The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-12-18
Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota Railroad.

Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota Railroad.
Editorial Correspondence Topeka
Comnouwealth: The people of Fort
Scott are talking about the Kansas,
Nebraska & Dakota road as we in To-
peka are, aud while the interests Of the
two cities are in some respects differ |
ent, 1 fiud that they u friendly to Tos
peka and delighted at being able tot
reach the state capital without going I
outside the state. Naturally, they 1
realize the great advantages which the |
Santa Fe road would give them, and
should that corporation get the "'Ehree
State'' there would be NO Walliug III
the homes of the Bo0rbOcs. But tind
that the enthusiasm which constitutes
Gen. Rice's makeup to q large extent,
also pervades the minds Of others, AND
the cry con to Dakota" and sthr0ugh
Arkansas to the Cuff has lost none Oi
It's sarnestness. The Pennsylvania
gentlemen who recently visited Topeka
nave spent some time In Fort Scot,
aud have talked more generally with
The people, and they are more CONVEX.
SAINT with the facilities and purposes Of
the gentlemen than We are. They
firmly believe that the syndicate Is
able to proceed with their scheme.
General Rice has secured subsidies in
the shape of bonds, taxes, etc., in Ar
kansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, to
the extent of 81 500, 900, aud will &c,
another 81 ,OOO,OO Through 100 miles
III Mississippi not only is the aid given,
out the road and equipment IL TO be
free from tax for twenty years. More
conservative, or, more correctly speak
my, less enthusiastic gentlemen, b.
iieve that the road will be built north
aud south, if the necessary capital caD
on induced to make the investment.
The Pennsylvania people, the owners,
declare il is not their intention to sell
70 any one, aud In the present cOndi--
u0n of things it Is hazardous to sugges.
what the outcome will be-. The Frisco
or the Missouri Pacific may get the
line, aud the Kansas, Nebraska & Da-
gotta people may hold II for gOOu
many years and complete their scheme.
In any event there does not seem to be
any. reason for concern. A meeting il
to be held in New York shortly, wheo
some determination may be- reached.
Messrs. Francis, Si0necker auu Harris,
VINO are still directors, will be present
and represent the interest of Topeka.
OF the road itself, much may be said
IN its favor. 1t Is we'll constructed,
and to-day rides more smoothly than
good many old roads. II is to be im-
proved at once, TOO, stone crushers
having been ordered to prepare ballast
There is an Immense quantity of stont
| of an excelien, quality, along the route
and some of 1t has already been USED
in ballastiDg the road. The eoglneer-
ing is skillfulIy done aud reflects credi,
| upon the ability of Mr.. Whitman, the
chief engineer. The grades are not diff
cult and the general work is excellen,
| IN all respects. In fact, it is one of the
oest new roads in the state, aud fully
{ meets the requirements aud the ex.
| pectations of the people along the
| route. ..., ......
The construction, equipment, ETC.,
mas COST, up to this time, one and one-
nalf million dollars. First class fifty
six pound steel rails were used on
every foot of the road bed aud the ties
are of first class white oak. There ar.
,wO miles of bridges and trestle work
1 III which, as has been said, the excel
| tent ability of Chief Engineer Whit
man is exhibited. Tue maxlmuu
/ grade of the road is but sixty thre.
feet to the mile. The equipment Is
! irst class, the most improved Baiwin
eng Ines being used, while the passengers
and combination coaches are Of tn.
same style as those in use on the
Pennsylvania road.
AT present the equipment consists OF
six coaches, five new engines, and on-
pusher. Sixty box cars and gondoIas,
and twelve flat cars.
The road passes through and excel
lent country dotted with prosperous
towns and villages, among the former
oeing Quenemo, Garnett and Blue.
! Mound.
Our party was most Hospitality and
generously cared for by Colonel l.. l.
Bush, to whom the people of Topeka,
| Fort Scott and the state generally are
Indebted for the almost unprecedented
achievement for which he is largely
entitled to the credit. We were taken
care of at the Huntington house, one OF
the finest hotels in Kansas, free of
expense, and courteously. Nothing
was left undone by the Kansas, Ne.
braska & Dakota officials or by the
people of the progressive city of Fort
Scott which xyollid cnutrihnte tn orr