The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-27
Missouri Pacific Story of I'M
prOvement on Kansas Lines.
Mr.. Waggener, General Attorney,
Scores Hostile Legislation.
1T CAUSED THE DELAY
Road Is Ready to Spend All the
Money 1T Can Get ON Bonds.
Other Items of Interest in Rail-
way Circles.

Atchison, Kan, Feb. pa report
from New York is that the Missouri
Pacific is to spend SO million dollars in
improving and lettering the lines from
Kansas City to Salt Lake City. When
these improvements are to be started
is not stated The only thing new in
the story is the amount of money to
be spent The improvements, which are
to be the beginning of a general i'm
provement of Missouri Pacific property,
will result in better roadbed, new
ties and heavier steel. double strength
bridges and then newer and better
equipment When seen this morning,
B. P Waggener said, The Missouri
Pacific Is contemplating most extensive
improvements in Kansas and on its
entire lines, and has had such improve
ments in contemplation for some time,
but it is entirely impossible for 1t 90
carry out its plans if it's properties are
to be confscateo for Popu1istic legisla-
ton It can fnd no market for It's
bonds as long as present conditions ex-
ist- The Central Branch would have
been in Denver today had it not been
for the Kansas legislature of 1895 and
1907 AtchiSon shops would have been
enlarged. better equipment would have
been purchased, there would have been
better service for the people and better
wages for the employees. The Missouri
Pacific is most willing to cooperate
with the people, but it wants no rela-
tions with the modern politicians and
hypocrites- The railroad companies
have had no lobby at Topeka because
they were assured, if the lobby remain
ed away, they would be treated fairly.
That fairness consists of more than
100 bills, the most vicious that could
be conceived, being introduced for pas
sage. Were they to become law, the
state would be going back instead of
forward"
For several years the story has been
circulated that the Missouri Pacific
was ready to "get busy in Kansas.
but was waiting to see what the end
Of legislation was to be. Possibly the
Hartman idea is to be adopted: Go
ahead and do business in spite of leg
islation, panics, or any other impedi-
be said of the Missouri Pacific: No
other big system has as small bond
ed Indebtedness. The total bond and
stock Indebtedness is but $4,000 per
Island and Santa Fe, paying roads,
have a bond and stock Indebtedness of
S60O 600 per mile. The Missouri Pacific
has a mileage in Kansas of 1 $50 miles.
600 per mile Three years ago the COM
pany issued bonds, to the amount of
$50, 600 per mile on its Kansas property,
expecting to use half of ii to take up
the old Indebtedness and use the bal
ance in making improvements in KAN
sas. But it has been impossible to sell
the remaining bonds, and they are still
in the treasury of the com pany. Figure
this up and you will find that almost
$50, ,00O 600 was to be spent on Missouri
Pacific lines in Kansas. Recently, when
Vice President Clark came to Kansas
and made a trip over the lines with
the railroad commissioners and listen
ed to their complaints, suggestions and
advice, Mr. Clark informed the mem
berS of the board that. if they would
furnish him market for the $50, ,000, 600
bonds, he would guarantee that the
entire amount would be expended on
in Kansas.