Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-13
a SUGGESTION.
Good Railway Project for Wichita and
Other Towns in Southwestern
Kansas and Colorado.

While Wichita and some of the lead
ing counties and towns of southwestern
Kansas are connected by rail, there are
certain portions of the territory named
which with Wichita, cry out mutually
for more adequate railway communica-
ton. Not alone are the people of south
western Kansas and Wichita DESTROYS of
better connections. but the people of
southeastern Colorado, from Trinidad
east, demand like privilege and at some
day in the very near future. one OF
Wichita's trunk lines must inevitably
supply this want and at the same
time, secure a territory which will
be very valuable, not alone for the ex-
cellent local business to be developed.
but also for the amount of thorough
business which can be acquired.
Such a line as we will here suggest,
would be the shortest-in fact an air
line-route between St. Louis and
the Rocky mountains and also between
ST. Louis and the Pacific coast, through
an agricultural and mineral country of
unequaied prospects.
There is no system more thoroughly
equipped, by reason of lines already
tending in the directions named. than
the Missouri Pacific system. and for their
perusal, particularly, we make the fol-
lowing suggestions:
First, Wichita and Trinidad should be
directly connected, SO that there may be
on interchange of Wichita's food prod
ucts with the mineral resources of Trini-
dad and southern Colorado.
Second, there are numerous and prom
ising towns between these two cities.
Third, there is already all that could
be desired in a line from st. Louis to
Wichita and some of the necessary lines
are already constructed west OF Wichita,
for some considerable distances.
The Wichita and Colorado division of
the Missouri Pacific could be extended
west in Andale, in Sedgwick county, to
OIcott or Turon, in Reno county, con-
Meeting with the Denver, Memphis &
Atlantic branch Of their system, giving
Wichita control of the territory traversed
by the D. NJ. & A., besides making a
through line to Denver. Less than forty
miles will make this connection. There
is already line from Olcott to Iuka,
from which latter point an extension of
about one hundred miles, either via
Greensburg or Pratt would reach Fowler.
Meade Center, or some town in that
vicinity. From such point to Trinidad
is a straight line west about two hun
bred or two hundred and ten miles.
This would make one good line, for
which might be substituted, or with
which might be operated, a line from
Kiowa in Barber county of the Fl. Scott,
Wichita & Western branch of the Mis-
souri, Pacific, to a connection with the
other route outlined, at such point as,
say Fowler City or Meade Center. These
two lines would thoroughly control the
southwest part of the state and be
splendid property. Two divisions Of
train leaving Wichita, one via Iuka and
the other via Kiowa, could be united in
to one train for Trinidad. at their juno
ton point as indicated Coming east, the
train could be divided at that point and
reunited at Wichita.
This would give the shortest line from
st. Louis to the mountains, about $50
miles. From St. Louis to Wichita is
about 455 miles, while the distance from
Wichita to Trinidad by either line desig-
mated above will be about $50 miles.
From facts in our possession we know
that such lines viii not only be very easy
to build, but will traverse an excellent
country, comparatively void of railway
facilities and entirely lacking in close
communications with both Wichita and
Trinidad. They will also receive all Of
the local aid the law permits and large
local subsidies of a private character.
Now is the year to build such line
and secure the immense business Incl
dent to the rapid settlement of western
Kansas and southeastern Colorado, to be
followed by a good permanent business
for all time to come.