Along Your Way Santa Fe Railway 1946

States along the Santa Fe Route

Illinois

Illinois is the twenty-second state of the Union; it was admitted to statehood December 3, 1818, and covers an area of 56,665 square miles. With the exception of Deleware, Florida, and Louisiana, its surface is more level than that of any other state. Illinois is part of the French possession ceded to the English in 1763, becoming part of Virginia, and later was incorporated in the Northwest Territory; afterward it formed a section of Indiana Territory, and then was made the Territory of Illinois in 1809. Population 7,897,241.

Father Hennepin reported coal near the site of the present city of Ottawa in 1679, and coal was mined as early as 1810. Petroleum, gas, iron, lead, limestone are produced in this state with Illinois ranking second in mineral wealth. Unlimited transportation facilities, proximity to lumber, copper, and iron regions, with superior water power give Illinois the rank of the third manufacturing state n the Union with an output of over $5,304,000,000. The meat-packing business of Chicago amounts to upwards of $500,000,000 annually.

Among the names enshrined in Illinois history are: La Salle, the explorer; Marquette and Joliet, the missionaries; our martyred President Abraham Lincoln; Senators Owen Lovejoy and Lyman Trumbull; Gen. John A. Logan, Stephen A. Douglas and the industrial giants, William B. Ogden, Cyrus McCormack, Philip D. Armour, Marshall Field and George M. Pullman.

Chicago, the metropolis of Illinois, is the sixth largest city in the world and the second largest in the United States. the capital of the state is Springfield. Other cities of importance are Peoria, E. St. Louis, Rockford, Quincy, Joliet, Decatur, Aurora, Elgin, Bloomington, Evanston, Rock Island, Galesburg and Streator. Santa Fe operates 289 miles of track in Illinois.

Iowa

Between the MIssissippi and Des Moines rivers, the Santa Fe Railway traverses the southeastern corner of Iowa, a distance of 18 miles, before entering Missouri. Iowa formed a part of the original Louisiana Purchase, at which period it was occupied by the Sioux, Sauk, Fox, and Iowa tribes. On December 28, 1846, it was admitted to the Union. One of the first white settlements was at Fort Madison, in 1833. Iowa is principally an agricultural state, famous for its immense crops of corn.

The area of Iowa is 55,986 square miles. Population in 1940, 2,538,268. The capital of the commonwealth is Des Moines. The motto of the state is "Our Liberties We Prize, and Our Rights We Will Maintain." Iowa is sometimes called the Hawkeye State." The official flower is the wild rose.

Missouri

The Santa Fe cuts diagonally across the northern part of Missouri, a distance of 221 miles to the Kansas line. The area of this state is 69,674 miles. It is especially rich in iron and coal, lead and zinc, also fire-brick clay, marble and limestone. Wheat, oats, corn, hay and tobacco are staple products. Population, 1940, 3,784,664.

In 1682 Missouri formed part of the French province of Louisiana. The first settlements were made in 1735-1765. Missouri became a possession of the United States in 1803, a territory in 1812 and a state in 1820. The first governor was Alexander McNair. The capital is Jefferson City.

The motto of the commonwealth is "the Welfare of the People is the Highest Law." Missouri takes its name from the river, the name (an Indian word) signifying "great muddy."

Kansas

Santa Fe tracks extend from the Kansas City Union Station slightly more than a mile before entering Kansas. A glance at your map will show the Santa Fe tracks reach every part of this state, except the northwest corner, and our rails serve every important city.

The history of Kansas dates back to 1541 when Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, heading a Spanish exploring party, entered the southwestern part of the state. A great part of the early history adn romance of Kansas has been woven around the settlin of the west and the famous trails that crossed the state. Lying in the exact geographic center of the United States, Kansas was crossed by nearly every trail that led to the great undeveloped West of the 19th century. Chief of these was the Santa Fe Trail that stretched from Westport Landing (now Kansas City, Mo.) to Santa Fe, N. M. -- a distance of 750 miles, 500 of which was in Kansas.

The fertile valleys and flat plains of Kansas has made it outstanding for production of livestock and agriculture. It is first in our nation in production of wheat, normally producing one-fourth of all the wheat in the United States. Its unprecendented wartime production of both food and arms is making this state one of our nation's important "Arsenals of Democracy", and an industrial as well as agricultural empire. Also rich in mineral production ranking 9th among the other states. Mineral resources yield: coal, lime, cement, lead, zinc, stone, salt and clay for tile, brick, and pottery. Kansas is rapidly becoming a leading oil and gas producing state with the entire western half of its area a potential oil territory.

