The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-25

by connecting with the Grand Island
at Marysvijle, a through line from Kan
| GaS City to the coast is furnished.
The Grand Island connects at Grand
Island, Neb., with the Union Pacific
main line which goes through Cheyenne
to the coast.
From Topeka to Marysville the cutoff
will be f1rst-class in every way, it is
fastest traffic. with heaviest of rails
IN use. the best bridges constructed,
crushed rock ballast and of grades
Curves are almost missing.
In 1905 the Union Pacific took up the
project. In 1906 the road was finished
to Ouaga~ years reday followed.
Then in August of 1907 work on the
grade between Onaga and Frankfort
VAS recommended.
however, after considerable of the
grace was finished the pahic Of that
fall suspended operations until this
spring Since that time the work has
been rushed. Today mars arCther goal
iE the history of the road.
Mr.. Il. W. Blair, general attorney of
the Union Pacific, delivered an address
Among other things he said:
1T pleases me to congratulate the
citizens of Frankfort upon the thriving
appearance of the city and the enter
l;rise shown by this celebration. It also
pleases me to c"nlratuI1te the citizens
of Ma "shan county upon Their prosper
Gus ana happy condition. 1 am quite
well acquainted with the county and
know how rich and fertile it is. You
are close to markets and you have five
railroads within your boundaries that
reach out in all directions. Those rail-
reads not only give you an outlet but
they give employment to many men
who naturally put their earnings III
circulation in your midst. and they also
pay large per cent of the taxes nee
essary for running expenses.
Union Pacific Spends Large Sums.
I'm earlier times railroads were
built along the lines of least resistance.
They followed valleys and ridges and
avoided cuts and fills, and bridges and
tunnels. In these days fast time and
good service are demanded by the
public and railroad managers know
they must provide short lines, lowl
grades and powerful equipment. In
order to meet present conditions the
Union Pacific management in the last
eleven years has expended vast sums
of money in making changes necessary
to bring its road up to the STANDARD
required. 1t spent an immense sum
on Sherman hill in Wyoming in taking
out a few curves and reducing grades
A fortune was spent in building sec
ond track from Kansas City to To- |
peka. A very large sum was spent in |
building the Lane cutoff which gives a |
better entrance to Omaha. 1t installed !
a very expensive block signal system |
that makes collisions next to 1mpOSS1- |
BILE. Its connecting line, the Southern |
Pacific, bridged Great Salt lake there |
Dy SUOTl0Il1S lIl0 e1AA0 4AAdhA14S
better time possible. In order to |
shorten it's line 80 miles between Kan
sas City and ogden the Union Pacific
is buildign the Topeka & Northwest I
ern. That railroad is being built on
strictly first class lines. 1t is as near
a straight line as engineering skill
found practicable. The grades are of
the minimum. The curve is almost
missing. The rails are the heaviest in
use. The ties the best obtainable and !
the bridges the highest type of con-
etructGon. The entire line is to be
nallasted with crushed rock and will
then be in condition for the heaviest
traffic and the fastest trains.
On TranscontinentaI Line.
1.-THE road will be completed early
this fall and then your city will be on
a transcontinental trunk line hope
before long you will have a daily pas
senger train passing through between
Omaha and Kansas City. More than
that, / hope to see the country de-