davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

transferred eastward in the United States
would fall, approximately, at Boston, Jack
s%onville, Fla; Little Rock, Ark; Corpus
Christi, Tex; Panhandle, Tex: Omaha,
Neb.: Chicago, ILL.,, and Cleveland, o. Or,
transferred to the map of Europe, they
would fall, approximately, at st. Peters,
burg, DunaburG, Vienna, Paris, Rochelle,
Cork. Edinburgh. Hamburg and Dantzig.
The approximate number of miles from
Chicago TO each of the terminal points
named is as follows: St. Louis 275, CAL
weston 400. Ell Paso 1900. Guaymas :, 100,
San Diego $500. Grand Junction 1900, Dem
yer LOO. and Superior 100. Various traffic
contracts give the company access to
great centers of trade not actually reached
by its own tracks. as in the case of San
Francisco. Salt Lake, and the connection
between st. Louis and Chicago.
The mileage of the system is. substan-
TALLY. equal to half that of Great Britain
and Ireland, half that of France. two
fifths that of Germany. half that of Rus
STA, twice that of Mexico, and one-six-
that of the United States. The
mileage of the system is distributed in
the various states and territories in which
1t is located. very nearly as follows: llli-
nois. 295; Missouri. 1900; Arkansas, 10e:
Texas. LIS; Nebraska. 3: Colorado, 30;
Arizona. 400: California. 415: Iowa, 20; Kan
sas, 291S: Indian Territory, 555: New Mex
leo. $50: Sonora Old Mexico,. 262.
The greater part of the system lies in a
comparatively level country in which ag-
in all its forms is the chief in
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

system. or set to revolving in close con-
nection with it.
F'e. and the Headquarters building of tie
company stands within a stones throw
OF the capitol building of the state: Anti
oft repeated. about the seat of govern
ment being in the railroad building instead
Of in the STATE building: As a matter o.
ways. endeavored not to be Il political
stumbling block. Mr.. Strong and Mr.:
Peck assisted in establishing a board of
might have been deferred. and the COM
p.ny has in every way sought to obey the
company has believed that this policy
would in the end earn the most money.
a similar policy has been pursued with
troubles have been very i%nfrequent and of
little consequence. Mr.. Edward Wilder.
the treasurer. once paid all the employees
of the line with currency. carried in a
satchel. Now there are over 55.OG0 men on
tho rolls. Harmony between managers and
employees has been in every way encour-
aged. For years a reading room and Ii
blary system was maintained along the
line. and a splendid hospital service is now
in effect.
Under an act of congress of 1863. supple
mented by an act of the Kansas legislature
in 1861. the Atchison. Topeka x Santa Fe
mating S,oOo.MO acres. The grant COM
prised alternate sections in a ten-mile
strip on each side of the main line of the
A'Nh ''ih"f OhS VI
these alternate sections had been pre-
empted by Il settler. the company was in
IDENTIFIED by the right to take land in the
second ten-mile strip on each side of the
road. The taking of this land was coupled
With a large number of conditions as to
price, method of selling. etc. and the lands
were all taxable The sale of this land
was concluded two or three years ago.
except as to such pieces of land as were
back TO the company by forfeiture.
This amounts to a very small acreage.
The lands were sold at an average of about
s. per acre and Melted the company some
thing like $1,000. 600: but from this S5.000. 600
should be deducted all free transportation.
advertising and other Messenger depart
ment expenses which related to land sales.
which leaves the land grant account show
ing not over $3.Oo0.N 900 to the good. while
some call it approximately even. That is
to say. properly speaking. there was no
profit in the transaction. except as IL came
by what was made from the
The railroad. of course. could
not have existed except for the presence
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