Area of state is 82,113 sq. miles; population (1940) 1,801,028. Was admitted to the Union in 1861. Capital City is Topeka. State flower, the "Sunflower." Santa Fe is Kansas' largest railroad, operating 2,934 miles of track.

Colorado

The Santa Fe Railway enters Colorado westward through the Arkansas Valley, home of the famous Rocky Ford cantaloupe, which, like the Colorado potato amd pinto bean, is the national standard of excellence for that product. From La Junta the transcontinental mainline follows a southwesterly course to Trinidad and from there the line runs directly south, passing through Raton Tunnel into New Mexico. The Santa Fe line to Denver swings northwest from La Junta to Pueblo, thence north to Colorado Springs and Denver.

Ruins of prehistoric Cliff Dwellers are found in Mesa Verde National Park and in other parts of southwest Colorado. Capt. Zebulon M. Pike entered what is now Colorado in the autumn of 1806, passed up the Arkansas Valley and north to the famous peak which now bears his name. Maj. Stephen H. Long visited the Rocky Mountains in 1820 and sighted the peak which is now known as Long's Peak. John C. Frémont visited what is now Colorado on two of his four "pathfinding" expeditions. In 1858 gold was discovered on the banks of the Platte river near the present site of the city of Denver.

Colorado produces large amounts of precious and semi-precious metals -- gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, uranium and radium. Its leading industry at present, however, is agriculture, which is carried on in connection with stock-raising and dairy farming. Wheat is the principal crop, with hay second. Colorado ranks first among states in the production of sugar beets and beet sugar, and fourth in available coal supply having the largest deposits of anthracite coal of any state except Pennsylvania. Oil shale is on the state's richest undeveloped resources.

Colorado is sometimes called the "Playground of America." The Rocky Mountains pass through the west-central part of the state and in this state contain more high peaks and wider variety of rugged picturesque scenery than is found in this range elsewhere in the United States. Colorado has 47 peaks more than 14,000 feet above sea level. while Switzerland has but 9. Colorado has more that 1,000 peaks above 10,000 feet, and Switzerland has fewer than 25. Colorado contains two national parks -- Rocky Mountain and Mesa Verde, and four national monuments -- Wheeler, Colorado, Yucca House and Hovenweep.

Colorado's principal cities are Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Trinidad. The population of the state is 1,123,296. Its area is 104,247 sq. miles. The official flower of Colorado is the columbine, found in great abundance in the mountain valleys and on the mountain sides. Santa Fe operates 643 miles of track in Colorado.

New Mexico

A look at your map will show how Santa Fe tracks criss-cross the state of New Mexico. The northern transcontinental mainline enters the state at Raton; the southern line at Texico. Both of these lines cenverge at Rio Puerco and from there form a parallel double track line to the Arizona border. An important extension from the mainline reaches across the southern part of the state from Albuquerque to El Paso. Another important line extends from Clovis to Pecos. Total Santa Fe mileage in New Mexico is 1,337 miles. Area of state is 122,634 square miles. The altitude of the northern tablelands is from 6,000 to 7,000 feet, in the center, 5,000 feet, and in the south about 4,000 feet. The Rio Grande, from the Colorado line to the Mexican border, has a fall of 3,500 feet. The waters of this river are impounded under the Rio Grande U. S. Reclamation Project. The reservoir formed by the Elephant Butte Dam is one of the largest artificial bodies of water in the world, the capacity being 2,642,000 acre-feet, or 862,200,000,000 gallons -- enough water, if spread out, to cover the state of Deleware 2 feet deep. About 13,000 farms are under irrigation; the U. S. reclamation projects in Carlsbad, Hondo and Rio Grande Valley include 185,277 acres.

Seven National Forests in the state cover 8,500,000 acres, including vital watersheds, vast timber stands, summer livestock ranges, fish and game habitats and recreation areas.

New Mexico became a territory in 1850. It was admitted to statehood January 6, 1912. The first rails in New Mexico were laid by the Santa Fe, which crossed the Raton Mountains, November 30, 1878; and in February, 1879, first passenger train was run to Otero, Colfax county. Track reached Los Vegas, July 4, 1879; Santa Fe, February 9, 1880, and Albuquerque, April 15, 1880. Completed March 8, 1881 to Deming. The population in 1920 was 360,350; since increasing to 500,000.

The principal crops are corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa and the vegatables and fruits of the temperate zone. Live stock intersts are extensive. Mining is the second of New Mexico's industries. The first modern discovery of gold in this state was made in 1830. The coal area is greater than that of Belgium and France combined, or that of Germany. Potash, silver, coal, iron, lead, zinc, gypsum, copper, molybdenum, lumber, lime and clay are the principle sources of wealth. Since 1930 oil has become a major industry. New Mexico ranks high among oil producing states. The state boasts a superb scenic highway known as El Camino Real, a marvel of engineering. There are many hot and medicinal springs in New Mexico; among them Radium Hot Springs, Mimbres and Faywood.

