Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-18
WAY Lose Its EuuipInent.

The Kansas City Wyandotte and North
western railway Is a line OF road built from
Kansas City nCrthwestardly through Kan
sas to Beatrice, Neb This line was built
when the Kansas railroad construction
fever was ON. Very little heavy work was
done on the road bed, the line hugging the
face OF the ground very closely. The track
and bridges we're up to the average. Just
why the road was bnilt, penetrating as It
does section Of country already tributary
10 Kansas City by already existing lines, is
not 50 clear The evident object was to
secure al the subsidy bonds possible from
cities, towns and townships along the line,
and then sell the road 20 Gould or some
other corporation who could use IL as d
feeder and prevent any possibility of Its
proving q rate disturber, though why it
should ne 50, having less than POO miles in
operation unless ii might be on locals, is not
apparent. Unfortunately the road was not
sold, and the builders, who We're amateurs
in rdiiroGding, had the line on their hands.
The Kansas City Star has u very pretty
story OF the sequel to the matter, as
follows:
new complication mas arisen in the
financial difficulties Of the Kansas City,
Wyandottc and Northwestern road. Ac-
cOrding TO the reports that are being circu-
lated the road is in danger of losing the
greater part of its car and locomotive
equipment. The rolling stock used ON the
road IS owned by the railroad equipment
companies and leased to the operating COM
pany al an ayr. eG rental, payable monthly.
This rental amounts to about 5000 Z month
and has been a heavy burden for the road
to bear. After il went INTO the hands OF
The receiver there was some dissatisfaction
on the part of the equipment companies
over taking risks on accepting receivers
certificates There was some talk at the
beginning about new arrangement, and
this feeling has grown stronger of late.
While ii IS not thought that they would be
put into execution, threats Were made that
the equipment companies would claim the
rolling stock until the money was Substitu
ted for the certificates issued by the re-
ceIver.
The matter has been discussed pro and
con by the equipment companies and the
bondholders of the road, but owing to the
split between the English and American Sc
Curity holders, they nave been unable TO
agree. Mr.. Gould, as one of the heaviest
holders of securities on this side, was APP
pealed to for assistance and, it is now I'M
derStoood. is now arranging plans for the
relief of the road Several days ago he
sent t. Mertsheimer, assistant Superinten-
dent Of machinery and motive power of the
Union Pacific, to Kansas City for the pur-
pose of making an inventory of the Nyan-
dUCte rolling stock ard inspecting It's cOndi-
ton. Tie object Of the inspection was TO
ascertain whether the equipment, especi-
ally the locomotives. was worth keeping
aud OF sufficient value to justify the pay
mept Of the monthly rental. Mir. Merits
heimer thoroughly inspected the equipment
from one end of the road to the other and
has returned home 10 prepare his report.
WHAT the report will be is not known, and
in consequence the Wyandotte people are
lowering somewhere between the divisions
of hnne and fear, despite tn II expressed
bel eff that the equipment is frst-class in
every respect
If the report of the Union Pacific man is
satisfactory it is probable that Mr.. Gould
viii assume the debts on the equipment,
ard viii advance sufficient money TO pay
the rentals. If unsatisfactory, which is
hardly probable, and the threats to seize
the rolling stock are put into execution, the
Kansas City, Wyandotte and Northwestern
will be compelled to discontinue operations,
al least until Il new equipment can be pro-
cured. But the WyandOt,e people say this
will not occur, even if Mir. Gould does not
decide 10 assume the debt, as some other ar
rangements VIII surely be made.
Tie inspection of the equipment by the
Union Pacific official gave rise to the rumor
that the WyandOtte was to be taken out of
the hands of the receiver and bought in by
the Union Pacific instead of the Missouri
Pacific.
Whatever truth there may be in the re-
ported foreclosure and sale of the Wyan-
dorte to the Union Pacific for use as
Grand Island connection, the agents visit
here was solely for the purpose of arrang-
ing u plan TO secure the payment of the
rentals.