People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-01-21
Visit From the Santa Ee Officials.

OF the southern terminus Of the sys-
TEN. The gentlemen called at the
VOICE office Immediately upon
their arrival in the city, and spent
considerable time in discussing the
Interests Of the Santa Fe and the
general outlook for business in Kan
sas in the future. They expressed
themselves as highly pleased with the
business Of the road in this state at
present, and looked forward to great
Improvements in Kansas during the
next few years. The Santa Fe is TAX
ing great pride in its industrial de-
partment, which was mentioned at
considerable length in these columns
last Saturday, and Mr.. Morton ex-
pressed himself as pleased beyond all
expectations with the success with
which it has been meeting. He pins
his faith to the agricultural resources
of eastern Kansas, but thinks western
Kansas more fitted for cattle raising.
western Kansas said he, twas
formerly q grazing country for the
buffalo. An attempt to make it fer
tile country has proven a failure, and
it is now reverting to its original con-
dition, save that cattle have usurped
the field formerly used by the buffalo.
In eastern Colorado, where they irri-
gate extensively and raise large crops
of alfalfa, there is large cattle buSi-
ness and feeders are buying corn in
eastern Kansas at l5 cents, the Santa
Fe getting a good business in hauling
the cora to them. By feeding the
corn farmers and feeders make more
money and we get heavy live stock
traffic from Colorado to Kansas City.
Corn is selling to shippers along our
line at u cents, while in Nebraska it
has to be sold by farmers at s to 10
cents. Being nearer the gulf ports,
Kansas farmers are able to secure bet
ter prices than those in Nebraska or
western Iowa.
1.-The stirring up that the eastern
papers have giveL Kansas is benefit
ting the state by opening the eyes OF
the people to their condition and
showing them what the outside world
thinks of them. There are enough
people in Kansas who desire to do the
right thing. The POpulists have
control of the government, but this is
expected by many to make them more
conservative. In the past six years
Kansas has paid s75,0OO,OOO on mort.
cages, $50, 100000 Of which was on the
western part Of the state, and s25,'
100000 was taken by parties in the
state, showing that they have some
money and believe in their state"
Mr.. Morton was asked for his opin.
ion Of the feasibility Of state railroad
to the gulf, as proposed by Governor
Leedy in his message, but the staid
old official glared right through the
reporter and remarked that the Santa
Fe would sell the state road to the
gulf for several hundred thousand
dollars less than it cost.
Mr.. Morton was asked concerning
the prospects of an early extension OF
the line from Washburn, Texas, tC
Albuquerque, n. NJ, but evaded di
rect answer. "There is nothing in
the talk" said he. 81 understand
the PecOs Valley road is going tC
build north from Roswell, and prob
ably that accounts for the rumOr thai
we are going to build"
"Well, doesn't that have some sig
nifcance in connection withe the pro
posed Santa Fe extension; won't thai
be some inducement for you to build?'
20, that would help some" said he
"but the Santa Fe is not going Il
build"
or course Mr.. Morton would have
denied that the extension is to be bull
If the Santa Fe company were ready
to begin the construction of the roa(
tomorrow. But the arrangement
that are quitely going on in this city
and at other railroad centers gives as
surance that not many months will
elapse before the extension is real
ity. The PecOs Valley road is an ex
tension from the Texas & Pacific road
and runs almost due north from PecOs
Texas, to Roswell, through the irri
gated lands Of Southeastern New
Mexico. The proposed extension
which Mr.. Morton admitted wa
about to be made, wonld run through
the arid lands Of eastern New Mexico
and connect at point where the San
ia Fe extension survey passes through
New Mexico on direct line from
Washburn to Albuquerque. Thil
would make western outlet for tht
enormous agricultural resources o
the wonderful PecOs Valley and giv'
the Santa Fe considerable traffic from
a country that has heretofore beeI
regarded as very poor picking for rail
roads. The Santa Fe could well affort