The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28
ANOTHER ROAD FOR WICHITA.
The Sherman and Northwestern Granted
Right Way Through the Territory.

| The Sherman and Northwestern Granted
Right-of-Way Through the Territory.
The bill granting the Sherman and
Northwestern Railway company right
of-way through the Indian territory
passed the house Friday and goes to the
president for his signature That he will
sign it without delay there is no doubt.
This completes the first and most i'm
portant preliminary step towards the
building of this important line, and
it will be promptly followed by def
nitely locating the line and begin
ming the work Of construction.
The Sherman and Northwestern rail-
road is designed to be a direct, airline
connecting link between the great rail-
way system that centers at and radiates
in all directions from Wichita and the
like system that centers at and radiates
from Sherman, Texas. At the latter place
it will connect with and afford direct out
let north for the traffic of the lines that
penetrate the immense timber areas of
northeastern Texas and southern Arkan-
sas for their products of valuable and
most desirable lumber, and at the same
time will be a feeder to these lines, sup
plying them and the country they trav-
erse with the large quantities of farm
products-bread and meat-to be sup
piled from this section, and from this
city as the principal supply point.
The proposed line viii also connect at
Sherman with the Houston and Texas
Central, thus making a continuous line
almost due north and south from Wich-
tia to Galveston, and will materially
shorten the distance to tide water at the
point that now promises to be the
principal seaport on the western gulf
coast.
The Sherman and Northwestern will
also pass into and directly through the
coal fields in the Sac and Fox, Seminole
and other reservations that will in q
short time be thrown open to settlement
"A scope of country unsurpassed if
equalled, for the fertility of its soil as
well as for the richness of its mineral
deposits, by any other portion of the ia
nous territory, and a section which, as
soon as opened, will be peopled as rapid
ly as has been Oklanoma-the wonder of
the age-and of which the new lands
will become a part.
Not only will this new line of road ia
cilitate the supplying of this market and
this section with coal and lumber of
superior quality and at cheaper rates,
but it will also open up a
new country to be supplied with
all classes of merchandise for
which Wichita will at once become the
natural supply point. The value of this
road to this market is enhanced by the
further fact that the rich country through
which it passes has no other outlet or
line of communication with the balance
of the world.
Taking all these facts, and others that
might be stated, and the Sherman and
Northwestern becomes a line of import
ance to this city and section next to in
dispensible.
As a matter of simple justice we will
state that the credit for securing the
right-of-way for this important line of
road is almost wholly due to the energy
and untiring efforts of Mr.. w. A Thomas,
formerly of this city and still fast
friend. Mr.. Thomas is one of the Chief
promoters Of the road and this is strong
augury that it will be pushed through
to completion at the earliest day.