Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-04-29
IT RESTS WITH BAXTER.

Baxter Springs Board of Trade and
take steps looking toward the exten-
sion of the Southwest Missouri Eicc-
trio Railway from Galena to this city.
Mr.. Rogers is president of the road
and Mr.. Wallower Is one of the largest
stockholders in the company. They
were met at the depot by Mayor w. >.
Norton, John M. Cooper, I'D. Fribley
Col. Alexander Warner and Chas. w.
Daniels and driven over the city and
shown it's surroundings, after which
they were driven 10 Colonel Alexan-
der Warmers beautiful residence one
mile north of the city, where they
took dinner.
At2 o'clock they met with the Bax-
ter Springs Board of Trade at the Of
flee of G.. w. Daniels, who called the
meeting 10 order and stated its object.
In the absence of tho secretary Chas.
l.. Smith was chosen secretary pro
TEN. Messrs. Walower and Rogers
were then called upon to state how
they were impressed with the city and
its surroundings, and also TO state
what they desired the people OF this
town 10 do to secure the road.
Mr.. Rogers first spoke and expressed
himself as being highly pleased with
the city and its surroundings and said
he was agrceably surprised with the
beauty of the place. lie said that his
company did not ask for any bonus,
but if il should decide to build its line
to this place it desired that the citizens
should secure the right OF way TOR the
road. The company would want a
right of way 100 feet wide, and MIR.
Rogers explained that 100 feet would
be wanted so u double track could be
put down when needed.
Mr.. Daniels said he believed right of
way could be secured without any
trouble.
Mr.. Rogers then said that they de-
sired to keep off of the public high
ways except in crossing Spring river
and coming up River street into the
CITY. 1t was agreed that the bridge
over Spring river is wide enough for a
double track railway without travel
being interfered with. Mr.. Wallower
said that IN Harrisburg, Pa, the cleo
trio street railway crosses bridge
only Is feet wide which is 1000 feet
long and that wagon traffic was not
interiered with.
Mr.. Schmuck then took the floor
and explained that although he is
not property owner in Baxter, yet he
il interested in the welfare OF the
town because he is a resident of it.
He said that while the road might not
pay for the first year, within u couple
of years it would pay and pay big be-
cause of the attractions Baxter Springs
has for visitors and because of the fact
that hundreds of people would be III
duced to remove from Joplin, Webb
City and Galena to this place to reside
even though they should do business
in Galena or some of the other places
named. He said that the electric rail-
way company of Indianapolis, Ind,
paid 100000 for piece of land five
miles from that city out OF which a
park was made, and that the company
Is now realizing 30 per cent on its in
vestment. Joplin, he said, has no in
ducemenis to offer to parties seeking a
place to reside; and he further said
that il the Southwest NJ issouri Elcc-
trio Railway company should decide
To- extend its road to this place 1t
would receive just such returns as the
indianapolis road is receiving Oh It's
investment.
Mr.. Wallower said he looked at the
beautiful surroundings and natural
advantages of Baxter Springs in u
business light and coincided with Mr..
Schmuck in the belief that the road
would pay within year, or twoyears
ut the most. He also said that the
company did not want bonus. 1t
wanted right of way and some water
power. He said further, that If the
Eastern capitalists, who are backing
the enterprise, should decide to extend
the line to this point, that they would
also make other Investments here.
Mr.. Rogers then stated that It would
cost $225,000 TO build the road from
joplin to Baxter, but that sum would
include rolling stock also. Then fol.
lowed long discussion about water
power. Mayor Norton said the city
would 60 to its fullest extent to get
the road and he thought that the peo-
pie of Lowell would join with us and
assist the enterprise in any way they
could so far as securing right OF way
Is concerned.
Councilman Cooper then spoke at
some length and said he was in favor
of giving the company water power
and doing what we could to secure the
right of way.
Mr.. Rogers said that 400 horse pow
err would be enough, he thought, to
operate the line from here to Webb
CITY, where the company has a power
station. Mr.. Wallower then said that
oil things denended on the people OF