The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-04-23
RIVALRY IN RAILWAY
BUILDING
Rock Island and CbOctaW
Trying 10 GObbIe the
Rich CaddO Country

El Reno, Okla, april lL.- Rivalry
IN railroad building in Western and
Southwestern Oklahoma has grown SO
vigorous that railroad companies as
matter OF self protection may be
forced into q construction OF lines that
they would prefer not 20 kuild Until
lately the neld was occupied by the
Chicago. Rock island g Pacific and
the oklahoma, ChDctaw N Gulf rail-
road companies. zach seeking to gain
advantage in an outlet 20 the far
Southwest More than tw- years ago
the Choctaw began building westward
from Geary, with the avowed purpose
of completing ta line TO Amarillo,
Tex Construction was pushed no
further west than weathcrford, Okla,
at chat time. but the Rock Island
quickly entered the field and began
building from Chickasha to Anadarko
and Mangum Upon the completion
OF this line the company let contracts
for line from Anadarko 20 Fort SIN,
through the heart of the richest por
tion OF the Kiowa and Comanche
country Ultimately Il is expected
that the Rock island win build from
Fort Sill to Vernon. Tex There is
talk Of a line from Fort sill TO Terrill
I. r.. on Red river These lines, to-
gether with the main line on the east
would give the Rock Island full con.
troll OF the Kiowa and Comanche
country
Several months ago the Choctaw
again resumed work and soon had
dirt flying all The way from Weather
ford to the Texas line and from
Geary north by way of Watonga toI
Cleo, and thence ia the direction Of
Kiowa. Kas. This last llne has been
completed TO Roman Nose canyon, a
few miles north Of Wascnga.
A Rush TO Complete the Work.
The Cimarron river. wiz be reached
by May IS. when delay viii follow
until bridge can be built It is ex-
pocted that trains viii be running into
Cleo by June TO- Two weeks ago 40
per cent of the grading from Weather
ford to the Texas line had been finish
ed, and the line will be in operation
by August G, after which work viii be
pushed on construction from the Ok
lah0ma line to Amarillo.
The Rock Island lost no time in
seeking 20 checkmate the Choctaw
the moment the latter began building
from Geary. Contracts have been let
from Enid to a point near Ringwood,
about twenty.four miles due west. A
representative of the Rock Island
made the statement a few days ago
that from Ringwood a line would be
built due sorth to Anndarko, passing
through the middle of the Wichita and
caddo Indian reservation, territory
now unoccupied by railroads
This Ringwood-Anadarko line, If
built win provoke open hostilities be-
tween the Rock Island and the Choe-
taw. An official Of the latter COM
pany said a few days ago that any
attempt by the Rock Island to parallel
the Choctaw's Geary-Cleo line would
result in the livellest railroad fight
ever Witnessed in Oklahoma. The
Cboctaw would retaliate by parallel.
ing the Rock Island through the Wich-
ita and Caddo and Kiowa and Co
manche reservations. With only
these two companies IN the field, an
agreement might be reached by which
this competition could be ayerted, but
another company may force the Choc
taw and Rock Island each TO build oI
compel them TO pay a big price fol
immunity from outside interference
This new line ia the Blackwell, Enid
a. Southwestern Railroad company
nnanciered by the Mississippi Valley
Fruit company and already in opera
tlon from blackwell to Enid. judge
A. q. G. Bierer OF Guthrie is now il
Washington securing charter for th'
building of this line from Enil
through the wichita and Caddo an,
Kiowa and Comanche reservations
Neither the Choctaw nor the Rocl
Island can hardly afford to make al
agreement between themselves tha
viii tie their hands while bmooty !
carried away by third person.
Third Line Claims Much Capital.
The builders OF the Blackwell, Eni
& Southwestern claim TO have unliu
tied capital behind them. The lin
has been cheaply constructed, whio
suggests speculative purposes.
Should the Choctaw go south @
Geary there viii be an attempt mad
to induce the company to build nortl
west from Ardmore across the chicl
asaw nation, which has only north ar
south railroad lines a conuectio
could be made with lis line no