Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-19
AURORA BOREALIS REPORT.
in Favor of n New Line to
Galveston.

Topeka, Kas., June ls.-(special) The
Aurora Borealis railroad committee which
went TO Texas on a junketing trip at the
expense of the taxpayers of Kansas to-
day filed It's report with Governor Leedy.
The report was written by Representative
Brown, of Pratt. and edited by Representa-
tive Ed Hackney, of Sumner. After relating
what they did in Texas as an excuse for
drawing mileage and per diem, the mem
bers of the committee say in their report
that unless existing railroads will reduce
rates to the Gulf, the people of the Cen
tral West should build a state road. The
report would NIL page In newspaper.
It concludes:
'The people are standing with their hand
in the lions mouth, and If he sees fit to
crush them, they, under existing condi-
tiOns, can only submit but the power of
redress is absolutely at their command, and
the only question is, will they exercise
commission and Interstate commission is
clothed only with advisory powers, Just so
long may we expect the railroads to mako
light Of that power and continue their ex-
Your committee conferred with gentle
men who are engaged In the railroad busi-
10 engage 10 build and fully equip line
of road from any point near Galveston, en-
the Gulf. TO any point I'm Northern Kan
sas. Nebraska or the Dakotas, for not to
exceed $1,000 per mile. Your committee had
access to tho expense accounts of a road
that has recently been built in Texas. A
portion of your committee also had the
pleasure of passing over this same line of
road, which is seventy-three miles in
length. We found the road well built, as
far as the work has progressed, and your
committee is satisfied. Judging from what
had been paid out and what was still nee
essaTy for its completion, that its actual
cost will fan considerably short of 500
per mile, including equipment; and. despite
The fact that this road IS in an unfinished
condition, and despite the fact that this
road passes through a very sparseiy set
tied part of the country, despite the fact
that this road Is without depots or any
conveniences and only runs one mixed
train per day each way over its line. we
are assured by the owners that the road
was paying ali expenses and a fair dividend
Gulf a Interstate, which. although Il does
a business, when compared with the great
through lines that is so small as to be
really Insignificant. yet pays expenses and
q handsome profit, and shows. as in the
case Of the Hearne & Brazos Valley rail-
road. what can be done where road is
honestly built and honestly operated. We
are fully convinced, from what we have
been able 10 learn, and after having given
the matter careful and patnstaking in
quiry that "a road could be built and
equipped beginning at the north line Of
the state and ending AT tide water near
Galveston for not to exceed s., 900 600, and
N~c-aEa Lurt4teP convinced that this sum
would be saved TO the people annually in
lowered tCeight rates
ample at this time for the transportation
of an OF the business OF the Central West
There Is but one reason why new rOad
should be built. and that would be because
the present roads should refuse TO grant
lower rates. Some way must be devised to
bring the railroads under control or the
neopie must take the bull by the horns ana
helm themselves. It IS impossible for the
farmers Of Kansas to receive such returns
from their labor as is their due until there
Is a radical reduction In the present freight
rates.
LET the people of Kansas and the Cen
tral West continue the battle until success
crowns their efforts. Let the Western
TRANSPORTATION convention at Omaha be
large in numbers and prolific in enthusiasm
and energy, and with the acquiring of lust
and reasonable rates to tide water the
state OF Kansas will take her true place
IN the sisterhood of states"