line was complete to the Kansas west line
in 1873. The succeeding presidents to the
present time were Henry Strong, who
served one year; Thomas Nickerson. who
served from 1874 to 1850; 7. JEFF Coolidge, who
served from 1880 to 1881; William b. Strong.
who served from 1881 to 1883. and Allen
Marvel, who was chosen to succeed Mr..
Those who nave had immediate charge
of the property as general or
With equivalent authority. have been:
S51ong; George q; Manchester,, c; e
]. +. Goddard and Albert a. Robinson.
To the last named gentleman belongs the
honor Of having built every mile of the
company's lines not acquired by purchase.
He was the first engineer employed by
Mr.. Peter, and from the first mile TO the
last he has been the e%ngineer in authority.
Probably no engineer in the country has
a like record.
In the Santa Fe system there are 9.asS
miles OF t~rack-neariy all single track
a mileage more than equal to one-third
the distance around the earth. The first
t~wenty-eight miles of this track was con-
structed in 1863. The entire system. there
fore. has come into existence within TWEEN
ty-three years. 1t really came into exist
ence In twenty years.
The extreme termini of the system are
at Chicago. ST. Louis. Galveston, FL Paso.
GGaymas, San Diego. Grand Junction.
Denver and Superior. Neb. These termim
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

bonds. the second mortgage bearing a
graduated rate of interest beginning with
=, per cent per annum. The income bond
holders preferred a definite mortgage. ami
tiie company believed the interest on the
incomes would exceed that 10 be paid on
Inc seconds on the graduated plan Both
sizes We're. therefore. willing TO make the
exchange. 1t will certainly be d long time
before SO bold u reorganization IS again
effected SO neatly and quietly. BY another
bold stroke the St. Louis * San Francisco
road was bought. This road had a large
Heating debt. but it was u heavy compete
tor of the Santa Fe. and its full possession
enabled the Santa Fe TO come nearer hold
ing its other competitors level. and at the
same time procured Tor it the outstanding
half of the Atlantic X Pacific stock. The
purchase of the Colorado Midland was a
transaction of like character.
Thu legal history of the company is also
a remarkable one. Ninety-iIye corpora-
items which have at one time or another
played an important part in the history
of the road are dead and inactive by aban-
Comment or absorption. There are uow
seventy-nine active companies. The man
ipulation and amalgauiation of this vast
number of properties has been done chiefly
in a legal way by Mr.. George X. Peck. o.
Kansas. who entered the service of thu
sy stem in 1873. To him. chiefly. has fallen
the. task OF welding together this vast
number of corporations which have from
time to time been merged into the present
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

OF this land as an attraction te settlers,
anu 1t could not have been built when IL
Was II the possession OF the land had
not enabled the company TO borrow money
Win which 10 build the road. The taxes
on this railroad land built school houses
hhu court i:ouseS from one end of Kansas
10 the other There are very many in
stances where one section Of land was
taxed to build three school houses. this
being accomplished hy changing school
districts so as to bring the given section
OF Ian under the necessity OF contributing
20 the building OF the three separate
houses. There IS u distinct line of de
narration between the school houses and
court houses within the limits Of the rail-
road land grant and those oatSide of that
limit. the comparisons being in favor OF
tt.e railroad buildings. Tbs people seem to
have been universally willing that the rail-
roao lands should pay for tirst-class I'M
prcreInents. Fer many years. Reno cCun-
~. for instance. Received something like
$4,000 in taxes from the land grant
The lands granted to the company in
Kansas, on which they netted about 81
per acre. We're twice exposed to terrible
Gtvastations which materially reduced the
benefit the compapy would have received
from them. In 1874 the sale of the grant
was absolutely stopped. by reason of the
plague of grasshoppers that visited the
state. There was no real recovery from
this until the effect of the Centennial
exposition began to be felt in 1876 n
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

be just such trouble as had been foretold
by both Thomas NickerSon and Mr.. Wilt
ian b. Strong. The former said in his
annual report in 1874. We are and must
be for a long time without Il rival or COM
petitor which can materially interfere
with our local business" MIR. Strong
said in his annual report in 1SSJ. What The
future plans of the company shall be must
largely depend upon the course pursued
ty its connections and competitors. The
assurance may be given that every pru-
dent measure shall be taken to preserve
the. property in its integrity" From ex-
actly the source limited at by Mr.. Nick
erson. and clearly stated BY Mr.. Strong.
the cyclone finally came. The increased
expense and the diminished receipts, due
to the acts of competitors, brought on
Il crisis. The stock of the company had
come to be considered among the surest
OIL the market and was held by 1900 or
1l.NV persons. who paid for 1t probably an
average price of $1-some having paid as
high as Sl.O. So long as the company was
permitted TO have full possession of its
immediate traffic field, it could and did
keep up with its debts and pay dividends
steadily. There was no doubt of the hon
est and intelligent management of the road.
ard holders were serene. But the day
came when the traffic of the company
ton. The Canadian Pacific Texas & Pa
citic. Union Pacific. Northern Pacific and
ether lines cut into the transcontiuental
business of the company. Then the local
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

