Wichita daily eagle., 1886-05-19
WINFIELD AND THE FIT. SMITH

The people of Winfield, II their
papers are any reflection of public
opinion, have displayed a large amount
of mingled imbecility end gall in their
fight for the FL. Smith road. Start
ing in to get il after Wellington had
worked the matter up and made GER
tain Of the road, with on other reason
or assurance than au insane desire to
grab everything in reaching distance,
ctc.-Wellington Monitor.
There is another side to the Fort
Smith scheme. Some of the general
officers of the Ft Smith and Little
Rock road came up TO Wichita year
ago or more with proposition for the
extension of the Arkansas Valley
road from Ft. Smith to Wichita.
With Mr.. Henry Woods, the general
manager, and Major Woodson, the
general freight agent, the editor of
this paper had two or three con-
fcrences with reference TO the exten-
sion of the road to Wichita and for a
right of way through the territory.
The only cxaction or demand made by
us was that Wichita should be named
in the charter. Ii was not long before
the fact was developed that the Fort
Smith and Little Rock management
had agreed with General w. B. Strong
of Boston, that the new road should
terminate at or near Arkansas City on
the line of the Indian Territory.
We then suggested as a
compromise, that charter be taken
out, additional, for road up the
Nerdigris and Cana valleys direct to
Wichita, which would give a shorter
line by forty miles to the Mississippi
river. To this proposition MIR. Wood
made answer that he had agreed fur
rer with the Santa people that they
should have that route. All that they
would permit Wichita 10 do would be
the building of local line down to
Arkansas City. Under the circum-
stances the Wichita people got to-
gether and organized and chartered
company for the construction Of a
road from Wichita directly southeast
down the Cana and Verdigris valleys
to FL. Smith. A bill granting the ter
ritorial right of way was drawn up
and placed in the hands of Judge
Peters, our representative in congress.
The bill had hardly been introduced
and properly referred before Mr..
Hackney, of Winfield, an attorney for
the Santa Fe, turned up i'll Washing
ton with bill and scheme cover
ing practically the same route.
As early as 1872 the EAGLE
contained a number of editorials, and
also contributions written by Captain
ID. NJ. V. Stuart, on the feasibility and
desirability of such a railroad. The
result was that for years our people
have confidently expected the con-
struction of such line. So, we don't
think the Monitor has any better
grounds for grumbing tnan has the
EAGLE. But the EAGLE is not going
to grumble. Il makes but little differ
epce who builds that road. or on what
line. Wichita, all the same, will take
care that she is reached. Winfield has
a perfect right TO work for the line,
and TO use the power Of the Santa Fe
to forward her plans, if she can, but
line from Wichita via Douglas, Bur-
den and the Cana valley is going to be
built, in spite of any local or general
interest which might antagonize it.
So we would advise Wellington to 60
on with her own plans without refer
ence TO the work or ambition of any
other locality, if she would succeed.