The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-06
RAILWAY NOTES.

The largest railroad equipment man
ufacturing concerns are operating
their plants at about SIS to 70 per
cent of capacity. a gain of about Is
per cent since the end of 1910.
The Chile government commission,
appointed about a year ago to study
the question of electrifying the gov
eminent railway between Valparaiso
/ and Santiago. has made favorable
report, and the matter is now before
congress for its approval.
The Santa F'e has made the follow
ing construction appropriations: $685.
900 for ballasting on the Kansas dis
trict of Panhandle division; $325,700
for widening banks and cuts and bal
lasting the Valley division; $426, 900
for ballasting and other construction
work between Amarillo, Tex, and the
New Mexico line; $230,0O0 for track
improveme between Waynoka and
the Texas Oklahoma line
One statistician tells us that 746,221
individuals own the stock of all the
railways and industrial corporations of
the Country. This is astounding, and
we hope the report is exaggerated. If
! it be true, something should be done
about it. 1t looks very bad to have
such a large aristocracy. An aristoc-
racy worthy of the name and the po-
Sition should be small and exclusive.
We are perfectly willing to work hard
and support stockholders who are dig
| low themselves to become common
Life.
Demands of commercial and indus
trial interests for lower freight rates,
and higher speeds have necessitated
the use of stronger material of con-
struction for freight equipment. To
meet the conditions it has been neces-
sary to provide cars of large carrying
capacity, and in these steel is being
universally used to insure equipment
of sufficient strength and durability
and to provide an economical ratio of
paying load to total weight of train.
| The number and spacing of f1ues in
a locomotive boiler is a problem that
has had the attention of many a rail-
way mechanical engineer and railway
master boiler maker for years.
| The Argentine congress has ap-
proved the bill authorizing the gov
eminent to spend 19,300.000 Omitted
States gold) on the construction and
equipment of state railways. More
than 1886 miles were added to the
1910, not including government lines
under construction The new line
from Rosario to Puerto Belgrano,
Bahia Blanca, has been opened and
other lines in the province of Buenos
Aires will be opened this year.
| To meet the requirements of its
pension fund, the Lackawanna rail-
road will appropriate between $4,000
and $4,000 for 1911 Much of this
will go to rewarding faithful en-
ployees There are approximately 800
on the pension list of the Lackawanna.
| The purchase of a lumber railroad
in east Texas. with a right of way
about ffty-five miles. brings to light
another railroad project to be fostered
by the Frisco system to get into the
iron ore fields of Cass and Bowie coun-
ties in northeast Texas.
A report states an American COM
pany is promoting a road 500 miles
Hong, in Asia Minor, from Alexandretta
on the Mediterranean sea.
The Colorado & Southern will build
about 81 miles of road in Colorado and
in wyoming.
The trains which ascend Mount
| Washington aare to be equipped with
electricity instead of steam, If the
plans of the Boston & Maine railroad
are carried out. There will be also
Ia searchlight at the summit