New Mexico was the seat of an advanced aboriginal culture; cliff dwellings many centuries old are found. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca in 1536 was the first white man to enter the region now covered by New Mexico; then came Coronado in 1540, and a host of others in his wake. These explorers found many Pueblo Indian villages. First Spanish settlement was established in 1598 by Juan de Onate at San Gabriel, on the Rio Grande northwest of Santa Fe, but was moved to latter site about 1610.

Old San Miguel Church dates back to Onate's time. To date hundreds of prehistoric cave, cliff and communal dwellings have been mapped in the Bandelier National Monument, near Santa Fe and elsewhere. Acoma pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in U. S. The palace of Governors at Santa Fe was constructed about 10 years before the Pilgrim Fathers landed. The motto of the commonwealth is "We Grow as we Go."

Arizona

The name Arizona was orginally Arizonac, signifying "small springs" or "few springs" and was given to a little settlement near Nogales. Friar Marcos de Niza was the first Spanard to enter the limits of the state. He crossed the southeastern corner in 1539. In 1540 he conducted Coronado over the same route. One of Coronado's captains visited Hopis and another reached the Grand Canyon. Early in the 17th century progress was made in chrisianizing the Hopis. In 1860 came the great Pueblo revolt. The Hopis have ever since remained an independent tribe; theyhave the privilege of voting and their women are said to be the original American suffragettes. The Indian reservations comprise 19,000,000 acres, occupied by over 43,000 Indians. Countless ruins of prehistoric culture still exist, including old irrigation canals. And the Indian pueblos of today are the most remarkable in the United States. American traders and explorers penetrated this region early in the 19th century and Arizona became a territory in 1863. It became a state in 1912. The area of Arizona is 113,906 square miles, with altitudes varying from 100 to 13,000 feet above sea level, and within its borders the climate from every zone except the humid tropics is represented. The state embraces eight National Forests, with 11,400,000 acres. Many of its mountains are extinct volcanoes -- the San Francisco Peaks, of which Santa Fe passengers obtain an exceptionally fine view from the train, are eruptive cones. There are nearly 8,500 irrigated farms comprising 600,000 acres in this state, the Salt River U. S. Reclamation Project waters 240,000 acres. Citrus fruits, dates, grains, lettuce, cantaloupes, cotton and alfalfa reach perfection in certain sections, especially the Salt River Valley. Arizona's copper mines are among the richest in the world; there are many gold and silver mines, and quarries of onyx as well as marble. Navajo blankets, also Apache, Hopi and Pima baskets are highly-prized industrial products.

The population of Arizona in 1944 was 600,000, capital city is Phoenix, the state flower is the saguaro cactus blossom and the motto is -- "God Enriches". In this state the Santa Fe Railway operates 816 miles of track. Our transcontinental mainline enters from the east at Lupton and from the west at Topock. A branch extends north from Williams to Grand Canyon, and another branch with sidelines runs from Ash Fork to Phoenix. From Wickenburg a line extends to Parker, thence to Cadiz, California.

California

After crossing the Colorado River at Parker and Needles, the Santa Fe Railway enters California. From Barstow one main line extends south through Cajon Pass to San Bernardino, thence to Los Angeles and San Diego, with many tributary branches. The other main line is through Tehachapi Pass and San Joaquin Valley to San Francisco. There are 1,519 miles of Santa Fe tracks in this state.

California is the second largest state in the Union. The coast line is more than 900 miles long. The area of the state is 158,297 square miles. It embraces the highest point (Mt. Whitney -- Alt. 14,495) and the lowest point (Death Valley -- Alt. - 280) in the United States, also the greatest variety of temperature, rainfall and products of soil and the largest irrigated area. Estimated population for 1944 -- 7,660,000.

Teo mountain ranges, the Sierra Nevada and Coast ranges, starting at Mount Shasta, and uniting again in the southern part of the state, enclose a valley of imperial extent -- the San Joaquin-Sacramento. Yosemite Natiional Park owes much of its beauty to the erosive action of glaciers; it is reached via teh Santa Fe and Yosemite Transportation System.

The first authenticated discovery of gold was made near Los Angeles in 1842. The "find" of historic importance was made January 24, 1848, by James W. Marshall at John A. Sutter's mill near Coloma.

