The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-05
RAILROAD NEWS.
New Transcontinental System Is
Completed.
Through Trains Operated Mis-
sissfppi to Pacific Ocean.
BIG GOULD SYSTEM.
Great Network Of Gould Roads
Throughout United States.
Other Items of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.
BIG GOULD SYSTEM.

st. Louis, Mo-, Nov. 5.-The COM
pletion of the Western Pacific railway
with the laying of the last rail in Ne
vada, signalized the formation of a
new transcontinental system, of which
st. Louis is the center, and it points
to the inauguration of through pas
senger transportation service, in the
early part of next year, between st.
Louis and San Francisco. For the first
| time solid trains will be operated be-
tween the Mississippi river and the
Pacific Ocean over lines under one
common ownership.
When Jay Gould invaded the west
his plan was to extend the Missouri
Pacific to the extreme western bound
airy of the United States. His dream
has been realized at last. The Mis-
souri, Pacific, the Rio Grande system
and the Western Pacific, all Gould
| roads. comprise the route from st.
Louis to San Francisco.
| With the Wabash the Gould inter
ests have a continuous line from Buff
| falo and Pittsburg, through st. Louis,
to the Pacific coast. When a gap
of approximately $50 miles between
the Wabash and the western Mary
land is filled, the Goulds will have an
unbroken route from Baltimore,
| through st. Louis, to San Francisco.
| The other roads composing the
| Gould system are the Iron Mountain,
1
tionaI & Great Northern. These lines,
with the Wabash, form a continuous
route from the Great Lakes, through
ST. Louis, to the Gulf of Mexico and
the Mexican boundary. The ST. Louis
Southwestern is, in a sense, not a
Gould line. as it is owned by the Jay
Gould estate and generally is not in
cluded in the Gould system proper.
The completion of the Western Pa
Icific, extending from Salt Lake City to
San Francisco, is an achievement of
Especial importance to st. Louis. 1t is
another factor in making st. Louis the
principal gateway for travel between
the east and the west, and it will tend
to make st. Louis the place of origin
for trains operating between the Mis-
sissippi river and points in the far
| west.
Until the Wabash and the Union
! Pacific installed their through trains
between st. Louis and points on the
Pacific coast, most of the Western
| railroads started their through trains
from other cities. Because of previous
| conditions the eastern railroads en-
| deavored to have their passengers
avoid st. Louis. With trains original
ing at ST Louis, the eastern carriers
i have an incentive for exploiting the
st. Louis gateway. ~
The distance between New York
city and st. Louis is greater than the
distance between the metropolis and
to route transcontinental trave
Through st. Louis, owing to the fac'
that they get larger percentage OF
the revenue than via Chicago. The
action of the Pennsylvania and the
New York Central in cutting down the
running time between ST. Louis an6
New York city and putting new trains
in commission indicates a purpose te
| l. develop the st. Louis gateway.
The establishment of through trair
service between st. Louis and Sar
Francisco over the Missouri Pacific
the Rio Grande system and the West
ern Pacific will intensity the effect
produced by the Wabash and the I'm
ion Pacific, and it will be a further
encouragement for the eastern lines
/, to route their travel through St
Louis
Extraordinary equipment will, ac-
; cording to present plans, be used or
the new line. The intention is to put
in operation the best trains ever run
west of the Mississippi river.