to its present form in November, 1863. The
original incorporators associated with Col
onei Holiday were United States Senator
Samuel c.. Pomeroy. Luther C. Challis.
Peter 7. Abel. Milton G. Dickey, Asaph
Allen, Samuel Dickson. Nelson l.. Gordon.
George 5. Hillyer, Lorenzo d. Bird. Jere-
mlah Murphy, George IL. Fairchild and
II. l.. Crane. From the day of the incor-
rcration until 1868 Colonel Holiday i'm
pcrtuned the capitalists of the East, in
season and out, 10 take hold of his scheme.
Rebuff. not 10 say ridicule, was nearly all
he got for his pains. In 1867 a contract
was made with George w. Beach, of New
York, TO build the entire road as then
contemplated. Beach failed to execute his
contract, and in 1865 assigned it to Mr..
T, j. Peter, of Cincinnati, now of Alabama.
who was the first man found with both
the courage and the ability to build the
read.
Mr.. Peter represented the contracting
firm of Dodge, Lord & Co. of Cincinnati.
composed of Messrs. Francis Dodge. H.
Z. Lord uhen president of the lndianap-
Oils. Cincinnati & Lafayette road, Orlin
Smith tthen vice president of the Balti-
more & Ohio road. II. Ii. Frost. Henry
Stearns. George W. Norris and T. j. Peter.
On securing the Beach contract in 1865,
Dodge. Lord & Co. organized a contracting
firm TO build the first twenty-five miles of
the road. From this time on many famous
were connected with the enterprise.
Mr. Peter. as the assignee of Beach. made
a contract with the members of his firm
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

ly abandoned the field and the stock went
down to n market price of nearly ~ cents,
making a total loss to stockholders. as
Stunning the average cost of their stock
to be 81. of between $50. 600 900 and SO, go. 900.
For the next annual meeting the %stOckhold-
ers sent their proxies to Messrs. kidder.
PEABODY d Co. as requested. MeSsrs.
George G, Magoun: John J. McCook and
Thomas. Barring. with other gentlemen OF
their selection, were elected directors, and
Mr.. Magoun became chairman of the
board. Mr.. Strong left the company and
Mr.. Allen Marvel became president.
Messrs. Magoun; McCook and Barring are
recognized as the authoritative directors
Of the company. Mr.. Marvel at once put
into effect the most rigid economies,
coupled with the most careful manage
ment generally. He paid Mr.. Strong the
high compliment of retaining practically
all of his chief assistants.
TIL first work of the new board. after a
lens and careful examination of the prop
erty, was to reorganiZe the finances of the
company. This they did by a most re-
mGrkable process. at once bold and in
genious, a process largely elaborated by
Mr.. j.. W. Reinhart. the first vice presi-
dent of the company.
Under the reorganization plan the conf
pany authorized the issue of $50. 5000 ny of
lGj-year 4 per cent bonds and Ss0,UOO,0p OF
5 per cent income bonds. The old debt
was all replaced by the, new securities, SO
as to reduce the annual fixed charges
from $l1, ISL, i69. 60 to $685.. 800.
Subsequently the company substituted a
second mortgage for the $S0.60N.eW Of income
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

ductive valleys capable of the support of
millions of human beings. The great ex-
panse of coast line means ready access to
the products of the sea and ready COM
munication with all parts of the world.
The people of this territory are already
engaged in practically every pursuit known
to civilized man. Products are being in
diligently diversified. manufactures are
multiplying daily. ard wealth is steadily
increasing. The teacher and the preacher
We're never more active and the workers
in all lines were never anywhere more cap
able or more faithful. While an infinite
improvement still remains to be achieved.
it is yet true that the people are making
a progress never before surpassed anywhere
in the world.
The financial history of the Santa Fe is
n remarkable instructive one. From the
time Mr., Peter and his associates took
held to the year 1889. the company really
never felt a dangerous financiall strin-
gency. To put it differently. there never
was a time in that period when there was
imminent danger of bankruptcy. There
we're close economies and many cautious
policies. In fact, considering what we now
know. much was lost by financial timidity.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10
THE KANSAS CITY JOURNAL FRIDAY. cEMBE TO- 1897

