The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-29
Rock Island and ChactaW Roads
Striving For Advantage.
FIGHT is THREATENED
Blackwell and Oklahoma City
Lines Under Construction.
Other Railroad News of General
and Local Interest.

Railroad building in Oklahoma and
particularly in the western and south
western parts, has become very active
within the last few months. and some Of
the companies may be forced to build,
for self protection, lines that they 9TH
sr1vise would not build Until lately the
field was. occupied by the Rock Island
and the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf
companies each seeking to gain advan-
tage in an outlet to the far southwest
More than two years ago the Choctaw
began building westward from Geary,
with the avowed purpose of completing
its line to Amarillo, Tex Construction
was pushed no further west than
WeatherfOrd, Ok, at that time, but the
Rock island quickly entered the field
and began building from Chickasha to
Anadarko and Mangum. Upon the COM
pletion OF this line the company let con-
tracts for a line from Anadarko TO Fort
Sill, through the heart of the richest
portion OF the KiOwa and Comancne
country. Ultimately it is expected that
the Rock Island viii build from Fort
Sill to Vernon, Tex There IS tax OF a
line from Fort Sill to Terrill. /. t. on
Red river. These lines. together with
the main line on the east, would give
the Rock Island full control Of the
kiOwa and COmanche country
Several months ago the ChoctaW
again resumed work and soon had dirt
flying all the way from WeaIher1Ord 10
the Texas line and from Geary north by
way of Watonga to Cleo, and thence in
the direction of Kiowa, Kan. This last
line has been completed to Roman Nose
canyon. few miles north of Watonsa-
Two weeks ago nearly half the grading
from Weatherford 70 the Texas line had
been finished, and the road Will be in
operation by August 8, after which
work viii be pushed on construction
across into Texas
The Rock Island lost no time in seek
ing TO checl1mate the ChOctaw the mo-
he
Geary. Contracts have been let from
Enid to a point near RingwCod, about
fWenty-fOur miles due south TO Anadar-
1O. passing through the middle of the
Wichita and CaddO Indian reservation,
territory now occupied by railroads.
This RingwOod-AnadarkO line, If built,
will provoke open hOstilities between
the Rock Island and the ChoctaW- An
officialsof the latter. company said a few
days ago that any attempt by the Rock
Island to parallel the ChOctaW's Geary-
Cleo line would result in the Hveliest
railroad fight ever witnessed in Okla
hOma- The ChOctaW would retaliate by
paralleling the Rock Island through the
Wichita and Caddo and kiowa and
COmanChe reservations.
A new line is the Blackwell. Enid and
Southwestern financed by the Missis-
sippi Valley Fruit company and already
in operation between Blackwell and
Enid The company claims to possess
unlimited capital
There is every indication that the
Oklahoma City & Southwestern railroad
company will build from Oklahoma City
by way of Chickasha to Vernon, Texas,
giving the klOWa and COmanche coun-
try another railroad. This is regarded
as a St Louis & San Francisco enter
prise The Orient railroad is another
line chartered to enter western and
southwestern Oklahoma It's survey
passes through Arapahoe, in Custer
county, and Alters. in Greer county,
which will throw the line west of the
main~range of the Wichita mountains.