The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-25
From Chicago to California by
1928, Says w. J. Black.
Budget of s4S,15O,OOO Provided
for 1922 Fiscal Year.
STRETCH OF 500 MILES is LEFT
This Eliminates Two Lines,
Newton to Albuquerque.
Vice President Engel Knows OF
No Definite Plans.


track railroad between ChlcagO ana
California by the end of 1928 is the
plan Of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe railway, according to w. ]. Black,
passenger traffic manager for the sys-
tom, now in Los Angeles.
A budget of $43,15O.000 has been
provided by the railroad for the pres
ent year, Black said.
The above announcement created
little or no surprise around the COM
pany's general offices in Topeka. to-
day because it has been generally
known for years that it was the inten-
tion Of the Santa Fe to eventually
have the railroad double tracked from
Chicago to the Pacific coast. If the
war hadn't come, the work likely
would have been done by now, ac
cording to local officials.
The general offices here are with
out Information with reference to Mr..
Elack's statement in Los Angeles.
They have, however, a statement by
President w. B. Storey, and published
in The State Journal February 6, Civ
ing the amount to be spent for i'm
provements and betterments. equip
1nert. new main line second track,
ana new branch lines in 1922. The
amount is $43,15O,0OO against $685.
100000 in 1921.
OF the 1922 expenditures Mr.. Storey
said S11,750,O0O will be spent for the
completion of work in hand; $22,-
600. 900 for new work. including sew
enty-five miles Of new second track
in Arizona, from Yampai to Griffiths'
$S,OOO,000 for new equipment;
S115O. 600 for the completion of
branch line from owen to Pawhuska,
in Oklahoma, thirty-five miles; and
S14OO.OOO for a new branch line from
Satanta, Kan. fifty-five miles west.
In the construction of the Arizona
second track there will be grace
reduction from 95 to rs feet to the
mile, saving from 20 to % per cent
in freight train mileage, amounting
to upwards of 100000 a year.
THE program Of capital eXpendi-
lures by the Santa Fe for 1872, even
tho it is far from small, is limited
primarily to items of equipment new
construction and additions and bet
ternents considered vitality necessary
to meet the immediate needs OF the
territory which it serves Mr. Storey
said. ''The prospective demands of
this territory under favorable condi-
tions would call for a much more eX-
tensive program. Probably $6O,0OO,-
OO0 a wear for the next three years
ought to be spent. However, such
program is not possible under present
conditions, when financing is still ex-
pensive, cost we'll above normal, the
labor situation attended with more
or less doubt. and the legislative situ-
alton, so far as it affects railroads,
far from settled"
The Santa Fe's present double track
is from Chicago to Newton; Winslow
to Yampai, in Arizona; TOpock, Ariz.,
10 Haynes, Calf. and in addition
there are several short stretches,
which. together with the seventy-five
miles mentioned fby Mr.. Storey, ap-
proximate 1900 miles. 1t is 2,231
miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Counting as a double track railroad
the two lines from Newton to Albu-
querque N NJ. one line going thru
the Texas Panhandle, the other thru
Colorado, the double tracking would
approximate 100 miles If Mr.
Black had the Newton-Albuquerqu
territory in mind, there would be 500
miles to be double tracked in addition
to the mileage mentioned by Mr..
Storey local officials point out
J. f. farrell. editor OF The Earth,
received a telegram from z. J. Engel
vice president. late this afternoon
stating that while 1t will be necessary
ultimately. as the business of the
country develops, to double. track the
Santa Fe's lines to the coast. no def
mite plans for completion have been
made. The company's plans for dou-
BILE tracking this year, the message
said, comprise seventy-five miles in
Arizona and eight miles in the vicinity
of terminal points in Kansas.