.
n 10 try "A change of motive power.
rebuilding or new building of lines
would involve tremendous outlay and
lelay. and meantime the traffic Is
,rowing swiftly. and must be taken
are of ad eterim."