The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-01-20
WICHITA AND JAY GOULD AGAIN.
FAcrs EMBRACING MATHIS OF fHI 9RIAfIsi
MOMENT,


through Southern Kansas accumulates from
day to day. That they have failed in getting
control Of the Frisco line seems equally Ger
tain. The particular line that will he adopt
ed is a question Of no inconsiderable momen
70 Wichita and Sedgwick county. From the
articles published last week in the EAGLE and
the facts which they contained there Is nc
doubt that the Gould interests have awaken
ed to the fact that the shortest, cheapest and
best paying route for them to n connection
on the Rio Grande is by an extension Of the
Missouri Pacific from Parsons or from LIE
Roy through the southern counties to the
southwest corner Of the State. We have,
ourself, seen the authority for the inspection
and canvass OF these two lines over the sigma
turc of the General Manager. Wichita
stands, in population, the fifth in the State,
commercially the second or third, and We
cannot only not afford to have the lie Roy
extension miss US, but we should put forth
strong effort TO make said route the most
feasible and profitable. The southern ex-
tension, If determined upon, would go
through Winfield and Wellington. The for
mer town has already taken steps not only TO
secure its construction, but are endcavOring,
by an organized effor: to have both extern
sions built to that point with single line ex-
tended to the west. The 7elegram, of that
city, in long article. among other things,
asserts that:
at is pretty well understood that the route
west from Greenwood through Butler and
part of Scdgwick to Wichita. is very rough
one, the land formation being a series of
'hog-backs," running north and south, and
requiring to be crossed at right angles by a
road running west, while from the corner OF
Greenwood county, very easy and entirely
practicable route southwest, following the
general direction of the streams, and reach
ing this city through the valley of Timber
creek is known to exist. This route has al
ready been surveyed and its advantages are
well TO many Of our citizens and not a few
railroad men,
We most emphaticaly deny the first asser-
ton, which is purely an assumption express
ed for purpose too evident to demand any
explanation. Barring the Flint Hills be-
tween Eureka and Eldoratlo, which have al
ready been overcome without great cost or
trouble by the Frisco line, the whole route
from Wichita TO lie Roy is through as fine
and rich country as can bc found in the
State outside of this valley. The line from
Leroy to Wichita. and on Southwest, is al
most an air line from st. Louis. There il
but one drawback that we can see and that
Is for a distance Of about twenty miles
through the Hills is occupied by cattle
men who would rather pay TO keep the road
away than to permit the building without
any cost. IL strikes us that the territory
upon each side would make more money in
making up sach deficiency than by permit
ting the road 10 go further south. The in
structions to Judge SprIggs, who represents
the Gould interest is to ask about half the
subsidy authorized by law, enough to pay
for surveyors and right of way, or an aver
age Of about $4,000 per mile from lie Roy
through Greenwo ID, Butler, Sedgwick, Har-
per and Barbour counties. The intention is |
10 build either one or the other of these lines |
rs far west as the west line of Sedgwick or |
Sumner the coming season, and on 10 the |
west line Of the State in 1882.
These facts within our own knowledge as
tuosc given III th's paper last week are given |
out in the earnest hope that our business
men, property owners and tax payers may, |
fully understanding the possibilities and |
probabilities, seriously take the matter UNI
der advisement and be ready to act. The |
time is short and other and rival points and |
counties are already moving aud we must d. |
eide just whether or not we want this great
comnetiug line fhrouvh a,,r .auotv and Ia,
the next place how much we are willing 10
pay for ii. or how much it will he worth TO |
Us for taxable purposes. for traffic. for devcl- |
opment, and for competition. Some time |
since, the editor OF the EAGLE, realizing the |
vast Importance of such "A competing line |
opened up correspondence with Gen. A. A.
Talmage upon the subject, sending him sta |
tistics and illustrated issues of the EAGLE.
but the road at that time was owned by the
Garrisons and Mr.. Talmage could only offer
encouraging words which we never publish
ed. Again last winter we had prominent
friend call upon Mr.. Gould in New York City
and TO lay some facts and figures before that
gentleman touching the Importance Of Wich-
ita and this Valley. To our surprise Mr..
Gould was found thoroughly posted. The
only question with him which route he would
adopt. That question must now soon be de-
cided.
The following extracts will show what is
being done along the line east Of us, and
from the papers we should Judge that on the
proposed line, running to Winfield. the peo-
pie are equally as earnest.
The Eureka Herald says Judge Sprigss
returned from Eidorado Monday evening.
On Tuesday the committee conferred with
him, and agreed TO submit a proposition in
this township 10 vote $4,000 bonds bearing
seven per cent. the bonds to be forfeited il
the grade is not completed 10y August first,
next. and also in case the road is not COM
pletcd and running 10 Eureka by September
first. This is probably as favorable propo-
siton could be secured at this time'
This sirom the Eureka Rspu5iican, Judge
Spriggs. OF Garnett. and Mr.. Coffin, Of lie
Roy, arrived in town last Thursday evening
with authority from Mr.. Talmage, General
Manager Of the Missouri Pacific. to secure |
the right of way for the extension Of the road
from Leroy west, through this county. |
There gentlemen stated that they would ask |
for township bonds through this county,
and that the amount asked would be required
rs bonus. by this they meant that they |
would want the stock issued to be returned |
TO the company for a nominal sum. Under |
the law. no county or township is permitted !
10 issue bond, TO railroad company without |
receiving from the company an equal amount |
dollar Tor dollar, in certificates of stock. |
Hence as the company will claim rs a bonus |
whatever is voted in the way of bonds. the |
only way 10 comply with the law aud gran. |
their request in securing the road will he to
vote the bonds and then after the stock is is |
sued. hold another election and vote to sell
the stock TO the company for a nominal sum.
say five per cent
The following are excerpts from long ar
ticlc in the Walnut Valley 7i,ses covering
the whole situation. the pertinent portions
TO our county OF which VIC alone give:
The lie Roy road is an extension Of the
Missouri Pacific from Holden, Missouri, via
Paola and Garnet. in this State. TO lie Roy.
From st. Louis 10 Wichita, via Holden, lie
Roy and Eldorado, is an air line. JAY Gould
aud his associates own the Missouri Pacific.
as well as the lie Roy extension. The dis
lance iron lie Roy TO Wichita by this pro-
posed line is Il5 miles. The amount of bonds
askedis 5000 per mile. The limit of time
10 complete the road TO Wichita is one year
fom the time the bonds are voted. The
bonds to be semi-annual per cent. aud to
run thirty years. And in making the propo-
sition the railroad company wants II aisf,a,,-
iy usders.osd that the stock issued Inv The