Omaha daily bee., 1916-12-31
RAILROADS HAVE AN
ERA OF PROSPERITY
Business Never Better in His
tory is Claim of Transpor-
tation Lines.
MUCH IMPROVEMENT WORK

Railroads operating in and out OF
Omaha have closed the books for 1916
and it is agreed universally that there
has never been year when the lines
were taxed TO capacity as during the
twelve months that have gone. The
executives and general managers as
sert that the business OF the last year
has been about all that they could
have handled, even if more had been
thrown TO them.
All OF the roads had to contend
with the car shortage, especially the
shortage applying to freight and coal
cars. 1t started with the opening Of
the 1910 shipping season and was
acute at the close of the year 1t is
asserted that very large volume of
this increased business came as re
suit OF the war in Europe. but aside
from this, there was a largely in
creased volume added by reason Of
the splendid crops all over Omaha
trade territory.
Omaha Lines Hit Hard.
In one respect the Omaha lines
were hit pretty hard when the car
shortage came on. They were the
owners OF plenty OF cars for handling
the normal trade, but there were
numerous lines in the central and
eastern sections that had short equip
ment These lines commenced to Dor
row from the Omaha roads and as a
result OF what the outcome has been
is best demonstrated by conditions in
connection with the Union Pacific.
Officials OF this road assert that TO-
700 of its freight cars have been held
at eastern terminals because con-
slgnecs have been unable to deliver
the freight on shipboard, or to pro-
vide the necessary warehouse facili-
ties so that cars could be unoaded.
What is true with the Union Pa
cihc applies equally to the other lines
operating in and out OF Omaha.
For the six months ending Decem-
Der !, 1916, along its line the Union
Pacific loaded out l90,S33 cars of
freight, all increase Of 20.42S over the
corresponding period OF 1915. This
included largely grain, live stock and
merchandise.
The Union Pacific spent millions
OF dollars last year in new work, i'm
provements and betterments, one of
the important items OF expenditure be-
ing all even $l,000,000 on the new
bridge over the Missouri river here,
opened to railroad traffic last week.
Millions for Improvements.
During the year thirty and one
half miles OF side track was built,
eleven and onc-half miles in Nebraska.
For maintenance of way and struc-
lures the expenditures amounted to
about $l2,000,000. New coaling sta
tons were built at Pine Bluffs and
Wamsutter, Wyo. New turn tables
were put in at Armstrong, Kan, and
Sidney Ncb. At Denver an electrical
intcrlocking plant was installed at the
Union station and new depots were
erected. either freight, or passenger.
or combination structures, at Council
Bluffs, Penokee, Kiro, Garrison, Lind
say. Kan; Yutan, Dix, Neb.: Fosston,
and Galeton. Colo.
Track scales and water tanks were
installed at numerous points along
the system and in Nebraska stock
yards were built at Finchvile and
Nevins. Shop buildings were erected
at Evanston, Wyo.. and Armstrong,
Kan. Seventy-two and one-half miles
OF mail line track was ballasted with
Sherman gravel and ffty-four miles
equipped with automatic signal.
New equipment costing $254.o00
was added during the year and orders
placed for 81, 100000 to $5,0000OO, to
be delivered at the earliest possible
date.
Burlington Keeps the Pace.
While the expenditures OF the Union
Pacific were in excess of any one of
the other roads, the other lines kept
abreast OF the times. The Burlington
spent fully $2,500,00O on its lines west
Of the Missouri river, one of the prin-
clipal items being the construction of
The Chalco-Yutan cutoff, connecting
Omaha up with Sioux City Due to a
shortage OF help, this line was not
but it is expected that it
will be opened for traffic early in the
spring. For grading, bridge building
md tracks laying the cost during the
year aggregated 100000
Along its system west of the river. /
he Burlington replaced light steel
,ails with heavier ones at a cost of |
S47S,0OO and for resisting the en-
.roachments of the Missouri river S55.-
U0 was expended. The Gurnsey line /
'ut IN Wyoming was completed at a
,ost of 100000 and an expenditure of
sIOO,0O0 was made on the line from
)rin Junction to Thermopolis. New
'oaling stations. depots, other build
ngs and loading tracks cost $420 900
ma water stations and pipe lines $sS,-
w. Automatic block signals were
'ignals were installed at cost of
'l45,O0O and bridge replacements
meant the spending of $l25,0OO New
ballast cost $oS,000 and right-of-wav
ences $GS,000. OF course a large .
um OF money was expended for /,
Equipment. but. as this purchase is
'ured IN the general Office in Chi
ago, the proportion is not taken in
o consideration with reference to ex-
west OF the Missouri river,
Northwestern Expenditures.
In round numbers during 1916 the
Northwestern spent $636,06S on its
ines west Of the river The largest
tenn was for bridge betterments. this
to $505,360 The money
pent on track betterments amounted |
o SloS,000, which included the laying
If new steel. New and remodeled |
lepots cost $4,000 and improvements
o station grounds So, 500, while new
equipment and machinery amounted |
o $4,000
As in the case OF the Burlington,
good deal OF new equipment came to
1