The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-07
Kansas City,
Bonner Springs
and Topeka
Railway Company,
OF KANSAS.

Total net NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. $3.50, 66t
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 tu
Topeka for an average price OF $4,000 per
mile, including bridges, and has agreed
to accept an 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 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
equal to the face value thereof In default
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 100000 in default
of Its not being able to complete the road
between Kansas City and Topeka inside
of six months from the first day Of May,
a. -. 1855, dccolulHs u ttrHS anu specl-
fications.
With reference to the great commercial
value of the Kansas City, Bonner Springs
and Topeka Railway when in full opera
ton. no better evidence need be offered
than the following letter from Messrs.
Board of Trade; L. M. Miller, president
Zenith Milling Co, and q. l.. Brlnkman,
President Kansas City Milling Goa COM
mittee of business men requested to re-
port on the merits of the enterprise
KANSAS CITY, MO-, April 1, 1899.
JAMES l.. BROWN, ESQ,
PRESIDENT THE AMERICAN EQUIP
MDNT 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 g.
900 carloads of Potatoes, 1000 Of Fruit, g.
900 of Stock, and almost as many car
loads combined of dairy and manufac-
tured products, such as Flour, Paper,
Merchandise, etc.
THIRD-rhat 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, distance OF 3O0 miles,
or five times the distance between the
same point and Topeka, a fact which Is
due to these cities not being located on
the Missouri river the basng point des-
ignated by all American railways for es-
tablishing rates in this section Of the
FIFTH-That for the foregoing reasons |
we consider with the better facilities af- |
forded by an electric line stopping |
wherever required, the same would COM |
mand the major portion Of the traffic
mentioned. |
SIXTH-Thar' conservatlvely figuring |
on the basis of rates now charged, the
estimated earnings from freight traffic |
can safely be put at 900 gross per an
mum, or after allowing the usual &c per |
cent for operating expenses, $l6G,G00 net.
l line for passenger traffic Is apparent
from the following facts, which should
assure the earning from that source, viz:
Tho cities to be connected have COM
bncd population of 100000 people: To-
,eka, the capital of the State, being at
me end of the line, Lawrence, the seat
If the Kansas State University, in the
centre, and Kansas City, the metropolis
If the West, at the other end; facts
which cannot help but create constant
rayel between these cities II afforded |
he proper facilities.
EIGHTH-That Forest Lake, a distance |
IT fifteen miles from Kansas City, and
Trough which the road passes, Is the
argest and most convenient pleasure |
AXE In the vicinity of these cities, and
commercial value to this enterprise.
NINTH-That the picturesque and fer
lie valley through which this line will |
Ass would soon develop into suburban
omes, development which has been me-
lected by these cities for want of proper
facilities.
TENTIi-That from the passenger traf-
C now existing between these cities We
CURE on a conservative basis the esti-
lated earnings from passenger traffic
hould be $3.50, 900 gross, or allowing &C per
emit. for operating expenses, 100000 net.
In summing up all the above facts, To-
ether with all other circumstances con-
ected with such an enterprise, we feel
lstifed in recommending it to all who
lay desire profitable investment pro-
idlng the same Is not Bonded and
toclcSd to exceed $4,000 per mile.
Yours truly,
JOHN W. MOORE,
L. M. MILLER,
G. L. BRINKMAN,
The following letter from Hon W. s,
oWhcrd, Congressman and eX-Mayor of
ansas City, Mo, may be of interest:
OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, u. s.,
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 8, 1899
AMES L. BROWN, ESQ,
RESIDENT AMERICAN EQUIPMENT
DEAR SIR: I have examined the
atement signed by Messrs. John W.
oore l.. NJ Miller and G. l.. Brinkman,
Kansas City, Mo. While I am not
posted to give an opinion of | ,
y own as to the value Of the enterprise,
do know that the gentlemen whose