Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-08
CFrom the New York Evening Mail, April 500

Mountain and southern embody the Gould
scheme for a low grade system from the
grain center OF the middle west to the
gulf. When they are placed in the state
Of perfection for which they are intended
they will alo< Of the lowest operating unit
ana the highest train load OF any lines be-
tween the north and south. They are well
worth the capital outlay charged against
them.
The two striking achievement Of the
Iron Mountain In the last five years are
the rebuilding OF the Fort Smith division
from Fort Smith, ARK. TO Little Rock, and
the construction OF the White River dlvt-
sion, 30 miles from White River Junction
to Carthage. No. The first undertaking
Illustrates the difference IN the IDEAS that
prompted railroad c6pstructon a genera
uon sgo ana those JhAt prevail today. Tie
second project shows the liberslity OF the
Gould management in construction work
that realizes their ideal as TO grade and
stability. The average cost Of this line f.
nearly $4,000 per mile. will 100 miles-be-
tween cotter and Crane-averaging twice
that amount
The old Fort ninth road was the Jest OF
railroad men and the butt Of the travelling
public. II ran up hill and down Without
regard TO grade and was practically laid
on top Of the ground. Il figured in the
Blaine burn this letter" scandal Heavy
land grants were allotted to II in return
for alleged financial favors 10 government
officials. The idea that the route was
planned to Include all Of the government
land possible in not correct. for In the re-
construction there are eleven detours. ag-
gregAtng, about forty-two miles all pre-
I dieated OK grade reduction and not on line
length reduction. The charge actually
lessons the total distance between terminal
points but one mile. The longest detour,
from OZARK 20 Hartman, is fourteen miles;
there Is one OF seven miles and another
Of five miles. The present line follows the
Arkansas river; the old one went back up
in the hills. II has not been abandoned,
and Is still used by passenger trains.
Originally the division had a dirt ballast.
Now Il lie gravel and rock. the former being
in largest proportion. II was laid with So
pound rails. II now has E-pound steel.
Nearly all Of the wooden bridges are de-
stroysd and replaced with steel and cor
crete. As II was operated up 70 1902 Il
had a maximum grade OF ~ per cent.
The present maximum Is $40 Of 1 per cent.
From sixth position in traffic density it
has moved up to second rank. These facts
obviously warrant the $4,000 expendr
A1ANr VI q ANN Aa+4 u aA0AN N-HNN ~
mile. made on the property. ThA part OF
the Iron Mountain continues north from
Fort Smith to C~offeyvilie. No, and the
upper end as well as the lower half has
been materially improved.
Last January a sixty-mne extension.
north from Gurdon on the main line OF
the Iron Mountain 20 Wombls, was opened.
This will be extended over a rght-ot-way
practically secured 10 Greenwood. where q
line has already been built into Fort Smith,
BY means OF this branch. considerable
mileage VIII be saved for gulf port freight
from the grain fields as well as a lower
grade secured and fine. productive terri
tory opered. II IL the writer's belief that
the Gouids have an Interest IN the Mis-
sour. Oklahoma 4 Gulf railway shieh
has built ninety-five miles Of road fs3m
Wagner, on the Iron Mountain. 10 Rose,
Ok, via Auskogse. The intention is 70 sx-