The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-04-19

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stone foundations, tanks enclosed an
each provided with wind mill I; depot
all substantial frame buildings of nes
design, well finished. The construt
ton has all been under the immediat
supervision of T. j. Peter, chief eng
neer and general manager Of the road
who enjoys the reputation Of havin
built one of the best roads west Of tn
Mississippi.
This road is one of the most valuabl
franchises i'm the country. AS evidenc
Of this, we need only refer to its ap
probation, in Boston, in which cit,
the subscription of two and on
quarter million dollars to build the sec
ton west of Newton-was all takel
within three weeks-and that whel
the money market was unsettled b,
the Chicago fire. Aside from its mu
nificent land grant the road passes, tn,
full length of the state, through tn,
best agricultural and grazing distric
i'm Kansas. From Atchison, the SECOND
(if not the first city in the state, il
traverses the oldest farmed district il
Kansas-abundantly supplied with
wood, WAFER and stone-cOnnecting il
with the capital city. From Topeka
to EnpOria, it passes through magnifi.
cent rolling prairies-now being rapid.
ly settled and improved; also through
extensive coal fields, which already
furnish transportation for a special
coal train, although but partially de-
veloped. From EmpOria the line fol-
lows the fertile and well-farmed valley
Of the Cottonwood river to Newton ii
passes through fine prairie, crossing
the Little Arkansas river, reaching the
Arkansas river at Hutchinson OH Cow
river, and follows the broad and fertile
valley of that stream to the west line
of the state,
General II. J. Strictler, president of
the Kansas State Agricultural Society,"
one Of the most eminent agriculturists
and hOrticulturists in the west who has
resided in Kansas II years-has re-
turned from recent extended explOr-
ing expedition up the valley, and into
the Indian territory. In a report of
his expedition he speaks Of the valley
as follows:
"The valley of the Arkansas above
Fort Larned and below Fort Dodge is
as fertile, as well drained, lying as well
and capable Of producing as good crops
as that portion lying between Fort
Larned and Walnut creek. All the ell
ements of successful husbandry here
dominate, except the supply of timber,
which is scarce. think the Arkansas
valley will be the most densely settled
and richest agricultural producing dis
trict in Kansas in ten years."
The development of this magnificent
A 81 =
Of this company. They will acquire
1000, 900 acres Of land along the river
which will be sold to actual settlers at
reasonable prices and on terms as lib
eral as were ever offered--namely,
on IL years time, with per cent on
deferred payments, and with a premi-
um for improvements equal to a dis
count of % 1-2 per cent. of the pur-
chase mOney-fOr cultivation of one
fifth Of the land purchased. In order
that large tracts of land may not pass
into the hands of spectators and thus
retard settlements, but one section of
land will be sold to the same party.
The even-numbered sections still be-
long to the United States government,
and are open for presumption or home
stealing, and immigrants can secure
farms Of unsurpassed fertility by
merely occupying them. The same
facilities will be offered in the way Of
immigrant rates on passengers and
freight to all, whether occupying
or railway lands. The
policy will be to encourage, by low
rates, the speedy settlement of all the
lands adjacent to the road. Under this
liberal and inspiring policy of the COM
pany the lands are being rapidly taken.
The abundance of coal found on the
line of the road, and which is being
transported at two cents per ton per
mile, viii in a manner overcome the
Inconvenience Of scarcity of timber in
the western part of the state. AS an
evidence of the rapid development of
of southwestern Kansas-we present
the following result of the operation
of the road during 1871:
Operating expense. Observation-Disclosures. 800, 100 Is
Net .sl5s, 9sl 6
Average length of road operated
ourihS io.l. .........-...-...l o6 10 loo miles
Average earnings per mile for the year 81, go AZ
Average cost of operating per mile Tor the
year OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 2,s24 62
Average net earnings per mile for the
Interest on SIS, 600 road bonds per mile at
oper cent, currency. Observation-Disclosures. 200 90
Average earnings per mile in excess of
interest on bonds ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $245 IS
The Land Office was opened for the
sale Of granted lands March %, 1871.
Since that date there has been put
in market total of 49,. 4i6, 223 IL acres
m rS fharn has h..,t. oil MOI
At an average price of S. 81, amounting
to-..-..-.. S4l0, I9l ~
The capital stock paid up is SIS, 600 per mile
The bonded debt, issued only on
constructed road is ........... 1900 +" |
The land bonded debt, issued
only on constructed road is. 1900 +"
The officers of the company are
President, Hon. Gen ry Twichell, Bos-
on, Mass; vice pm esident, Isaac L.
Burr, Boston, Mass: general manager,
j. Peter, Topeka. Kansas; secretary
md treasurer, Chas. w. Pierce, Boston,
dass.; assistant treasurer, Edward,
Wilder, Topeka, Kansas; auditor, NJ. L.
Topeka, Kansas; land COM
missioner, D.. l.. Lakin, Topeka, Kan
as; assistant superintendent, w. w.
'agan, Topeka, Kansas general freight
nd ticket agent, NJ. l.. Sargent, Tope-
IA, Kansas.
The general officers of the corpora
ion are at No. Is Devonshier street.
'oston those of the road at the depot
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