The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-06
JUSTICE DALE TALKS
Is EIated Over Prospects For
Midland Extension.
OKLAHOMANS WILL HELP
Committee viii Soon Start
Over Proposed Route.

Every citizen of Wichita heaved sigh
of relief when it was finally assured that
the Midland railroad would reorganize and
open independently for business. Now the
road has more than satisfied its manage
ment the ambition has grown among the
business men and the officials Of the road
to extend the line south to tap a, pro-
ductive country and make Of Wichita
in this section what it already is for the
other fve big railway arteries, natural
distributive center and controlling influ-
ence commercially and industrially.
Very recently this idea has taken shape
in an organized plan Cooperation and tho
prospects for the Nidland's extension
from Wichita south through the richest
section Of Oklahoma, on down TO Dennl-
son, Texas, are now very promising a
committee of representative Wichita citi-
zens has been selected to work up both
local and outside interest in the matter
and also to make thorough canvass Of
all the territory to see what are the pos
sibilites for a realization of this splen-
did plan. The committee who viii repre-
of old-time enthusiasts and loyal citizens
in the persons OF Mr.. Charles Aylesbury.
Thomas C. Fitch and J. Oak Davidson.
This committee will either visit the coun-
try Of the proposed line in person or will
send some reliable representative there
to feel the pulse of citizens and lay out
a course OF active campaigning to the end
that the Midland railroad shall extend
from Wichita, its present terminus, to
Dennison, Texas, thereby tapping a dis
trict already rich in agricultural output,
and with possibilities almost unbounded.
Judge Dale. ex-chief justice of the Ok
lahoma supreme court, has been for sew
eraI days on a visit to his brother, Judge
David NJ Dale of this city. and yesterday
afternoon was interviewed by an Eagle
reporter regarding this very important
matter. The judge gave some very inter-
esting and significant information on the
value of the project. Judge Dale is be-
yOnd doubt the best informed man on
general affairs relating 10 the develop
ment Of the territory, and any facts he
gives out are especially valuable and au-
thoritative on so vital a matter as this
Midland extension.
The judge said: IT am very much elated
over the degree of enthusiasm manifest
ed by Wichita citizens in this matter, and
feel that I can assure them a most cor
dial support from our people in the ter
rtory. The proposed extension viii strike
the territory a little west of Pawhuska.
on through the Usage nation in Pawnee
county; touch ingalls,, in Payne county,
strike Chandler; thence south to Shawnee
and Tecumseh, in Pottawatomie county;
down through the eastern portion of the
Chickasaw country and striking Dennison
where it viii make connections with the
important lines of the Houston and Tex
as Central, Missouri. Kansas and Texas
and the Texas and Pacific.
Il have talked with Mr.. Fountaine.
George Whitney and Oak Davidson and
expressed to them my own personal
hearty sympathy and that Of the people
of Oklahoma. The agricultural output of
the region penetrated by the proposed
line is wonderful
AT Pawnee it strikes the coJton belt,
which extends from tina, point south.
Through this section they have raised
corn for twenty-five years and have never
known a failure. 1t is also a fine fruit
country as well as corn and cotton. In
fact the line viii pass through the very
best portion of Oklahoma, speaking from
an agricultural standpoint. They always
have plenty of rain there for the crops,
and a failure is practically unknown. The
people throughout the section will give
loyal assistance to any effort made.
such a line would certainly draw all
the local traffic in the district for a dis
lance west Of from fifteen 70 twenty miles
and east from twenty to thirty miles. and
all the way down. Every quarter section
except the Indian reservations has q per-
manent settler upon it. and now there are