, 1873-03-27
r. SANTA FE. \
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Railroad Progress in the South
west.
The Atohison, Topeka s Santa Fe
Railroad.
Notes of Dcvc1oplnont---ToWns
Along tho Route.
Tie Southern Ronto to tho Paciflc...T Thu
New Path Of Empire.

lBhod III Spanish occupation OK tho region moro
than two conturios ago. It was old when Ply
mouth Rock received tho tread OF the Pilgrim
Fathers, and tho mouth of the Hudson the set-
tlonlont Of tho Mnnhattaneso. Our incl-long
antiquity In Chicago, borno in tho memory Of
man still living, ia ridiculous measured beaido
tho old town whoae adobo buildings and mixed
Caravans OF tho plains used to Aguro in tho goog
raphios carly In this century, with tho Great
American Dosort cutting It on from oil possibil-
lily of neighborlood and kinahip with tho A1neri-
can States. Tho iron horna ia making for santa
Fo. Tho Atclaon, Topeka Il Santa Fe Railroad
Company laYo no less an undertaking in land,
and tho present advanced stago Of their cntor-
prise warrants description, which tho accom-
pnnying map will help at once to greater abbro-
Walton and fullnoss. Tho mnp shows how Chi
cago ia connected with this Important route by
several railway limos aoross Missouri and Iowa.
Tho Atchison d Topeka Hohome dates from tho
earliest Territorial days. It wns incorporated by
net OF lilo Legislature Of tho Terr1tory Of Kan
sas, approved Fob. II, 1864. O. K. Holiday, O.
Chnlliy, p. T. Abel, NJ. O. Dickey, A. Allen, Sam
Dickson, W. L.. Gordon, L. D. Bird, J. Murphy,
r. l.. Crano, and others, wore tho incorrorators.
ROUTE.
The Company was authorized to locate, oper-
ato, etc., railroad with ono or moro traola from
Atchison, on tho Missouri River, in Kanaas Tor
rstory, to tho town OF Topeka in the samo, and
to such point on tho southern boundary OF said
Territory, in tho direction Of SANTA Fe, in tho
Territory OF New Mexico, as may 10 most con-
voniont and suitable for tho construction Of such
railroad and nlso construct branch OF said
railroad In tho direction OF tho Gulf Of Mexico.
FIRST onuANIzAT1oN.
On tho 18th of September following, tho now
ly-croated Atchison, Topeka 4 Santa 70 Com
pany met at the office Of Luther g. Challis, in
tho City Of Atchison, md effected tho regular Or
gauization Of the Company.
FIRST LAND-aRANT+
It gavo tho Company oyery alternate section
for tract of 90 miles wide. In consideration of
this grant, tho Company stipulated to build q
railroad from tho Missouri Riyoy, ut or noar tho
City OF Atchison, via Topeka, to..tho wcstorn linn
ita of tho State Of Kanaas, in tho direction of
Santa Fo, New Moxico, with branch In tile. d.
roction Of the Gulf Of Mexico. Tho limit Of
timo in which tho limo muBt bo built to obtain tho
subsidy WAS ton yoarB Which expired March 8,
1873. BY rapdity OF progreaa almost unprece-
dentod IN the annhls Of railroad-building, tho
Atehison, Topeka i sdtta 70 Road raached tho
western limit Of tho State six months before the
required time.
Although this road was commenced several
years since, only pmall portion waa construct
ed until within tho last thrco years. Tho condi-
tions Of the Immigrant wero tint tho line should
be completed to tho west limo OF tho State within
given time, which oxpirol tho Sd Of March Of
this year. As is usually tho caae, the Md Of
Eastern capitalists WIS sought md obtuined TO
finish tho line, ind 1t was continued to tho Ar
kansas River in 1871, when all atteInpt was 1nado
TO obtain from Congrcss au extension Of time
In which to fnBh the road This fatlod, and at
Tho opening OF tho spring of 1879 there were still
snn,e 800 milcB unfinished, with no alternative
but to complete it or loss large psrt Of the
through, and it wan done noarly three months in
advance of tho time; 10 tho limo is now COM
nleted in thorough manner, and two daily
trains are now running from, AtchiBon, on the
Missouri River, to tho Colorado lno, 4G5 miles.
