The Iola register., 1901-06-21
SANTA EE 70 ST. LOUIS
That Is the TT. Scott Tribune's EXpla.
nation of the TT. Scott, lola and
Western Railroad.

Mondays TT. Scott Tribune says:
Facts which are believed to mean that
the st. Louis, Kansas City g. Colorado
railroad, now building this way from
st. Louis, the general offices of which
has been maintained in this city for
several years past, will build into Ft,
Scott Immediately, and which may
disclose the secret promoters of the
Fort Scott, lola and Western road,
which is being managed in this section
by G. G. Nelson, of this city, have be-
come known. A special meeting of
the directors of the St. Louis, Kansas
City & Colorado road has been called
to be held in this city at 10 o'clock on
the 20th day of this month for the pur-
pose of letting contracts for the con-
struction, completion and operation
of the company's road, etc. When all
the circumstances are considered in
general light, it begins to look as if
the Santa Fe road might at last build
a main st. Louis line through Fort
Scott from St. Louis and utilize the
terminal property she has held here
for many years, to enable her to get
into the Kansas gas belt, and to make
a short st. Louis Texas line.
The st. Louis, Kansas City q Col
orado road was chartered some years
ago by Francis Tiernan and others,
and C. H Osbun, w. Il. Stout, Wal
ler Chenault, and others were direc-
tors, Judge j. d. McCleverty acted as
counsel for these gentlemen in the mat
ter of organizing the road and getting
the charter. It's charter provided that
1t should build from st. Louis to the
east line of Bourbon county At the
same time another road was chartered
in Kansas to build from this city west
through Allen county, the exact ter
minus not being known. About this
time the Santa Fe road acquired, at
an expense of about $4,000 some val
liable terminal property in this city,
and it was admitted that the Santa Fe
was behind the two roads, intending
to build from ST. Louis TO Chanute
and thus obtain for it's road short
Texas line to st. Louis. right OF
way was obtained from this city east
to and beyond the state line and con-
tracts for construction of grades were
let to Major f. j. Heck, who built the
road-bed for several miles. About
that time the general financial crash
came and the bottom seem to fall out
of the enterprises, for all work was
stopped. This was not, however, un-
til forty miles of the st. Louis, Kansas
City e. Colorado had been built out OF
st. Louis to Union, Mo. The charters
have been kept alive and in the past
wear or two the st. Louis road has
been revived to the extent that 1T is be-
inc built in this direction. 1t was
transferred from the Santa Fe people
to some wealthy St. Louisans, but G.
II. Osbun, of this city, who was one
on the original board of directors was
kept on the board under the new COM
pany, which was composed OF EX-Gov'
ernor d. r.. Francis, John Scullin
formerly of the st. Louis street can
system, and others. They are the
company which has lately been build
ing the road this way. Some months
ago some Santa Fe engineers wer'
here on the quiet, surveying the rlgh
of way that was Obtained from thii
city east, and it was then surmise(
that the Santa Fe was still behind th
road. but this was denied by Preslden
Ripley. who announced that the lin
had been leased to the st. Louis par
ties, though it has never been deuie'
that the Santa Fe company retained
an interest in it. Today call wa
issued by John Scullin, president, an
w. =. Kennett, secretary, for a spec
ial meeting of the directors of the road
The call states specifically that TN
object Of the meeting is to consider Tn
issuance of mortgage bonds and en-
tering into contracts lor uhe Cou9'l III
ton. completion and operation OF II
road and parts thereof This call ii
di.ates to the minds of the Fort Scoi
men. who are familiar with the sitl
alton that the road is to be completed
For many years after the compan
was organized Mr.. Osbun held the al
nual election of the directors in thi
city by himself, with proxies sent hin
it having been deemed neces' airy
hold the meetings here, inasmuch
Fort Scott is designated in the chartC
as the headquarters for the roaC
After the transfer, though, the ele
tions were held in ST. Louis. The IA
that this meeting is called to be hel
in Fort Scott seems to assure tho'
familiar with the circumstances th'