The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-31
SPEND MILLIONS.
Union Pacific Votes SIS, OOO, 900
for Double Track Work.
From Missouri River to San
Francisco and to North.
FROM TOpEEA WEST.
FROM TOPEKA WEST.
Prepare for Traffic FromKansas
City to Denver and Coast.
Worlds Fair and Hill Competi.
tf0n Thought to Be Reason.

New York. Jan. 31.-The executive
committees OF the Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific lines today voted to
complete double tracking of the lines
from the Missouri river to San Fran
cisco. They also voted TO double track
the Oregon Short Line from the juno
ton with the Union Pacific main line
at Granger, Wyo.. to Huntington. Ore.
also the line along the Columbia river
in Oregon to Portland.
The cost of the double tracking of
the lines as determined upon today
viii aggregate upwards of $75,O00,D00,
which will be distributed over a period
of i've years.
There have been rumors in Topeka
for some time that the Union Pacific
was planning on double tracking it's
line between this city and Salina and
at one time plans were made for this
work. Then came the rate fight before
the Interstate commerce commission
and all railroad work ceased.
Meanwhile the Union Pacific shipped
millions of ties to Topeka and Salina.
The big treatingn plant is in this city
and the ties were. stored in Salina.
Rumors of branch lines through Kan
sas and cut-offs were prevalent but
nothing could be confirmed.
The announcement today that the
TOdQ Will QOuOl0 track from the MIS-
souri, river to San Francisco, is not q
surprise to railroad men in Topeka
In the last few years the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe has built, extend
ed and double tracked its lines all the
way from Chicago to the coast. From
Chicago to Newton, Kan. the entire
line is double tracked. Millions are
being spent in the west for two tracks
and for block signals
This aroused the Union Pacific.
Now comes the Rock Island. The
| Rock Island with its valuable agree
ment with the Southern Pacific enters
| California with some of the greatest
trains in the country. Likewise the
Rock Island has spent millions i'm
proving its California service and i'm
proving traffic conditions. The Rock
| Island also made traffic agreements
with the new Western Pacific lines
and in this manner attracts freight
shipments to the west.
! Meanwhile the Union Pacific has
| been spending its time preparing for
safety-the watchword of the road
| But it has not been spending money
for double tracking.
The announcement today. that $751;
| 100000 will be spent for better traffic
conditions to San Francisco comes as
another fulfillment of the desires OF
Hartman.
1t puts the Union Pacific in complete
| control of the great northwest and is {
| vicious slap at the old enemy-the Hill
lines. This war between the Hartman
lines and the Hill lines has been going
| on for years. A rs million dollar ex-
| penditure for double tracks will cause
con sternation in the north.
The worlds fair in San Francisco II
| another reason brought forth for the
new construction work. If San Fran.
| cisco entertain the worlds fair visitors
| according to plans it means that mil
| lions will travel across the country
| from the east. The Union Pacific viii
| make a strenuous bid for the travel
| A double track to be completed in five
| years will swing to their lines an i'm.
mense patronage.
| Topeka is on the main line of the
! Union Pacific between Kansas City an(
| Denver. Between Kansas City an(
| Topeka the line is doubletracked. Wes
to Salina the plans have been made
| for this work. The patronage from the
| connecting lines at Kansas City through
Topeka, Denver to the coast will NEAR
much to the road.