The last 400 miles arc through tile Arkansas
Riyor Valley the rcloRt valley III tho State, n,d
eapablo Of supporting large population, which
has already commenced to occupy it. from all
parts Of tile country. Colonies Of ontorpriaing
people from Ohio, New York, and Masbachu-
rettH have already Belected locations on tho
road, 3U0 miles out, md aro making rapid
p1oyrcsa in preparing for tho reception Of tlloir
members, With their families, many of whom
will arrive in timo to put III crops this aeaaon.
Tho Atchison, Topeka l. Santa 70 Company
having arranged with parties owning largo
traotB Of laId in Southern Colorado aud Now
Mexico to build limo toward Santa Fe, on tho
great Southern route across the continent. also
contemplate constructing thor line went OF tho
Arkansas Vnlloy, to the bago of tho Rocky
3lountaina. These will make connections with
tho greet lines to tho Pacific Coast and tho Gulf
OF Mexico, md aiding tho development Of the
richoat mineral rogion in tho world
To show how entirely tho American Desert hns
faded out of the geography Of our ti1no, brief
review Of some Of tho leading points OH tho now
s,sr l,1n ~ i.,t1
Atehison, the initial point Of this road, is tho
raroad centre Of kaneas. Among tho roads
cnntcripg hero aro Eoyen great lines, giving four
direct llaos to tho East-tho Central branch
Topeka It Santa re, the Atchsol Il Nebraska,
tho Kansas City, St. Joseph i Counci! Bluffs,
tho Hannibal and 81, Joaeph tho Chicago, Rock
island racitic hailsoaa, ul'd has population
Grasshoppor Falls is a lourishing town, ,twonty-
six miloB out from Atchinon. Hore tho Kansas
Central Railroad crosses tho A. r. i s. Fo.
Topoka-Ihe City OF Topeka Is tho Capital Of
tho State, It contains population Of 5,43o, and
III situated ut tic c-:ihg of lilo Kansas Pacific
aud the Il. L. l. s. 10 Il, H., iilty-ono nllos out
from AtcaiBon.
cnrbontlale, mining town Of GOO inhabitants.
eixty-oight Mlcs out from Atchiaon, il in tho
heart of tho coll tlolls, surrounded by good
Dnrlingalno, With ita eplondid schools and ox-
tcnsiyo Hour md WOODEN mills, Eovonty-seyon
Milo3 out from Etchiaoii, III . worry deBiraDlo
point. It is tho county Hont Of Osage County
Osaso City, village lesa ttan two years old,
has population Of LOCO, mid ID rapidly improv-
ing. it il surrounded by fi,st-class laudu whicl.
a:s now ii, market at low rates. Hero ia found
llnrd coal unsurpassed by any woat OF pi.ta-
burgll; also, pottola clay in largo quantltlos
Osase City IL oghty-tiyo lnes from AtcliGon,
Rcading, OIL tho Maiiaa Dos Cygncs lliyor, but
juHt laid Ont 40 L iowu Hito, Inns 40U inhabitants
aud Ii in tho midst Of g splendid agricnltural
district, 1noty-aix milos out from Atchgon.
Topeka l. Snnta 10 and tho Missouri, KAnsas t
Tcxas ltailrondu, the county scat Of Lyon County
in ono Of tho mont thriving towns IN the stE.o.
The State Normal School In located horo It
llas tino watcr-power anl tlourng-milla, and ia
tho ond OF tie First Division Of this road, Ill
miica from Atclison, liaa IL population OF 1900.
Cottonwood Falla tho county sent Of Chase
County, OH Cottonwood River, 191 milos out
fau,n Atellison iun good bMsinoaa paint.