People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-03-24
Ripley in Town.
Daily Journal. Friday.

Daily Journal. Friday.
L. ?. Ripley, president of the great
Santa Fe railway, was a visitor in the
city this morning. He was accom-
panied byJ. ]. Frey, general mana
ger; H. U. Nudge, general superin-
tendent; Avery Turner, assistant
general superintendent; James Dunn,
chief engineer; John Player, superin-
tandent of machinery; f. 7. DOlan,
division superintendent, and B. Cross,
foreman of the bridge and building
department. The party arrived on a
special train at 1890 o'clock and went
west to Woodward. Tomorrow they
will proceed to Panhandle and Amar-
lilo, Tex, to determine at which place
terminal facilities for the new PecOs
Valley extension will be made. The
Santa Fe wants $4,000 from Amarillo
as an indncement to make that place
the terminal point. II it is refused,
Panhandle or Washburn will get the
prize.
Mr.. Ripley talked freely to a report.
er for the Journal during his short
stay here this morning. He answered
all questions readily and occasionally
turned interviewer himself. He
seemed to be concerned about the
water supply at Wellington and
showed that he was fully cOnversant
with the situation here. There is no
feature Of this great railway system
about which Mr.. Ripley is not we'll
informed. Nothing escapes his Obser-
walton and consideration. He is not
a president in name only, but is an &C
tive official, always interested in ev-
erything that pertains to the welfare
of the road.
In response to inquiries Mr. Ripley
said this morning: ave will 90 from
heretoWo0d ward where wewill remain
tonight. Tomorrow we will 90 to
Panhandle and Amarillo to determine
at which place terminal facilities for
the new PecOs Valley read will be
established. Work on the PecoS Val
ley will begin within the next 30 days.
The road will be built as soon as posi-
bic. Material is ready for shipment
from thn north and east, and | would
not ne surprised if it would begin to
move within week or two. This
material will all be shipped over this
division and will make things pretty
lively for the boys here while it lasts.
1t will require some time to complete
the work Uf construction.
"The Pecos Valley will be a great
feeder TO the Santa Fe," continued
Mr.. Ripley. st will help Wellington
wonderfully by increasing the number
of railroad men here. We will have
to increase our divisional facilities al
this place to handle the business. "
Here Mr. Ripley turned interviewer
and said:
"HOV'S your waterSupply now? Got
Its Of it and enough to last in a
drOuth like last year," The reporter
assured him that we had plenty of
water at present aud that there was
no danger Of our supply running out
again.
"Where's it to clme FROM" interro-
gated Mr.. Riply. "Are you depeuo-
ing on That creek to supply your"
And then he added: San increase in
the railroad facilities here will require
trSt-c'asS water supply"
Mr.. Ripley was told that the city
would probably put 10 a reservoir on
the GoldsDOrOugh hill near Riverdale
if necessary and supply it with water
from the Minnesota river. He seemed
to think that the only solution of the
question. Someone standing near
yentUred the opinion that Slate creek
would prove adequate in the future.
With snake of the head Mr.. Ripley
said:
"Oh, 60; the creek might furnish
sufficient water some years, but it
couldn't be relied upon. You have
got to figure on at least one very dry
year in every five in this part of the
country" And then the conversation
turned to the PecOs Valley again.
"The road will be a great benefit to
the weSt," said Mr.. Ripley. "As soon
as the country contingent to the road