The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-06
RAILROAD NEWS.
Central Branch Improvements
to Start Immediately.
Engineers Are Ordered to Out
line Retterment Program.
ALSO OMAHA DIVISION
Ties and New Rails Are Being
Shipped Out on These Lines.
Other Items of Interest In
Railway Circles.

Atchison. Kan, April 6.-J. r.
Leighty. engineer Of Missouri Pacific
maintenance of way, has ordered Di-
vision Engineer Paul Genuine and ].
R. Emerson to make preparations for
extensive improvements on the tracks
of Omaha and Central Branch d.
visions. Mr.. Gentine has charge Of the
Central Branch and Mr.. Emerson has
charge of the Omaha. division.
AS soon as men and teams can be
found, the work of widening the road
bed and cuts Of each of these two d.
visions will be started. This work will
be preparatory to the task of placing
new ballast on the entire mileage. 1t
has been intimated that after the
roadbed of each division has been
widened and the new ballast placed
down. On the Omaha division about
$4,000 will be expended every month
until the track improvement is COM
pIeted. On the Central Branch about
$4,000 will be expended monthly.
The indications are that the tracks
of both the Central Branch and the
Omaha divisions are to be improved
to an extent that will render them as
good, If not better than any other
tracks in the state. Only few days
ago, E. A. Gould. general superintend-
ent of the Missouri Pacific, received
word from New York that three and a
half million dollars were at his dis
posa1 for the improvement of the Mis-
souri, Pacific tracks in Kansas. This
appropriation explains the readiness
of the company to improve the tracks
of the Central Branch and Omaha d.
visions.
In addition to the improvement OF
the tracks, general Improvements are
being instituted by the Missouri Pa
cific. At New York recently $25,ooo,ooC
worth of Missouri Pacific improve,
ment bonds were voted. A part OF
this appropriation will pay for the
building of the new Central Branch
shops at Atchison this summer.
A great improvement has already
been made to the two divisions out OF
Atchison. On the north end of the
Omaha division fifty or sixty miles OF
new and heavier steel rails have been
laid Superintendent DeBernardi says
the Central Branch is in a better con-
| dition than usual and Is in as good
condition as any other branch line Of
six months an enormous number OF
ties have been place on this line, and
east of Concordia the drainage has
been greatly improved by widening OF
| the cuts. The bitches on the Lenora
branch have been cleaned and
drained The highway crossings have
been repaired in the Downs district.
From all appearances this is to be an
| era of improvement on the Missouri
Pacific property. The company has
told the state board of railroad COM
missioners that all of the company
earnings in Kansas will be used in re-
pairs and improvements until the Mis-
souri, Pacific lines in this state have
been brought up to a high standard
Every day several carloads of ties fol
| the Missouri Pacific pass through
Atchison. Several days ago there
were 200 carloads of these ties on the
| tracks between Kansas City anG
Atchison. The work of rebuilding the
| main line between Kansas City and
Pueblo started about April 1st.