Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-25
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T,.ai1Y eagle
WICHITA'S PRODIGY.
From an Humble Beginning IN 1851 TO the
Largest Manufacturing Enterprise In
the Southwest.

A few wears ago some prominent rail-
road officials were called upon to investi-
gate 4 new device, a novel departure in
railway coaches. After due elaboration
thew smoke some few words of encourage
ment to the inventor but shook their heads
p. in that Characteristic way of grand man
ayers. The inventor departed somewhat
disheartened but with a strong determine
Jion to succeed. Three years elapsed from
the time he first exhibited the model be-
fore he saw his hopes in any way realized
That man was George NJ. Pullman, and
today he stands at the head Of concern
famous throughout this and foreign coun-
tries. His works near Chicago employ
1900 men.
The foundation and history of many ia
NOUS and successful enterprises, notably
the Westinghouse Air Brake company, are
rise from very humble beginnings. In
1880 the first Burton stock car was eXhlo-
tied. Previous to this time comparatively
nothing had been done toward improving
the method of moving cattle to market;
the long delays, the horrible suffering ana
inhuman treatment of animals during
transit became subjects of universal COM
ment Shortly after the American HUI
snane society Of Chicago took the matter IN
charge and to encourage an improvement
they offered prize of s., 900 to any inven-
tor in the United States who would devise
the most perfect stock car. Six hundred
and seventy-fve inventors responded with
plans and models and after considerable
delay six were selected from among the
group as being actually meritorious. Our
Burton car was one of them. The COM
lmittee being of a very impartial nature
then added the clause that the word per-
feet signified an actual test of the inven-
ton.
Mr.. George D. Burton, of Boston, with
considerable foresight had constructed
car from his Owl personal funds and had
also secured his patent He Immediately
sent notice to>the committee that his car
was ready for an actual test of its merits
as soon as convenient to them. Soon after
his car was sent to Chicago placed III
company with common stock car and
loaded under the supervision of the COM
anittee who furnished an attendant TO re-
surn with the car back to Boston.
The law governing the transportation OF
CattIe IN common cars compelled this car
ito stop at stock yards along the route to
rest and feed the animals. The Burton
car continued on its journey arrlv-
ling at its destination thirty-six
hours ahead of its competitors.
The cattle were in splendid condition and
were Immediately weighed. When the
either car arrived a decided contrast was
noticeable; the animals were tired and
shFunken, their eyes boodshot, the spirit
of wild range life was gone, few miles
further and their tired legs must give out.
After weighing this car a comparison of
figures was made; the difference in shrink
age alone showed in favor of the Burton
car sixty-eight dollars and seventy nine
cents. AIr. Burton was of course highly
.pleased; the daily papers and live stock
journals throughout the country gave
many 6attering notices of the experiment.
The humane committee then rendered Mr..
Burton the s., 600 prize asking for title TO
iany future benefits that might be derived !
ffrorn the invention. This he refused and
lnade preparations to organize company, !
(which was done in 1882. The society at !
lterward presented TO Mr.. Burton an eie-
igant gold medal for his efforts in bringing |
about this humane benefit to dumb ami |
.rnals and organizing the first improved |
stock car company in the world.
In 1884 fifty cars were running and fifty !
more under process of construction, and a !
steadily growing demand from shippers !
THE car now had attracted the attention of
several general managers of the big trunk /;
lines and they iealously watched the COM
.pany's movements. In April, 1894, the
head officials of several big eastern and
western roads met to discuss the prOba bic
future of improved stock cars. Mr..
Outlets. in his address: ''Supposing we let
this Burton car in on our roads, at the
pace the company is growing where Will
our 10000 stock cars be in a few years? |
Rottino on the side tracks" True enough
MIR. Outlets spoke They without an eX-
ception declared against the Burton car
and when their little papers were drawn
ND and duly signed they read something
like this: On and after this date ali Bur
ton cars received upon this road will be
charged cents per mile. empty; shippers
know what they cost loaded. After set
fling with these companies they went
broke. They figured that this eXtortionatic
charge would soon put an end to the use
of these cars. Things looked extremely
blue for the company; stockholders got
sick and dropped out fast friends of a few
days before could only see disaster ahead.
In 1885 the company consisted of Mr..
Burton and what stock he wanted to buy
at his own figures. In his perseverlng way
he kept on, having added in the mean
time ten more patents and improvements.
Shippers were using some cars and paying
the outrageous charges, but the business
WAS limited In 1856 and 1887, after much
.persuasiou and many demands from ship
pers, some roads received the cars. About
this time the company found a
ready listener to its troubles in the
person of General Benz. F. Butler,
who at once interested himself in the COM
pany and fearlessly urged its rights. To
him is due the credit for forming three
passages OF the interstate commercial law
relating especially to improved stock cars.
He met and defeated twenty-seyen law
yers. representing as many different rail-
roads before the commission at Washing
ton, relating to these roads receiving and
accepting the Burton cars at the same
tariff as ordinary cars, this decision opened
wide the doors for improved cars. The
Rock Island company, who had always
entertained a warm feeling for this COM
pany. directly made a ten-years' contract;
orders for cars came from scores of roads,
prominent New England capitalists be-
came interested in the company, the cap
ital was increased to s2,000,0o0, and works
TO turn out these cars completed in 1888.
After looking over many cities IN the
southwest, Wichita was selected as the
site most advantageous to their peculiar
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