White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1895-12-05
WHITE OAKS RAILROAD.


it tho railroad town of the camp. In
1888 the Southern Pacific people bought
a considerable tract of coal land here
and it was thought that company
would, at once build road from Ell
Paso. In 1884 the Las Vegas-~Optic
predicted that White Oaks would havea
railroad in three months. In 1888 M.
r. Lock & Co constructed ten miles and
graded ten additional miles from Ell
Paso towards White Oaks. In 1892 JEFF
ferson Reynolds was kind enough to let
few OF our people in on some ground
floor" stock in the Ell Paso and Denver
short Line enterprise. In 1894 the Pc
cos Valley, then just finished to Roswell
was possible White Oaks proposition.
All these enterprises, which, each in
it's turn appeared probable, if not almost
a certainty, failed of accomplishment
and left here disappointed community,
to struggle with its wonderful resour-
ces, under the most serious disadvant-
ages. In spite of their handicap and many
disappointments and discouragements
the White Oaks people have plodded
along, have built little town of which
they are all proud and have developed
such of the mines in this region as
seemed advisable. never wavering in
their faith in the final building Of a
railroad to connect their chosen locality
with the great trunk lines between the
east and the Pacific.
Last January Mr.. j. L. Bell came
here in the interst of a new scheme to
construct road from Ell Paso and since
that time almost constant investigation
has been going on to determine the char
acter and extent of the traffic to be re-
lied on for the proposed road. Soon
after Mr. Bells first visit here it became
known that Mr.. Chas. Is. Eddy, one of
the principal promoters OF the Pecos
Valley Irrigation and railroad enterprise
was at the head of the Ell Paso-White
Oaks road proposed by Mr., Bell. This
fact very much strengthened the belief
of our people that tho road would be
built.
Recently meeting was held in Ell Pasc
at which Mr.. Eddy was present and We
copy from the Santa Fe Ne,o Mexican &
portion of the proceedings as follows:
After having been introduced to thost
present, Mr.. q. b. Eddy said he sup
posed the gentlemen present were there
to discuss proposition looking to th,
construction of the White Oaks road
He said that Mr.. Bell had come to hin
some months ago with q proposition
which he proceeded to investigate ant
WAS SO well pleased with the results o
his Investigations that he expended
money and time in pushing them furth
or. 1--WE then." said he, went ahead
organized our company and fnancet
the road. We have raised the money t.
build the road, and il our Developments
now in progress, turn out as we believ
they will and Ell Paso and other point
on the line come up with their subsidje
We will be building the road within siS
ty days. We must have sixty days tim
and 100000 in money or property fror
Ell Paso. Give me this and l will bull
the road. True you have never promit
ed ME 100000 but Mr., Bell assured m
your people would give it and 1 in tur
promised it to my company. Myse
and my associates are independent
able to build the road for what there
in it and We do not want your money Il
til We have completed our work. Whe
we commence building the road will b
pushed through in hurry. The cour
try to be traversed is a good countr
but not go fine as it has been pictured
1t must be developd before the new roa
will pay, consequently we need all th
help We can get. Mr.. Bell did not to
you who were at his back because "
did not want to say anything until "
were in position to carry out our Ell
torprise. Now am ready to build II
road. What will FL Pnso do?'
) A somewhat protracted discussion el
. sued, in the course Of which Col. No
, aud others said that they had full col
D tidence In FL Paso's ability and disp
: sition to raies the required sl00,0l
4 bonus and Judge Ruckley paid hig
:. tribute TO Mr.. Eddy; saying that IL
o people OF El Paso knew him and ha
faith in bis ability to do what he pr
. posed.
I MIR. Eddy then arose and in toI
! and manner SO earnest as TO carry co
! viction 10 every one present and cause
u wave OF enthusiasm 10 sweep over Il
8 assembly, declared that he was ready
u commence work within sixty days II Il
:. people Of El Paso demanded II, but
wonld ask to be allowed ninety day
J. az there was considerable surveying
II do. lie said he could complete {
; road in eight months, but for fear OF 4
u cident would like to he allowed twel
A 4. L.. 4 II. n