The Monett times., 1922-10-06
YOAKUM'S PLAN MAY
YET BE REALIZEN
Fort Smith View of Future of Great
Southwestern Railroad
System.

Record says:
Indication that the Frisco system
is beginning new effort to realize
the dream of great trans-continent-
al system are seen by observers or
the railroad world in the reported.
purchase by the Frisco of the Intenv
national and Great Northern of Texas
and the rumors that the Chicago 81
Alton is the next road to be acquired.
Whether the return of B. F. Yoaz
kun to the board of directors of the
Frisco-which occurred severah
months ago-has any connection with.
the expansion begun by the purchase
of the I. and G. N. is another interest
ing question.
The significance of the I. and G, N.
purchase is well illustrated by
story that has trickled down from the
east. A number of railroad men were
discussing general railroad develop-
ment in club. One of them declared
and the others agreed, that the next
great transcontinental railroad syS-
tenn in the United States will be
founded on the present Frisco system
with Chicago connection from st.
Louis, and Gulf Coast connection
from Dallas and Fort Worth.
The purchase of the |. and G. N.
gives that Gulf coast connection. The
rumored plan to purchase the Chicago
& Alton, which is now in receiver
ship, would provide the Chicago con-
nection, and the heart of the system
that Yoakum tried to build just before
the Frisco debacle in 1913 would ha
again a living thing.
Coast Connection.
The Frisco is contemplated by the
Interstate Commerce Commission aa
one of the important lakes-to-guH
systems. It's consolidation plan gives
the Frisco Chicago connection and
Gulf connection, though purchas of
the /. and G. N. by the Frisco was not
contemplated in the |. c. c. consolid-
ated plan. That road is given to the
Missouri Pacific in the commissioner 4
outline. ~
The Frisco already has powerN :
system. From st. Louis south to-
Memphis, and southeast to Jackson
vile, Fla, it has a direct line. From
st. Louis and Kansas City through,
southern Missouri, eastern Kansas
western Arkansas, all of Oklahoma
and north and central Texas, it has a
network of line, providing direct
routes to the south as far as Fort
Worth and Dallas.
Purchase Of the |. and G. N. gives
the Frisco direct connection from
Fort Worth to Galveston with a
branch north from Houston to Pal
estine, connection with Austin, San
Antonio and Laredo, connecting these
with national lines of Mexico, and a,
branch northeast of Longview, Tex.
If the Frisco had connection from
Longview, Texas to Paris, Texas d.
rect IcaI IlC lIUUt d. IiOAIo ~ titS 6NAN
might easily move through Fort
Smith on the central division. But
the Frisco through Fort Smith ends
at Paris, Texas and passenger trains
to Dallas over this route use the
Santa Fe tracks. The Frisco's heavy
traffic route from Dallas to 81
Louis and Kansas City is more likely
to be through Madill, Okmulgee, sar
pulpa, Tulsa and Springfield.
Railroad observers who watched
the Frisco in 1918 under the load or
fixed guarantees and over-expansioa
EXPRESSED the view that its failure
was due to slow development of the
country to keep pace with the faith
that inspired Yoakum in his expan-
sion plans. More than nine years
have passed since the Frisco receiver
ship, and the time may be ripe 1or
realization OF. the dream. At any
rate. Yoakum is back on the boarda
and the l. and G. n. purchase may
mean that Yoakum's empire building
plan may be again under way.