The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-22
WILL MEET TODAY
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NORTH
SOUTH ROAD IN THE CITY.
Albert G iffin Explains the Purpose
and Object of the Road-No Passes
to be Issued and no Monopolles
in Connection With lit is
an Ideal Reform Road.

Travel and freight will suit everybody
if the advocates of the Gulf and Interstate
Railway company can successfully ac'
complish the plans thew have formed OF
building railroad from Manitoba to Fort
Bolliver on the gulf coast of Texas.
The executive committee of the embryo
road will hold meeting in the Board OF
Trade hall in this city today, and this
meeting has attracted many people to
| Wichita who are desirous of talking with
the committee and learn more of the de-
tails Of the proposition.
The committee consists of E. Stoddard
of Omaha, president; Fl. n. Dake of
Brookfeld, Mo-, vice president; Fred J..
Close of Topeka, secretary: Albert Griffin
of Topeka, treasurer; Z. E. Carpenter of
Canton, S. d., auditor. and c. J. Jones of
Perry, Ok, superintendent of construc.
| ton.
Mr. Griffin was seen by reporter for
the EAGLE last night. and gave a very
clear idea of the intentions of the COM
pany and the objects sought in building
| the road.
|
that the people can be emancipated from
the thraldom and tyranny of the present
railroad system. The proposed road is an
ideal one to the minds of those who advo-
cate popular ownership of public highways
and the branches of industry connected
with it such as sleeping car service, tele-
graphic service and express service.
I'VE will not allow any system of mo-
nopoly on the road when built" said Mr..
Griffin last night. I'VE propose to run
our own express business. our own tele-
graphic service and our own sleeping car
service, and run them at moderate charges.
| We will have nothing to do with Pullman
| or Wagner. We propose to construct our
| own sleeping cars so that they will be
comfortable and not costly.
"How about the freight and passenger
busness?"
For passengers we will not charge more
than two cents mile, and for freight the
lowest possible limit"
what are your plans in order to accom-
plish this reduction:"
"Our plans are simple We will revolu-
tionize methods. No man living
can get free transportation over our
road. We will do away with
passes of every kind and character. We
propose, however, to issue mileage books
to the press in exchange for advertisement,
and this only for value received. These
mileage books will be transferable and
without limit as to time. Ii the newspa-
pers want to sell it. all right, and if they
want TO give it to their friends, all right
We must have value received for these
books in advertising, and, such being the
case, it is only right that they should be
allowed to do what they please with
them"
"How is the road to be built?'
''By the people, every inch of it. Wher-
ever we can we will get county and town
ship bonds and these bonds will belong to
the stock of the road. The balance win Le
individual subscriptions. For every 500
of these subscriptions there will be IS GER
tifcates issued, AS the certificates can be
used as cast in the payment of
freight, passenger, telegraphic and express
charges. Each state through which the
road will run will elect or appoint railway
commissioners or directors who will look
after the interest of all the municipalities
interested within such state. The earnings
Of the road over and above the necessary
expenses will be turned into the school
fund of each state.
What route will the road take?
II think it will come in this direc-
ton. The topography of the country
in this direction is most
favorable. If you notice the
valleys in this direction are shallow
and the hills low, and not only that but the
slopes are very gentle. The only rough
country is in the territory south OF Kan
sas, and that is not bad. We can build !
and equip the road for SIS 600 per mile, in
fact our charter will not allow US to
exceed that sum. lam quite sure we can
put down the road for less than IS, 900 per
mile. 1t is all a level country and very
favorable for railroad construction We
will not discriminate for or against any
town or city and Will place stations and
facilities for shipping at all points needed
Then, again, our rates will be the same
for every point, considering distance, and
the way station will be given as good
show as terminal points. Arrangements
will also be made 10 secure protection for
the road and the people along it against
monopolists. combines, ETC."
The executive committee will be glad to
meet business men aud others interested
in this road while they are in the city.