Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-01
MUCH MONEY SPENT
BY THE RAILROADS
Little Done During the Year in the
Way of Construction, but
Improvements Made.
HIGH STANDARD MAINTAINED

o@A0AA OAhNOhhO
In Omaha trade territory Il was not
year Of railroad building. owing to
the peculiar condition of the money
market, brought about by the war in
Europe and the uncertainty of the out.
come of many suits in court. affecting
both freight and passenger rates. the
railroads pursued waiting policy ana
officials contented themselves with 20,
ing on with the usual betterments in.
stead of constructing new lines and open.
ing new territory to the west and north
west of Omaha. However, with the rata
situation cleared and the assertion that
money during the next twelve months il
likely to be easy considerable railroad
building hereaways is anticipated during
the next year
During the year just closed the Bur-
lington spent close to 100000 in thin
territory. OF this sum $4,000 was eus
pended In constructing the cutoff from
Gurnsey to Wendover, wyo. There ID
something like eight miles OF this stretch
and with its construction 1t opens a short
line into the northwest
Much Rail Replacement.
For rail replacement. where heavier
steel was laid on the main line west of
Omaha, ASo.oOO was spent. In improvs
ing the Wyoming line and in constructs
Ing additional facilities for handling
business. $4,000 was spent. New indus
trial and team tracks were constructed
at cost of $4,000 and 5000 was spent
In the construction of a new depot at
David City. Repairing and redecoratina
the Omaha passenger depot cost 5000
while water stations, tanks and pumps.
pipe lines, etc. out along the lines cost
$1,000. The renewal and replacement of
bridges meant an expenditure of $4,000.
During the year the Union Pacific
completed double tracking from Devils
Gate bridge to Riverdale. one of the
small gaps Of the main line not hereto
fore double tracked. This new stretch
Of track is fully protected by automatic
block signal, the same as Il In use ON
the remainder of the road.
In Colorado the Union Pacific built q,
branch line to the Shamrock coal fields,
besides twelve miles Of industrial sidlnga,
An interlocking plant is in course of con-
struction at Salina, Kan, and many.
thousands of dollars were spent in re-
newing ballast on the main line and for
heavier rails on the branches.
At Omaha during the year a modern
hospital was constructed for employees
and similar one at Kansas City. Mo.
New depots were erected at KimbaI.
Neb; Pine Bluffs and Granger. wyo.1
Armstrong and Salina, Kan, and at Dan.
yer. A new depot Is IN course of con.
struction at North Platte to take tho
place of the one recently burned.
On the branch north from Kearney A
SOo-horse-power gasoline motor car has
been added to the service. IL being the
tirst car of it's type to go onto any rail.
road. The motor contains baggage. ex.
press and mail compartments and. in
aooiuon, 1t hauls an all-steel coach. az.
tording 80 per cent more seating capao.
lty than the coach of the steam train
formerly operated was able to accomnao.
date.
The Missouri Pacific during the year
completed the building of its Omaha.
Kansas City line, reballasting the entira
Instance Work on the Nebraska
branches was started and was well ON
the way to completion when winter set
IN New equipment was added to the
Kansas City and st. Louis trains and
the running time between Omaha ana
these cities materially reduced.
the Omaha road relaid the steel on a
large portion OF its Nebraska lines ana
spent large sums in reballastlng.
Along the Northwestern.
In Improvement and betterments tbs
northwestern Railroad company dur,na
last year expended S65,S5O. OF this sur,
none went for extensions. the company
not having added any mileage to the Ne.
Draska system during the year.
Itemized, the Northwestern snenx
money in Nebraska as follows dur,ns
the year:
d Industry tracks. $4,000; tracks 10 pr,.
vate industries. s1.66O; new and remodaI.
ing depots. $1,000; bridge betterments-
$4,000; track betterments. $3.50 800; i'm
Provements to station grounds. SIS. s4Os
special assessments, $4,7OO; equipment ans
machinery 1880 washout damasea|
$4,000.
Inc money put into bridge and track
oetterments was practically all for nav
work. a number of old bridges werS
taken out and new and all steel ones con-.
suructed In their stead. On track bettsn.
ments the expenditure was largely N.
new and heavier steel rails.