The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-13
Kansas City,.
Bonner Springs
and Topeka
Railway Company,
Of KANSAS.

Freight (operating) ................ 1888 $3.50
Freight (neD .......................$16 6 666
Passenger tgross) ..................$s6 $3.50 200
Passenger (operating) .............. $24O, 900
Passenger neO .$l2O, 900
Total gross .......................... $500, 900
Iotal operating Observation-Disclosures. 573, 1888
Total net ............................s 2ss, s6s
Almost eight times more than sufficient
to pay the annual interest upon the First
Mortgage Bonds now issued.
The American Equipment Company has
taken the contract from the Kansas City,
Bonner Springs and Topeka Railway to
build the railway from Kansas City to
Topeka for an average price of $24, 600 per
mile, including bridges, and has agreed
TO accept In payment therefor two thou
sand acres of land, together with the
stock of the Kansas City, Bonner Springs
and Topeka Railway Company, and its
First Mortgage Gold Bonds issued not to
exceed $4,000 per mile. and guaranteed
to be first mortgage on its completed
railway not to exceed that amount free
and clear of all liens and claims what
ever, by a certificate attached to each
Bond and signed by the National Surety
Co., of New York, agreeing to indemnify
the holder Of such Bond for an amount
of such being the case.
In accepting the contract the American
Equipment Company has had executed
an Indemnity Bond in favor of the Kan
sas City, Bonner Springs and Topeka
Railway Company, for 500, 900, in default
Of It's not being able to complete the road
between Kansas City and Topeka inside
Of six months from the first day of May,
A. D. 1889, according to terms and speci-
tications.
With reference to the great commercial
value of the Kansas City, Bonner Springs
and Topeka Railway when in full opera
tion, no better evidence need be offered
than the following letter from Messrs.
John w. Moore, president Kansas City
Board Of Trade; L. NJ. Miller, president
Zenith Milling Co, and G. l.. Brinkman.
President Kansas City Milling Goa COM
mittee Of business men requested to re-
port on the merits of the enterprise:
KANSAS CITY, MO-, APRIL, 1899.
JAMES L. BROWN, ESQ,
PRESIDENT THE AMERICAN EQUIP
MENT COMPANY
DEAR SIR: At the request of various
parties desiring to become interested in a
profitable enterprise. We the undersigned,
were chosen to investigate the merits of
a proposition to build an electric railway
up the Kansas Valley TO the City Of To,
peka, by the way Of Forest Lake, Bon
ner Springs and Lawrence, reported as
follows as the result of our investiga ton:
FIRST-That the line projected by the
Kansas City Bonner Springs and To-
peka Ry., and for which most of the
right-of-way has been secured, Is the
only practical route for an electric rail-
way between these cities.
SECOND-That the territory through
which this line will pass Is one of the
most productive in the United States
yielding on an average per annum of s.
900 carloads of Potatoes, 1900 Of Fruit, g.
0OO Of Stock, and almost as many car
loads combined Of dairy and manufac-
tured products, such as Flour. Paper,
Merchandise, etc.
THlRD-That the Kansas City whole
sale houses almost entirely supply the
cities of Lawrence and Topeka with their
provisions and merchandise.
FOURTH-That the rate of freight
charged by the trunk lines now operat-
ing between these points is almost as
much as the rates charged by the same
lines from Kansas City to the Mississippi
river or ST. Louis, a distance of 800 miles,
or five times the distance between the
same point and Topeka, fact which Is
due to these cities not being located on
the Missouri river, the basing point des-
ignated by all American railways for es-
tabishing rates in this section of the
FYFSrH-That for the foregoing reasons
we consider with the better facilities af-
wherever required, the same would COM
mand the major portion Of the traffic
men toned.
SIXTH-That conservatively figuring
on the basis of rates now charged, the
estimated earnings from freight traffic
can safely be put at $500 900 gross per an
mum, or after allowing the usual 66 per
cent. for operating expenses $lt6,O00 net.
SEIVIlNTH-Tha the necessity of such
q line for passenger traffic is apparent
from the following facts. which should
assure the earning from that source, viz:
The cities to be connected have a COM
bined population of 600 people: To-
peka, the capital of the State, being at |
one end OF the line, Lawrence, the seat |!
of the Kansas State University, in the !
of the West, at the other end; facts |
which cannot help but create constant |
travel between these cities If afforded |
The proper facilities.
EGHTH-That Forest Lake, distance ,
Of fifteen miles from Kansas City, and
through which the road passes, Is the /!
largest and most convenient pleasure
AXE in the vicinity of these cities, and
which, without doubt would be of great
value to this enterprise.
NINTH-That the picturesque and fer
lie valley through which this line will
pass would soon develop into suburban
ZONES, development which has been ne,
Elected by these cities for want of proper
facilities.
TENT H-That from the passenger traf-
ic now existing between these cities, W.
igure on a conservative basis the esti- |
mated earnings from passenger traffic
hould be 1850, 900 gross, or allowing &C per
ent. for operating expenses, $40, 900 net. |
In summing up oil the above facts. to-
either with all other c!rcumst ances con-
lected with such an enterprise, we feel
justified in recommending 1t to all who |
nay desire a profitable investment, pro-
'iding the same is not Bonded and
stocked to exceed $4,000 per mile.
Yours truly,
JOHN W. MOORE,
l.. NJ. MILLER.
G. l.. BRINkMAN
The following letter from Hon. w. s.
'owhcrd. Congressman and eX-Mayor of
Kansas City, Mo-. may be Of interest:
louise OF REPRESENTATIVES, u. s., |
WASHINGTON. d. c., May 3, 1892
AMES L. BROWN, ESQ,
AMERICAN EQUIPMENT |
CO.
DEAR SIR: have examined the
tatement signed by Messrs. John W. |
ioore, l.. NJ. Miller and g. L. Drinkman,
+ Kansas City. Mo. While am not
posted to give an opinion of
ny own as to the value OF the enterprise, |
do know that the gentlemen whose |
ames are mentioned above are men OF