The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock Island Kansas City-St. Paul
Line Well Under Way.
Line Will Be Completed in Next
Twelve Months.
COST $4,000 A MILE
Coal Property on New Extension
Is Being Developed.
nfhor Hams IF E0uaraI TufarQst
Other Items Of General Interest
in Traffic World.

Des Moines, Ia, Aug. 9.-All equip
ment necessary in the work of con-
structing the IS miles of track from
AlIerton to Carlisle, Ia, which will
complete Rock Islands short line from
St. Paul to Kansas City, IS on the
ground. The work is well under way,
and Will be carried forward with the
greatest possible expedition. The sur
vey has been divided into eight sections
of approximately eight miles each and
two gangs have been put to work in
each section 1t was originally eStl-
mated that the line would be ready for
operation by September 1, 1912, but it
has been decided to put in substantial
pile bridges to enable an equal dis
tributiOn of the steel structural ma
ter1u for the permanent bridges and II
is possible that the temporary struct
ureS can be utilized of transportation
purposes by making a cross-oVer at
each bridge, until the steel structures
have been completed.
Another favorable development since
the work was begun is the fact that
good deal of the cutting and grading
can be done more easily than was an
ticipated, and as the contract price was
based on the quality of the material 70
De removed the prospects are that the
total cost Of the work will fall some
what below the original estimate
Through Rough Country.
AS the line runs through what is con-
Sidered the toughest portion of Iowa
and is to have negligible grade, no
curves sharper than three degrees, and
standard stone ballast, the cost was
estimated at close to $4,000 a mile, or
total for the 68 miles of approximate
ly 81, 600 900. OF the $10000,000 st. Paul
& Kansas City Short Line Az per cent
bonds issued ard sold in February, 3d.
500, 900 were available for the purchase
of the st. Paul & Des MOines, which
constitutes the northern division of the
new short line, and for additions and
betterments, while $4,500,OO0 were de-
posted with the trustees under the
mortgage, the Bankers Trust Co, and
is available only for construction of
the line now being built from Carlisle
to Allerton.
Sale of Bonds.
The sale of these bonds netted the
company about 80, or SO. 00O, 000 81, $50, 900
purchase of the St. Paul & Des Moines
and 81 Csc, 900 for construction purposes.
As the St. Paul & Des Moines cost the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail-
way, in round numbers. SO, 100000, there
remained, after the retirement of the
securities of that property, surplus of
approximately 81. 100000. This amount,
together with whatever remains after
the line now under construction is COM
pleted, will be applied to the improve
ment and betterment of the Short Line.
Development of the Rock Island rail-
ways coal property situated on the
new line is being pushed al rapidly as
possible and it is hoped to have it in
shape to ship coal soon after the road
is open for traffic. From this source
Rock Island can supply fuel to most OF
its lines west of the Missouri river and
in the southwest, and will effect sub
stantial saving in that item of trans
portation costs.