The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-19
RAILROAD NEWS
This Year Best Improvement
Period Since 1908.
Exceptional Activity Planned
for Western Lines.
SANTA FE and ROCK ISLAND
Much Double Track, New Ter
minaIs and Buildings.
Other Items of General Inter-
est in Traffic World.

Work already decided upon and con
tracts let are sufficient to justify the
conclusion that 1912 will be the most
active period in railroad building and
improvements of at least four years.
1t may not, however, show equal
new mileage because much of the new
construction is double tracking and en-
largement of terminal facilities instead
of new roads.
The west is apparently to have more
of this activity than the east and this
is particularly true of the Northwest,
where partial crop failures for two
years in succession and migration of
young farmers from that section to
Canada, temporarily checked the car
rying out of plans formulated, but
which now seem to be in a fair way for
revival and execution. In Oregon and
Washington both the Hartman and the
Hill interests have ambitious move
ments under way that mean a great
deal for the future of the state. James
]. Hill proposes to build a single line
of 500 miles for use as an alternate
route across the continental divide, but
only a small part of it will be finished
this year. But without this the Great
Northern is to add 300 miles to it's line
that are now we'll advanced, and are
to be completed in time for the harvest
period.
Work on Hartman Lines.
While the Hartman people have nor
announced many new projects for this
year the operations of their engineers
indicate that big things are planned.
In the meantime vigorous prosecution
of work in hand has been decided
upon. Double-tracking of the Union
Pacific and Central Pacific will be adj
vanced by new construction over the
Sierras that involves some heavy work.
Lively operations are to be carried on
in "a
cific and the Oregon Washington and
in that region several hundred miles of
road will be brought to a finished
state, including the Natron-Klamath
Falls which is to give railroad facilities
along 120 miles of line at present with
out them.
The Santa Fe Budget.
The Santa Fe budget provides for a.
expenditure of $4,000, 900 though pos
sibly not all of it this year, and about
one-fourth of it is for new equipment
Should the promising crop outlook be
sustained, and the investment markets
make money easy, the outlay in 1912
might be greater than now anticipa-
ted or contemplated The company :.
chief expenditures will be for double
tracking west Of Albuquerque and ter
minal engagements.
Rock Island Activity.
With $2O,O0OoO0 provided for capital
requirements LUZ Two years, the ISOCh
Island is prepared to engage in signi-
ficant activities. 1t proposes this year
to complete 20 miles of the Kansas City
Short Line, possibly also 531 mile lum-
Der line in Louisiana and Arkansas.
begin new bridge at Memphis and
go ahead with work on new terminals
at that point and at Omaha.
The Frisco will build 100-mile
doubled-t tracked line to Peoria and
Springfield, IN addition to double
tracking and installation of signals on
the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Mem
phis. Some construction work will be
carried forward in Texas from which
state the Southern Pacific and the
Santa Fe have retired until the legis-
lature can be induced to relax present
progressive laws.
Little new construction is in sight
for the territory east of the MISSISSIPPI
pi and southern roads seem likely to
do most of what may be undertaken
in the way of branch line extension
The Southern and trunk line roads ap-
pear to be content with devoting them
selves to an increase of second tracks
and yard facilities.
Other roads either have plans COM
pleted or in the formative stage, and
altogether the prospects are sufficient
ly bright to give encouragement tc
those engaged in the manufacture OF
equipment and supplies than they have
enjoyed for several years.