keep one man busy. He has had imme-
date supervision Of a large part of the
settlement of the vast territory of the sys-
tenn, and in. that way has participated
more than almost any other man in the
development Of the country.
Most of the lines of the system preced-
ed settlement, not to say civilization, pass
ing through new country, too remote for
substantial settlement without railway
communication. The people of, New Mex
leo, Mexico and Arizona were nearly all
Spanish Americans. except the Indians,
and the railway. was constructed under
conditions very peculiar. to say the least.
The native citizens were torn with con-
flicting sentiments. fear and admiration
striving for the mastery. The whole sit
uat!on was so novel that one of the direct
ors of the company predicted that the lines
in New Mexico and Arizona would never
pay operating expenses.
What may be termed the grand divisions
of the system. each planned according to
well defined theories of possible traffic,
are nine in number
The Kansas lines reach the agricultural,
grazing and mining regions of the southern
half Of Kansas and parts of the northern
half. the north border of the Indian Terri
tory and Northwestern Texas. by east and
west lines through the Kansas. Neosho,
Arkansas and lesser valleys of the state.
The Colorado ines reach the agricul-
tural; grazing and mining regions and the
health and pleasure resorts of Colorado
ana Utah, by way of q north and south
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

and vast mounts of help were otherwise
contributed by the COMPANY in the task
OF tiding over the hard times.
The BUILDING of the Santa Fe through
Kansas was not interrupted by either
end of the track and many stations
which had once been at the end of the
track were for a long time very disorderly
towns. Murder and the milder but more
interesting crimes were of constant occur
renee. cowboys of the bad kind. Indians.
characters generally were at first largely
in the majority in most of the Santa Fe
villages and made them more painfully
active than they ever will be again. Judge
Lynch was a popular dispenser of Justice.
and without his help the regular courts
could hardly have kept up their WORK.
line new things were ~ncountered Mr..
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

necessary forms of food and fuel and
the materials for mechanical arts. Iron,
lead. coal and salt in m~easureless deposits
from the mountains to the Gulf, the Mis-
sissippi and the Great lakes. In the giant
Rockies. besides the mines. there are pro-
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

very dry time, which gave the sale of the
grant another setback. On both of these
occasions many thousands of people We're
free from their prairie homes
to their original homes in the East Seed
grain was furnished all who would use II.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

But there never was a time when the hold
er5 of defaulted securities came knocking
capital stock was paid August ., 1879.
When trouble finally came, it proved to
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-10

and other parties to build from Topeka to
Burlingame. Topeka being accessible over
the Kansas Pacific road.
II. C. Lord. the Hon. Ginnery Twichell.
and Henry Keyes were presidents of the
between the time of beginning
construction at Topeka and the time the
Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-09-29
eMPERORS DISCUSSED 1T.
"h'iam and Franz Josef Conferred Re
garding Cuban Interference.

"hIiam and Franz Josef Conferred Re
garding Cuban Interference.
FARIs, Sept. 27. The Gaulois says it
earns that during the recent visit Of
emperor William to Budapest, Emperor
francis Joseph and the German em.
peror discussed the interference" of
sne the United States in the affairs of
0pain' the Austrian emperor pointing
vut the serious embarrassments which
ne interference had caused the
Sueen regent and the government Of
Spain.
Inc Gaulois adds: Probably Germany
suu austria will do all in their power
~. prevent the situation becoming en-
uttered although unwilling to ointerpose
wv airectly. Similar views are said to
aa aase Oeen exchanged between France
.uu |. Russia; so if the occasion arises,
.t e european powers, while respecting
'u ao feelings of independence in both
sountries, will find themselves in agree
o;,. rn. IN insisting that a policy of con-
'ii'aton and peace must prevail.
Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-09-29
DAVIS ON ANNEXATION.

