The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-28
Said That Southern Pacific will
Deny All Track lights.
WILL HAVE TO BUILD.
Rock Island Has Two Ways to
Go to Pacific.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

1
gins to look as if the Rock Island
| route, which so to speak begins no.
where and ends nowhere in the south
west, would be forced by development
| in the railroad situation, to build it.
self an outlet to the Pacific coast. Ac-
cording to the wise ones, the Southern
Pacific, by courtesy OF which the Rock
| Island gets it's trains through to the
coast is preparing to put the clamps
on its rival and discontinue the pres
ent traffic arrangement, leaving the
Rock Island bottled up. 1t will have
tc get out of the predicament some
how.
Ell Paso figures that the system will
build west from that city, but it is
much more likely that any such devel-
opments in the situation will put Albu-
querque ir the running for the new
traHscontinenTal road. The logical route
of an extension of the Rock Island
would be across New Mexico, and that
the Rock Island men have been figur-
ing On such a, route for years past is
we'll known.
Two Ways to Pacific.
There are two ways in which the
Rock Island can reach the Pacific
coast. One is through Mexico, and the
other is by the port of San Diego, Cal.
Railroads are being built in both di-
rections with which the Rock Island
can form traffic arrangements and it
is reported to be looking in each direc-
ton. The F. S. Pearson interests, own
ers of the Mexico Northwestern, now
completed 175 miles south of Ell Paso
and extending south in the direction of
the Mexican Pacific coast, declare their
intention of completing the line to tide
water and claim to have money to do
it. 1t has been reported from various
sources that a coalition between the
Rock Island and the Pearson interests
would be made and that the Rock Is
land would reach the coast in this man
ner, bringing freight for the United
States and carrying freight for the ORR
ent, through Mexico in bond.
To San Diego?
But there is another matter that en-
ters into the situation. The Ell Paso
& Southwestern road "a Phelps-Dodge
enterprise), over which the Rock Is
land comes into Ell Paso from its
southern terminus at Tucumcari, n.
M, a distance of something over 300
miles. is planning to build west and
the Spreckels' railroad out of San Diego
is building eastward in the direction
of Ell Paso. 1t has been reported for
some time. that the Srreckels road
would build as far as Yuma. and there
be met by the Ell Paso & Southwestern,
thus forming a through line to the Pa
cific. The Southwestern now has line
running west of Ell PaSo as far as Ben
son. Ariz., paralleling the Southern Pa
CHIC, ana mas announced us intention
of building to Tucson and Phoenix. Sur
veyors have been in the field for some
time running these lines and already
tie company is soliciting business.
Completed to Phoenix, it is a foregone
conclusion that the Southwestern would
build 10 Yuma, if the Spreckels' road
builds that far, and the Spreckels' road
is now in course of construction out
of San Diego.
If the Southwestern does build such
q line, it is more than possible that the
Rock Island will operate it's trains to
the Pacific over the track, almost
parallel1ng the Southern Pacific, and
use the port of San Diego for an out
let and intent for its tonnage.
Will Rock Island Be Bottled"
IF the Rock Island does not get one
or the other of the routes, it will re-
main at the mercy of the Southern Pa
cific Any time the Southern Pacific
wishes it can bottle up the Rock Is
land and keep it from getting to the
coast. 1t has even been reported that
to stop the handling of Rock Island
traffic-especially the fast Golden State
limited-ard instead, handle a similar
train off the Texas & Pacific, Gould
line, which has its western terminus
at Ell Paso. and makes eastern connec-
tions with the Iron Mountain to Chi
cago and ST. Louis, train that runs
into the same territory as the Rock
Island and would answer the same pur-
nose The Hartman estate is strong
ly interested in the Gould lines and
many people give credence to this re-
port and see in it all the more need
for the Rock Island to prepare an out
let to the Pacific. that is independent
Of the Southern Pacific.