The name "California" was taken from the romance by Ordones de Montalvo (Madrid, 1510) entitled Las Sergus de Esplandian (The Exploits of the Very Valiant Knight, Esplandian). In 1542-43 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo explored the southern coast. In 1579 Sir Francis Drake stopped to repair his ships and named the land New Albion. In 1602-03 Sebastian Viscaino discovered the sites of San Diego and Monterey. Between 1769 and 1823, 21 missions were established; leader in this work was Fray Junipero Serra, 1713-84. Among the missions still standing are San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, San Fernando, San Luis Rey and Carmel.

By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848, Mexico ceded California to the United States. It became a state September 9, 1850.

Sources of weatlh are gold, oil, citrus and deciduous fruits; dairy and live stock interests and minerals. California supplies the workd with four-fifths of the raisins consumed. There are about 150,360 farms comprising 30,437,005 acres. It has about 135,676 irrigated farms, comprising 4,746,632 acres.

Capital of state is Sacramento. The official flower is the poppy; the motto "Eureka" ("I have found it").

Oklahoma

All the world is familiar with the story of "The Run" on April 22, 1889. On that day 100,000 American citizens entered teh area in the central part of the Indian Territory, which henceforth was know as Oklahoma. Chance and speed of transportation determined the ownership of 8,000,000 acres of land and city lots, for the law provided that the individual who arrived first after leaving the borders of the territory would obtain title to it. The Santa Fe helped bring in these first settlers.

Oklahoma became the 46th state of the Union in 1907 with President Theodore Roosevelt signing the proclamation. It is the 15th state in area and larger than any state east of the Mississippi. Total area 69,414 square miles. Lying entirely in the Mississippi River basin, drainage flows into that stream through the Arkansas and Red Rivers and their tributaries. The surface of the state as a whole is a plain inclining from the northwest to the southeast, yet it is broken by four minor ranges of mountains and low lying hills. The highest point of elevation is found on the Black Mesa, in the extreme northwestern part of Cimarron County in western Oklahoma, at 4,500 feet. Oklahoma has been frequently called a geologist's paradise, for nature was lavish in bestowing varied types of soils, rock formations adn minerals indiscriminately within her borders. In the east are heavily wooded mountains; in the west are extensive plains. To further display its geological freaks, nature placed nothwest Oklahoma the Great Salt Plains. This gigantic deposit is said to be the residium of a great prehistoric inland sea from which water drained to form the present salt plain.

Third youngest state in the Union, Oklahoma ranks second in production of winter wheat; third in petroleum production; fourth in cotton, in lead production and in pecan production; sixth in output of gypsum; seventh in grape production; eighth in crop acreage; ninth in value of all crops and in aviation; eleventh in number of cattle; twelfth in corn production. Its name is derived from two Choctaw Indian words meaning "Red People"; the state tree is the redbud; the state flower is the mistletow; state colors are green for youth and vigor and white for purity and fairness; the state motto is "Labor conquers all things." Santa Fe operates 1,477 miles of track in Oklahoma.

Texas

In Texas the Santa Fe operates 3,693 miles of track, including three main lines. One connects the Gulf with the Great Lakes, the other connects New Orleans and Galveston with California, and the third, the "Cut-off," connects Chicago with California. Numerous branch lines serve other sections.

Earliest explorations were made by the Spanards in 1528-42. Cabeza de Vaca crossed southern Texas in 1528-36, and Coronado explored northern part in 1540-42. The first, but short-lived colony was founded by the French under La Salle, on Matagorda Bay, 1685. In 1690 there were many Spanish settlements and missions. At San Antonio are the ruins of 5 missions built of stone, among them the Alamo, where a handful of Texans made a gallant stand against Santa Anna, the Mexican dictator. In 1727 the territory was formed into a province, and named Tejas after the confederacy of Tejas Indians. When Mexico became independent of Spain, Texas and Coahuila formed a state of the new republic. Immigration from the United States followed. In 1830 the Mexican government placed the settlers under military rule. War followed, resulting in Texas winning independence from Mexico and becoming a free republic 1837-45. Texas was admitted to the United States, December 29,1845; in consequence war with Mexico ensued, terminating February 2, 1848, with the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Texas sold to the United States in 1850 for $10,000,000 all the territory west and north of the present boundaries, between the headwaters of the Rio Grande and Arkansas rivers.

Austin is the capital of the state. The capitol cost nearly $4,000,000; it is second in size to the capitol in Washington.

The principal products of Texas are cotton, sugar, oil, sulphur, cattle, sheep, hogs, horses, mules, grain, forage crops and fruits. The "Lone Star State" is largest state in the Union; area is 265,896 square miles. Name is of Indian origin and means "friends." Official state flower is the bluebonnet. Population, 1940 -- 6,414,824.