Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-07-11
MEDICINE LODGE. BARBER co, KANSAS JULY IA, 1884, IN
A Direct Routa,to rsx...

agitation for the construction of anoth-
er railroad across the Indian Territory,
inorder to give. Kansas City direct COM
munication with Texas, was c0mmenc-.
ed, and yet at this writing 1t looks as if
the Gulf, Colorado and, Santa. Fe rail-
road-a Texas road, had secured the
right OF way north through the Indian
Territory. The,bill granting the right
of way has passed both houses of con-
gress, and in order to become law, it
has but to receive the presidents sigma
ture. The line of the road Is to begin
at POINT to be selected by the compa-
ny on Red river north of the northern
boundary of Cook county, Texas, run
ming thence by the most practicable
route through the Indian Territory to a
point on the southern boundary of Kan
sas, the line to be approved by the Sec
retary of the Interior before the work
begun. The right of way to be one
hundred feet in width and a length of
three thousand feet In addition to the
right Of way, is granted for stations for
every ten miles of road. t-.,g~ -.
Phe bill provides that before the rail-
way shall be constructed through any
lands held by individual occupants ac-
cording to the laws, customs and usages
of any of the Indian nations or tribes
through which it may be constructed,
full compensation shall be made to all
such occupants for all property to be
taken or damage done by reason of the
construction of the railway. In case of
failure to make amicable settlement
with any occupant, such compensation
shall be determined by the appointment
OF three disintereSted referees to he ap-
pointed by the president, with the right
of appeal to the courts. 1t is also pro-
vided that the railway company shall
not charge a greater rate of freight
than that authorized by the laws of the
state of Texas for service or transpor-
tation of the same kind /, provided, that
passenger rates ON the road shall not
exceed 3 cents mile.
The following extract is from the bill
as passed:
Congress hereby reserves the right to
regulate the charges for freight and
passengers ON the railway and messages
on the telegraph and telephone lines,
until state government or governments
shall exist in the Territory within the
limits of which the railway or a part
thereof shall be located, and then such
state government or governments shall
Quthnriznd N fiX nd .Io+ ~, flsa
cost of transportation of persons and
frelghts within their respective limits
by the railway: but congress expressly
reserves the right to fix and regulate at
times the cost of such transportation
by the railway or the company whenev-
er such transportatiOns shall extend in
to more than one state !; provided, how
ever, that the rates of such transporta-
of passengers, local or Interstate, shall
not exceed the above expressed. 1t is
further provided that the railway COM
pany shall pay to the Secretary of the In
} terror, for the benefit of the particular
, nations OF tribes through whose lands
} the railroad may be located, the sum of
J, fifty dollars in addition to the compen-
satIon provided for by this act for prop
:, erty taken OF damage done by the con-
strnction of the railway for each mile
!, of railway that it may construct in the
, Territory, payments to be made i'm in
, stallments of $500 as each ten miles of
road is 81 AIDED. The company shall al
so pay, as long as the Territory is own
J ed and occupied by the Indians, to the
Secretary of the Interior the sum of SIS
per annum for each mile of railway it
shall construct in the Territory. The
money paid to the Secretary of the. In
! terror under the provisions of the act
: shall be appcrtioned by him in .accor.
dance with the laws, and treaties now
in force, among the different nations
5 and tribes, according to the number of
miles OF railway that may be construct
ed by the railway company through their
lands; provided that, Congress shall
have the fight as long as the lands are
occupied and possessed by the nations
and tribes, to impose such additional
taxes upon the railroad as it may deem
just and proper for their benefit.
Of course, whether the right of way
is granted or not, depends now upor
/, the president, but conceding that the
bill will become law, it is matter OF
deep interest as affecting the live stock
interests of this city.-Kansas City In
dicator.