Chairman of Foreign Relations COMMITTEES
Says 1t Will BE Accomplished.
ST. PAUL, Sept. 27.-A Pioneer Press
special from Duluth says:
In an interview regarding the Asso-
ciated Press dispatch that the Japanese
government has been secretly landing
some of the veteran soldiers from the
Japanese-C Chinese war on the Hawaiian
islands to prevent annexation to the
United States, forcibly if diplomatic
measures fail, Senator G. K. Davis said:
The news contained in the dispatches
does not surprise me. have been ap.
prehensive that the japanese govern
ment has been landing trained and vet
eran soldiers on the Hawaiian islands
under the guise of laborers for several
months past, yet that government has
been very cautious in the matter, and
with her apparently sincere professions
of friendship for the United States it
would be hard to prove that she is send
ing these men to the islands. fully
believe, however, that such is the case.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
senate will adopt the treaty, and that
the islands will be part OF the United
States within a very short time.
Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-09-29
British Give the TribeSmen a
Chance to Surrender If
They So Desire.
Mullah's Headquarters Demol-
iShed and His FortifiCa-
tions Blown Up.
Large Meeting at Athens Calls
Upon King George to Re-
new the War.

SndLA, Sept. 27. - The operations
against the Mohmunds are proceeding
satisfactorily. General Westmacott has
completely demolished the headquarters
Of the Haddah Mullah in the village of
Jarobi, blowing up all the Notifications.
General Jeffreys reports that he has
arranged an armistice of two days to
enable the tribesmen to submit, which
they appear anxious to do after the re-
peated beatings they have received.
Spies report that the Afridis and
Orakzeis of the Tirah country, at n
council held at Bagh, have decided to
resist the British advance. They have
sent message to Gholam Khan, the
ameer's frontier general, asking him to
help them.
Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-09-29
THE BADENl-WOLFF DUEL.
Austrian Premier's Wound Not Consid-
cred Serious.

Austrian Premier's Wound Not Consid-
cred Serious.
LONDON, Sept. 27.-The Vienna cor
respondent of The Daily Mail says: The
duel between Count Badeni, the Aus
trian premier, and Dr.. Wolff, the Ger.
man Nationalist leader, has caused the
widest sensation. 1t arose out of the
riotous scenes at the opening of the
reichrath. The combatants met at the
military riding school. Count Badeni's
seconds were Marshal Uekull- Gyllen-
band, commanding the Vienna garri-
son, and Colonel Rosch, a former ad-
jutant of the emperor. DIR. VOLTS Sec
onas were two German deputies. The
conditions of the duel were three shots
at 25 PAGES. At the first discharge the
premier's ball struck the ground Is
PAGES from his antagonist. The latter's
ball struck Count Badeni in the right
arm. He staggered back to his chair
and was then taken to his home, where
the bullet was extracted. There are no
symptoms of fever, and Count Badeni
is conducting affairs as usual.
Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1897-09-29
Masked Robbers Hold Up the
Northern Pacific Trans
continental Train.
Were After the Express Car but
Cut 1t From the Engine
by Mistake.
Fourteen Registered Packages
SeCured--Their Value ls
Not Known.

FARGO, N. D., Sept. 27.--At about l
.. m. No. /, the Northern Pacific trans.
continental passenger train, was held
up by masked men between Glyndon,
Mimi, and this city. Engineer Hooker
was in charge Of the engine and Con-
ductor CorCoran was at the helm. When
about two miles this side of Glyndon
the engineer looked up and discovered
masked man covering both him and his
fireman. He was ordered to stop the
train, and shortly after doing 80 anoth-
or robber came along with Conductor
Corcoran and brakeman in tow.
The were all ordered to get on the en-
gine at the point of revolvers and En-.
gineer Hooker was ordered to speed ON
his journey. Not until the engine
reached the outskirts Of Moorhead and
a stop was made was 1t known that the
engine and mail car had been cut from
bers evidently intending to take the ex.
press car also but failed to do go. After
discovering their mistake they went to
work on the mail car and secured II
packages Of registered mail, the value
Of which cannot yet be estimated.
It is the opinion here that the holdup
was the work of experts, and the ex-
press car was to have been the chief Oh.
ject Of the raid, though the robbers ig.
norantly left this car attached to the
main train when they compelled the
engineer to proceed some distance fur.
ther west, when the actual robbery took
place. Twenty sticks Of dynamite was
after the robbers left, showing that the
men were prepared to blow open the
safe If necessary to get the money.