The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1876-05-25

of Cutler was readily acceeded to and
by mutual consent, Capt. j. G.. Mobler.
was employed TO draw up the contract,
IN which, among other things, it was
agreed that the $50, 000-county bonds
should be deposited with Winslow, Ian
Ter & Co, bankers in the city of New
York, as trustees, to be delivered 10
| Cutler i'm instalemcnts as the work on
tho road should progress.
! ID. Beebe, county clerk G. +. Faulk-
nor county treasurer T.. &. Cup, deputy
county clerk A. NJ. Beebo and other
staid and sober citizens of Salina, not
understanding that the whole thing
was only practical joke, but believing
that the company was in sober earnest
and intended in good faith to build a
railroad, mildly suggested to the officers
of the corporation that as Cutler was
stranger,i it would be well to require him
to give some security that he would
perform his part of the contract before
surrendcring the whole control of the
company and its franchises into his
hands. The suggestion, of course, was
reasonable, and such as would occur TO
sensible business men, if it was the in
tenton of the company to build the road
and not permit the county to be swim
died out OF the bonds.
But Capt b. J. +. Hanna, the most
facetious and jocuIar fcllo" in SaIna,
who was one of the directors, (Secretary
of the company and Editor Of the Salina
Herald, to carry ont the joke, playfully
published several editorials TO the effect
that it would be an Insult to ask an
honorable man like Abram Cutler TO give
security,as it would imply that he intend
ed to cheat the county out OF the bonds;
and further assured the tax payers that
the county was amply secured by the
conditions CT the contract and that Cut
Ter would not get dollar of the bonds
until the road was completed.
The contract was accordingly accepted
on the 18th of March, 1873, under the
seal Of the company, attestcd and ap-
proved by b. j. +. Hanna, secretary.
The corporation Immediately issued and
delivered to Cutler sl,l00,000 paid up
stock The $4,000 bonds, which Cut
Ter brought with him beautifully en-
graved, were signed by the proper officers
of the county, and one of the corporators,
at the expense Of the county, was sent
to New York to deposit them with the
trustees agreed upon but Winslow, Ian
Ter & Co. said they had no time to fool
away on practical jokes and refused TO
accept the trust. Here was q quandary;
but Cnter, equal to the emergency,
said he knew some jolly fellows IN
Lawrence who would enjoy the fun; so
upon his suggestion tho Lawrence Say /
ings Bank was substituted rs trustee in /
place of the bank in New York.
Every thing being satisfactorily ar
ranged, Cutler went to work, ploughcd /
few burrows along the line through /
tho lands of farmers without paying
for the right of way. But it was soon
found that less expensive plan of build
ing railroads could be devised, so an
artist was employed to sketch a birds
eye view of the city of Salna- showing
q locomotive, under full head of steam,
with long train of carsr INNING along
Fifth street; which, when executed, was
photographed, Autographed aud en-
grayed on steel, and large number Of |
copies struck off. Cutler having thus /
shown that he had complied with the |
contract, on his part, demanded and re-
ceved $4,000 Of tho county bonds |
Hanna points with honest pride to the
beautiful picture Of the city and the train
of cars, as an evidence of enterprise, bust |
ness capacity and skilful m anagement OF |
the directors of the Republican, Salina &
Arkansas Valley Railway Company.
Some of the taxpayers Of the county
think the joke was carried little too far;
others, who don't care a-slamn for
expense, if they can have good hearty
laugh, are enjoying the stupendous sell.
For passengers tickets or freight, APP
ply TO the Secretary, Herald Printing
House, Iron Avenue. Exclusion tickets
for the Centennial a. reduced rates. All /
aboard, HIS
ULTRA K WIRES.
Mirk.