Show I SPEED WAR IS ISON ISON ON IN EARNEST Western Railways Propose Better Service in Fight for far Mail Contracts EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS SANTA FE A STRONG BIDDER FOR UNCLE SAMS PATRONAGE Kv Ever ry day now comes additional an announcement from various western rail railways railways ways W concerning the speed war which ha hu has been started to capture pieces p of that big cake which the government will cutup cut cutup cutI up next spring the mail contracts from the east to coast points The Santa Fes Pes announcement that it will cut the run ning fling time Ume between Kansas KaMa City and Los Lad LadAn Angeles An les ten hours has baB roused aroused other roads road to W action or contemplated action and Ow dw government is assured as that wherever it places its ita contracts that fast fasttime fasttime time will be assured Almost AlmOl t coincident with the offer otter of the Santa Fe to the government came an announcement by the Burlington that it would be able to put on a new schedule between Chicago and Seattle It is likely that the postoffice department will make replies replie to these offers within a week or orso orso orso so The offer It is under understood understood understood stood cuts ten teu hours from the present running time between the two cities Action has bas been taken by other roads road to importune the government to ignore I the offers made by the Santa Fe and Bur Burlington Burlington Burlington lington roads until they can demonstrate their ability to get into the race From the middle west nest est comes the e an announcement announcement announcement that the management bf of the St Paul has butted Into the game and andis is preparing to fight for a slice of o the cake Every four Cour years the mail mall con contracts contracts contracts tracts are awarded The mail in the sacks is weighed for several days day the road being given no warning of oC the date On the basis of oC the average weight wei ht so ao obtained the contracts contra ts for the next four fours jears ears eara are made This means much to the roads and not willingly would any aay of or them give it up Ancient Rivalry The present running time between Chi Chicago ChIcago cago cage and Los A ele over the SantaFe Santa SantaFe SantaFe Fe Salt Lake Route Southern Pacific and Rock Island Is hours The present pr nt rivalry between the Rock Island and the Santa Fe is of long Ion stand standing standing standing ing At the time the last contracts were made the Rock Island made mad a desperate attempt to capture the contract but be being being being ing handicapped by a washout did dill not get g t much ot oi the gravy Despite that the th contract was divided although the Santa SantaFe SantaFe SantaFe Fe obtained by far Car the largest portion n Largely because of this and the natural increase of its business the Santa Fe began a series of vast improvements which it now has in hand band They involve the expenditure of several million dollars end and when completed will rehabilitate the coast coa t lin lines s from Albuquerque to San Francisco This work has bas been going on for two or three years and is the practical re rebuilding rebuilding building of the line The old rails are being taken up tip and replaced with steel between Los An Angel Angel Angeles gel geles ss and San Diego San Bernardino and Barstow and west from Albuquerque A heavy consignment of oC rails has lately been shipped and to l o miles ex extending extending extending tending from Crom Bakerfield Bakerfield west is to be laid kid with them The railroad is other otherwise otherwise otherwise wise being improved ballasting He has lately been completed between San Bernardino Ber Bernardino Bernardino nardino and Barstow the HI miles be being beIng being ing packed with gravel from the San Dimas pits This is also being used be between between tween San Diego and Los Angeles and will be completed within several months Vast Improvements One of oC the most important Improve Improvements ments menta of oC the road has been the dropping of oC the tracks at Delmar from Crom the bluffs around the base ba e of the cliff clire SOO feet closer to the beach Steam shovels have been beer I at work ork fot months eliminating curves reducing grades and straightening out the roadbed Over the entire system old wooden n bridges are are being replaced with modern structures In many instance instances where the watershed will permit the use of culverts the tho bridges have been baen done awa away with and the fills employed with concrete culverts I Ii |