The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-01-13
An IMPORTANT RAILROAD PROJECT.


in the following paragraphs. The new COM
pany spoken Of is the Chicago & Alton:
While there IL not mile Of railroad actu-
ally being built within the borders Of Kansas
to-day, yet we hear Of q great many new pro-
jects that promise renewed activity In rail-
road building at an early day.
1t is stated that the Rock Island Road will
extend its line from Leavenworth TO Topeka
in the carly summer. 1t Is also stated, on
excellent authority, that Jay Gould will build
his Ottawa branch of the Missouri Pacific TO
Topeka. II these two lines are bnilt, ~ pre-
jected, 1t will sorry day for Kansas City.
We have it from the best authority that
Gould is after the st. Louis T. San Francisco
Road aud that he even now owns enough Of
the stock in this line to control it.
Although our State is tOlerably well sup.
piled with railroads, yet there Is scope Of
country between the Santa Fee and Missouri
Kansas l. Texas lines on the north. and the
San Francisco Road on the south, that seems
to present an inviting field for paprr railroads
at least.
We have had the Schofeld Road on the
boards for the past ten years, and after It had
made a good start for this portion Of the
State it was incontinently ''gobbled up" b!
the Santa Fe people. Then the Garrison
Road made bold strike sor this country, but
unfortunately it fell into the far-rcaching
claws o: Jay Gould, 80 that its last spike Wal
driven near the corporate limits Of lie Roy
where the terminus and town sweetly sleeT
together.
And then We have the St. Louis, Fort Scot,
q Wichita Road always with us. For ter
years II has been ''going to come" right along
bu: its coming. like the day of judgment, II
postponed from day to day, until We begin Il
lose faith in both.
Not to lie Outdone by their neighbors, WI
have the old Laclede & Fort Scott Road res
have been assured that the contract has beer
let for the building Of this line from Lebanon
point on the Atlantic 4 Poetic in Missouri
via Linn, Allen and Wo0dson counties to the
great Southwest.
Here then are four railroad lines actually
projected into this country, and yet no mar
can be found who will bet cent that ethel
Of them will ever get here.
In addition to these we have compare.
lively new project that promises to turn into
a genuine railroad in short order.
A company has been formed. and all the
preliminary steps taken to secure q charter
for line Of roam from point on the State
line in Linn county, via Allen, WoOdsOn
Greenwood, Butler. Harvey Mcpherson, Rice
Barton, Rush, Ness, Lane, Wichita and Gree
ley to the west line Of the State, with -anOth
or line through the counties Of Anderson
Corey and Lyon to Emporia; and still anoth
err line through the counties of Sedgwick
Harper and Barbour to the west line Of the
State in the direction of Santa Fe.
This is u ''big thing" to be sure, but then
it is backed by big railroad company.
1t is the intention OF this company to make
connection ut the east line Of the State with
the Chicago, Alton & st. Louis Railroad
which is to he extended at once from near
Lexington. Missouri.
That portion OF this road lying east Of the
Arkansas Valley, including the line to En-.
poria, Is to be built this year, or as much OF
il as is possible for the company to put undei
contract.
From the charter II will be observed thai
the main line is to built by way Of Butler
Harvey and Mcpherson counties, and rs one
of the principal men in connection with this
project said to Us, that it was their intention
to go to towns already built, rather than t.
attempt to build up new ones, we presume
Eureka, EldOrado, Newton and Wichita viii
become points on this propo-ed line.
We shall not attempt to so into details in
connection with this project at this time
We will say, that it will give ms short, and
direct road to Chicago, st. Louis & Kansas
City.
II will give us coal from the very best coal
fields west of the Mississippi river.
And it will give us a competing line Of road.
Engineers are already on the line to asrer.
tain the most practicable route for the road.
As soon rs this information is obtained, cOun.
~, township and city bond propositions will
be submitted along the proposed line from
the east line Of the State AS far west as New.
ton and Wichita; and rs soon as sufficient aid
is voted TO pay for the right Of way and 9th
err preliminary wOrk-say from $1,000 to 81.
900 per mile emit line will be put um.
der contract.
We have reason to believe that there Is to
be no .'foolishness" in connection with this
project, but on the other hand, Southern
Kansas is soon to see some OF the liveliest
railroad building ever witnessed in the West
The chartering Of two lines to the western
part OF the State is done with a view to cover
the territory so that II Gould or the Santa
Fe extends over one line this new company
can take the other. 1t Is thought that II
Gould gets the San Francisco line that he
will extend it to the west line Of the State
through the southern tier Of counties. In
this event this new company can take the
middle route between the Santa Fe and the
Kansas Pacific.