The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-03
Mr.. COLTS REPORT.
Finds That Missouri Pacific Is Rapidly
Repairing ROadbed.

C. w Colt, the expert engineer whC
made the recent trip of inspection OF
the Missouri Pacific lines of the stats
in company with the state railway
board has filed his report with tne
board and it has been made public The
report is not as sensational as had peer
expected and is filed with technlcaltleS
and covers several hundred typeWrlIteh
pages 1t shows, however, that Whlle
the Pacific's track and roadbed were 1T
had condition. that a great deal OF
work has been done this year by the
MANAGEMENT in the way OF repairs anu
that now gangs of men are at work an
over the system in this state M nj
Co1t,s principal findings were as 1ol-
lows: ,1
cuts and fills-The roadway, general
" is in very good condition. Some
hanks need widening or shoulderlng
also some cuts need cleaning. IouIld
a. anv number of places large gangs
- men and some teams engaged in the
work of rebuilding the banks and
cleaning the cuts
FDrainage-The bitches in most cuts
have been recently cleaned and the art
used to widen the banks IN Ia 70
number of cuts, thing has been put IN
for s11bdrainage. and at other cuts the
thing has been distributed so as TO De
ready for the workmen When they al
rive The surface bitches TO leao the
water away from the banks are Clean
- frea from debris. Pipes and open
.cI,1verts are in a fair shape ana VIII
carrv off the water from the roadway
7Ties track and ballast-The ties are
based on the following percentages !:
sixty per cent good, ~ per e1ne iali ol,i
% per cent inferior. (The last nameu
sbo11Id be replaced by new t1es) rms
Is fair estimate for the Whole as
trict. Some miles have been peIter-
others not so good. There nave peen'
and fine railway company is still put
+iny in new ties I saw and counted
large number of new oak ties along the
roadway and in the yards.
Track-There are 2 miles 75 pound
steel rails. Az miles 63 pound steel rams,
BIC miles Sc pound steel raIis' TT32 I,iit
Atchison to Greenleaf. The track Is IN
very good alignment, the rails Wen
jointed with four and six hole angie
bars well bolted. the rails full spiked
to ties and the frogs and switch-points
sharp and guarded with guard rails
The cars ride over the track fairly
smoothly.
BaIIast-The ballast consists of brok-
en- rock and cinders. In some places
one kind is used and at others, the two
together or separately as the case may
be. In a number of places new ballast
has been placed to fill in when the gang
arrives.
Brfdges-The bridges in most cases
are good. Some show evidence of new
work on them; some few need repairs
which 1 will more particularly itemize
later. 1 should say they were all with
a factor of safety for the traffic on
them.
Highway crossings-In nearly every
instance, the crossings are good, some
missing planks, however. The crossings
have highway crossing signs up. The
approaches to the crossings are graded
up or on cuts, as the contour of the
ground requires.
Railway crossings-The first is at
Whiting over the c. r. I. & p railway.
Overhead steel deck girder on stone
abutments in first class order and safe.
The second is just west of Goffs-grade
crossing-branch line to Seneca. The
crossing is well bolted and rides well.