Newport weekly independent., 1901-06-21
LOOKS LIKE FRISCOE.
Bonneville Branch of K. C., F. s. and M. Securing Right Way For
 Extension to Newport

Many of the best posted business men of this city have for months ex- pressed the belief that the Morning Star Railroad, would, when construct ed, become a part of the Frisco sys- tenn. Perhaps this feeling was in measure due to the progressive and absorbing spirit manifested in the last few months by the Friscoe people in purchasing the entire Kansas City, Fort Scott, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad with all branches and in the extension of several branches in the Indian Territory and Arkansas, one of which, that from Eureka Springs to Harrison, evidently has not found it's terminal and must eventually push through this section to some point on the acquired Kansas City Memphis road. The value of a road which would serve as connecting link be- tween the Friscoe ill the western part of this state and the newly pur- chased Memphis route in the eastern, as feeder for both systems is too apparent to need detailed argument, and places the Friscoe in a position where competing lines will be at a disadvantage in handling the business of Northern Arkansas, wealthy in it's yet undeveloped mineral resources.
 The finger marks of the Friscoe were first thought to be fairly dis cernable in the decision of the new road to make Melville the northern terminal instead of Rush. The former town lies only twenty five miles west of Harrison and the Friscoe has al- ready surveyed a route to this point for an extension of the Harrison branch. Then again, the Morning Star is said to have accepted the old Friscoe survey from Rush Creek to Yellville, though this is not positively confirmed.
 But with all these indications as to the ultimate or rather real ownership and purpose of the Morning Star, no reason could be assigned for making Newport the terminal, if the road were really in the control of the Friscoe.
 Now it begins to appear that New port will not be the terminal, but that the track of the Morning Star will meet here what is known as the BOn- nerville branch, connecting the Vest ern Friscoe with it's Eastern line, the K. O., F. s. and M. at Bonneville ten miles north of Jonesboro.
 This Bonneville line, while it has served thus far only as lumber road, and is known as an independent en- terprise, is said to be under the op- tion or control of the Friscoe and was not built like most roads into the lumber regions, but on a we'll estab- lished grade, with excellent bed, reg ulation track and heavy rails. In fact, the very nature of it's construc- tion distinguished it as a permanent line, whose owners were looking ahead into the future and intended it's extension into a first class road.
 The track of this road has been gradually extended until now it reaches to Pitts, from which point the survey takes it southward to the neighborhood of Martins Bridge, where the Cache will be bridged.
 The terminal is now within fifteen miles of this city and that this short extension will soon be made is certain. Information from reliable sources is now at hand that right of-way privil- eges for the same are now being se- cured.
 With branch of the Memphis sys- tenn running into Newport from one direction and another line from the northwest which only lacks twenty five miles of connecting with the Friscoe and surveyed route at that, the proof is becoming very convinc- ing that the St. Louis and San Fran cisco Railroad will in the course of few years own the entire track from Seligman to Bonneville.
 Col. l.. Minor and family are in re- ceipt of an invitation from Edward M. Monteith to the commencement exercises of St. Louis Law School of Washington University. MT. Mon