The Daily Texarkanian., 1899-01-20
MR.. w1LLETTs BIG THREE"
Says 1t is Worth $4,000 to Texar-
kama And Not a Cent less
Will be Taken.

Below we publish a remarkable
letter, written to G. A. HAYS, by
President Willett, of the Big Three
railroad. From its tone, We should
Judge from the wording, that the
president and Mr.. Hays have had
othe- letters passed between them
on the subject of this road coming
here. We don't think our people
wish to pay so much for a railroad
as the price asked, as We have some
eight or ten railroads now, and de-
pot grounds are scarce and yard
facilities are not to be had unless
the road elects to 60 INTO the coun-
try. We would scratch around,
however, and get right of way and
patch for depot, should Mr..
Willett demand this much, but as
to hiding $3.50, 900 in bank aud have
him drawing checks on it for two
years before we hear him whistle,
why, we are not built that way.
This is the Texarkaniau's idea of
the matter; the mOneYed men may
take different view of the matter
and give Mr. Willett all he asks and
for this reason we publish bis letter
in full.
Morganfeld, KY, Jau. l6, lS99.-
G. A. HAYS, ESQ Texarkaua,
rk.,-My dear sir: Yours of 9th
to hand and note what you say.
will say to you and your people, that
we have bill now in the U. S.
congress, and ordered favorable by
them, and l am informed by the
congressman representing our in
terest that the bill will soon become
law. The bill grants our company
right through l. T. and o. 7. from
Little River county, Arkansas, to
Guthrie via. Oklahoma City. Now
We desire to make Texarkana, if We
can get $15O,OOO cash subsidy.
Guthrie and Oklahoma City both
agree on $4,000 each, and we
want that much from your city and
will expect it, or else leave your
town to the south and go ahead
without your aid. We have repeat
edly asked recognition from Arkan-
sas and Arkansas people, but they
are not Inclined to act. | will say
finally, and for all time, that if
| Texarkana don't pay us as much as
Guthrie or Oklahoma City (bOt b
smaller towns) we will not enter
your village. We make you this
proposition that we will accept
$3.50, 600 subsidy to be placed IN a
bank in your city, payable to me in
payments of $l5, 600 each, as each
section of 10 miles of first 100 miles
of this line from Guthrie to Texar.
kama is built. We will have a con.
tract with the Toledo Construction
company to complete this 100 miles,
that company to pay us $25, ,OOU
damages if they fail to comply with
contract. We want your people tc
put up the $3.50, 900 when we have
signed this contract with construc.
tion company, in the event that
they don't build the 100 miles there
will be $25, 600 damages from them,
of which you people shall have ben
eft, and if they build the first lCC
miles, we get your subsidy of $780,
600, and if we do not complete the
line between Guthrie and your town
within two years from time of sign
ing contract, you may collect OF
our company by retaining a lein or
the completed 100 miles. This is as
good offer as | will make under any
circumstances. There will be 28C
when completed, and we can sell ouT
bonds to complete the remaining
, 1870, and to equippe and operate it.
We are not particular whether
you accept or not, neither do We
care whether your legislature pass
es any bill or not, as we are so fan
advanced at this time in the terri
torial, that we don't care if we
don't build any railroad iu Oklahoma
win you begin raising and de.
posting subsidy when we sign the
contract for construction, and get
it all up within sixty or ninety days
from date of contract2
Yours Truly, d. G, WILLETT.
Pres