The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-04
President E. P. Ripley of Santa
Fe Decidedly Optimistic.
Predicts Greatest Year in His
tory of His Road.
DUE TO HEAVY CROPS.
The Additional Mileage of Sys-
tenn Also Encouraging.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Chicago, Aug. 4-E. P. Ripley, presi-
dent of the Santa Fe road, is more
Optimistic than he has been for long
time In fact he is strongly of opinion
that his road has just entered upon the
most prosperous year in its history. This
optimism is 5egotten of the splendid
crop conditions throughout the territory
tributary to Eis lines, and doubtless it
will result in the resumption by the
Santa Fe OF Improvement at a stand
stiIl throughout the period of depres-
slon. In discussing existing conditions.
Mr. Ripley said;
The indications are that we are to
have a fair wheat crop, fair cotton
crop and a big corn crop. The fiscal
Year just begun promises to be as
good a year as the road has had and I
am hoping that It viii turn out better.
It should've have 300 miles more of
road in oreratfcn. No. there's no use
talking about the dividend ra-e now.
Il won't be decided until October and
the directors haven't begun 10 talk
about it yet"
The Texas Cutoff.
Concerning the Texico-CoIeman cut
off of 80 miles. to complete the com
panys direct route from the Pacific to
the gulf and other new work, Mr..
Ripley said:
About half Of this extension, all we
will complete this year, is under con-
tract and the work on the whole line
VIII be pushed as rapidly as it can be
economically done. The company has
10 other extension work on hand for
this year. 1t is true that surveys and
estimates are being made on the prof |
ected line of the Northwestern Pacific. |
north of San Francisco but whether |
this work Will be done. and when, de- |
HCnds largely upon what the estimates |
show. The work Will be very expen |
sive. ana it remains 10 b. proved |
whether it VIII pay. Some lis miles |
Of construction on that line will run
close to 100000 to the mile. Surveys |
had been made before, but the Papers
were all burned in the san Francisco /
fire. The traffic which this road would |
get is now moved by water. several
rivers ~unring down the western slope
altogether to the liking of the ship
pers, being slow and infrequent.
More Double Tracking.
we are sill proceeding regularly
r it'll the doublc-trackfng of the main |
line. and by the end of this year. ori
miles of double track west of Chicago.
BY that time there will be only 40
niles of single track on the route |
from Chicago to Kansas City. Within
ALlS pOIllOI OIL the ROAD we are now
W the work on 70 or so miles
of second track. There are also about
200 miles of second track the other side
of Kansas City"
In regard to the probability of the
Santa Fe extending its Louisiana line.
now only about 200 miles distant from
New Orleans, into that city. Mr. Rip
ley said that it might at some future
time become the destiny of the road
to enter New Orleans. but that the
company had no such plans at the
present time.
The cutoff in western Texas will give
the Santa F'e low-grade connection
With its gulf system. and is of SUI
preme importance to vast territory
and viii establish the Santa Fe as
direct competitor of the Southern Pa
cif1c. giving it the shorter of the two
lines, by 70 miles. between San Fran
cisco and Galveston.
Now Building 200 Miles.
AT Somerville, Tex. about l25 miles
northwest of Galveston a line of the
Santa Fe branches off and runs 10
beaumont. The Santa Fe also has a
G1rect line between Galveston and
Beaumont via Bolivar. The JASPER &
Eastern division OF the Santa Fe has
already invaded Louisiana from a point
north oil beaumont. and is heading in
the direction of New Orleans
By filing in this gap a new thro17eb
line between San 4
Francisco and New Orleans will h. :
esta blished. The 80 mile cutoff when !
the Santa Fe is now building win con +
meet with the so-called BeIen IN. Ml r.
cutoff at Texico, and with the guif Y
system at Coleman Tex Con+rscts :
covering 200 miles of the new line have :
already been let and construction work =
IS in progress at several places along 4
the route No engineering or construc7 ! 7
tion difficulties stand in the va ~
quick completion of the line - d
When the Belen cutoff was finished
several months ago a new link IN The J.
tFanscontinental line was established =
over It. and via Amarillo. Tex. and a
Winfield. Kan All traffic to and from .
the gulf by way of the Santa F'e T131et q
row be routed via Winfield which is .
nearly 500 miles longer than the new y
route which viii be established when y
the TeXiCo-Coleman cutoff is fnfshes Y