The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-12

ueers Of one road OF another have not
driven pegs indicating either prelini-
nary survey or a final location. IA this
way the word of promise has been con-
FINALLY made to tho ear to be broken to
the hope
Finally there appeared on the scene
young man, the son of a farmer in
the neighborhood, who suggested a
plan by which these farmers could build
aT.lwav for themselves. He had had
come experience in the west, where he
uai practiced somewhat as a surveyor
ami engineer, and he was therefore list
ened % with respect, if with nothing
more.
lie told them that they at present had
40 need of a very expensive railroad, but
merely required one with capacity suffi-
Gent 70 safely do the business which the
road would have at the beginning. He
saw that the farmers could themselves
build such road, and he suggested one
which should start at Morristown, on
the Morris and Essex division of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroad, and go southwest through Nor
as. Somerset and Hunterden counties,
passing through the towns Of BroOkside,
Mendham, Peapack, Pottersville and
New Germantown to White House, on
5he New Jersey Central railroad. Such
= road, he explained, would traverse a
beautiful, healthful and fertile section
peculiarly adapted to the growth of
small fruits and hardy vegetables, be-
aides making each hilltop a desirable
lila site for city people who wanted
summer homes.
The farmers believed in all young Mr.
Melick told them, except as to their
ability to build the road, and the only
encouragement he got from the meeting
was that after he had consulted the
farmers in the other neighborhoods
they would see him again. Mr. Melick
went TO work with great energy, and
did scarcely anything else for six months
but agitate this question along and at
either end of the line. But he could not
bring the different neighborhoods to-
gether so that there was any concert
of action. Twenty-Five miles of road
seemed too much for them. When Mr..
helick reluctantly abandoned the idea
of building the whole twenty-five miles
ut once, he hit upon the plan of building
1t in short sections.
This was a happy idea, and he put it
in immediate action. He formed a
company called the Rockaway Valley
railroad. and solicited subscriptions
from the farmers from White House
TO New Germantown, a distance of
five miles, and explained that each
subscriber would get the full amount of
his subscription in stock and an equal
amount in FIST mortgage bonds, and
that each subscriber should also have
she privilege of paying his subscription
with work or in railway ties or other
material OF course some of the sub
scribers preferred to pay in money, and
there We're enough of these to enable
him to put up with the secretary of
state the amount necessary to secure the
charter which the general railway act
requires
This having been done, work was be-
gun. and in very many instances the
grading of the road was done by each
farmer through his own farm. This
went on gayly for season, and the rail
way for the first section Of FIVE miles
was built at such times as farm work
was not pressing Money-that is cash
had only to be spent for the railway
iron and bridge timber, and enough of
TINS was easily borrowed from the local
banks and elsewhere.
THIS Seefipr, bsN-5,er H.,
other was planned. five miles IN length.
70 Pottersville, in Somerset county. and
pursuing the same plan as TO means and
work this section was completed befor.
the next season was over. Then a third
section of three miles was begun. and
this reached 10 Peapack, still in Somer-
set county, but very near the Morris
county line. This was finished last win
ter and for time it looked AS if this
would be the eastern end of the farmers
railroad
Over the Morris county line the farm
ers had no desire 10 go west. They al
wanted 10 get TO MorristOwn, which was
east. and for a long while it seemed i'm
possible 10 g5t these men along the line
between Peapack and Mendhsm, dis
lance Of six miles, to contribute TO the
project, and some of them even refused
20 give the right of way. Better coun-
seis prevailed after while. however,
and some months ago the work was be-