The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-31
KENT The FIRST.
Topeka Newspaper Man Project
ed Behring Straits Railroad.
His Plans Had Been Carefully
Worked Out.
STOPPED BY ACCIDENT.
Revenue Cutter Upon Which He
Was to Travel Blew Up.
Still Has the Correspondence
With Gar and Others.


Harry De Windt, who has just fin
ished his trip traversing the proposed
route for a railroad which is planned
to connect Paris and New York and
the two hemispheres, is by no means
the first to propose such a railroad. w
H. Kent, Billy Kent, as he was ia
miliarly known in Topeka some eight
or nine years ago, planned such road
and but for the explosion of a steamers
boiler he might today be the one to be
working on the scheme.
Kent is a western newspaper man
who is well known in Topeka He was
years ago, and this week he was visit
ing in Topeka when the news was
printed that De Windt had landed in
Seattle. Kent read the dispatch but
made no comment on it. 1t reminded
him, however, of his own project.
This is the story. 1t sounds like
tream perhaps, but those who doubt it
can hunt up Kent and, to use the west
ern expression, they will find that The
has the papers to prove it" At the
time of the Turkish Russian war Kent
was telegraph editor of the Omaha Bee.
In order to handle the dispatches in an
intelligent manner he studied the map
constantly and he was able to follow
every move of the armies in the field.
He knew the map of Russia like a
player knows the checker board. To
of the bear but he could talk of Siberia
and all of Russia with the ease and as
surance of man who had Travelled
every mile of the country.
Kent knew the location of the noun
tains and rivers, the cities and villages.
the valleys and plains. He conceived
the idea of railroad which would
bridge Behring straits and connect the
two continents by rail. Kent studied
over the idea. 1t certainly seemed a
project that was not altogether impos-
sible. That his idea was practical is
proven by the fact that not only
DeWindt but j. J. Frey, formerly gen.
eral manager of the Santa Fe railroad,
is working on the scheme Kent work
ed out his ideas on paper. He had
maps drawn and a pamphlet printed ex-
planning in detail this project He in
terested men of means whom he knew
In Illinois, Indiana. Iowa, Nebraska and
Kansas He secured the attention of
several statesmen. These people agreed
to help Kent in his undertaking.
Kent then began communication
ruler a set of maps and his printed
pamphlet explaining the scheme for his
Behring strait railroad. The most fairy
ike and romantic part of the story is
that the car at once became interested
and Kent was suddenly the one man he
sought after. A correspondence COM
menced between the ruler of an empire
and a western newspaper man.
Kent informed the car that he would
travel the proposed route. Before pro-
ceed1ng further Kent wished to do this
as she wanted to be thoroughly familiar
with the country through which the
road was to be built He knew all
about it that he could learn from the
maps but he wished to see for himself
The car invited Kent to make the trip
ana arranged to meet him at the Rus
sian border with body guard
Inc next part OF the scheme for Kent
yync h0xx 70
up through Behring straits, the scene of
MS proposed railroad Kent brought
what influences he could to bear with
the officials at Washington and he was
gwen permission to make the trip on
the United States revenue cutter Cor
win which was to make the yearly trip
from San Francisco north and would
land him on Russian soil He secured
MS passports from Washington and had
an the arrangements made. The fact
that ne was to travel on a government
revenue cutter would minimize the cost
OF the journey which would otherwise
be rather expensive, especially for a
newspaper man, and would lend a bit
foreign soil.
Kent had everything arranged. What at
lirst seemed plan too stupendous for a
uoiiitnon cltlzen to undertake was working
itseiI out In excellent shape. Kent gave
up MS newspaper job in Omaha and pre-
pared to leave the Omaha Bee for Rus
CorW1n at San Francisco. He had his be-
Ionglngs slowed away in his travelling kit
ana left the Bee office one afternoon TO
take the train for Frisco. He had not
reached the depot when a messenger how
overlook him with the copy of an Associ-
ated Press telegram from frisco ANNOUNCE
ing that the boilers of the Corwfn had
OF ofow Cnr up; Ihat put the revenue cutter out
OF commission. There was but one other
revenue cutter in the Pacific waters and
mat was the Bear, which was also out of
service and which would not be able to
make the trip that year.
Kent then gave up his project and wrote
the car telling him of the circumstances
Inc car at once cabed to Kent that he
should at once journey to Russia by way
OF New York. Kent however did no.
wish to meet the Russians until he had
Travelled over at least part of the route
OF the transatlantic railroad and he de-
ciined the invitation. The car wrote 20
him again and urged him to come at once
to st. Petersburg He promised Kent that
even If his project was NOT carried ont
tnat he would decorate him with an order
wnlch would mean that he would receive
a competency for life.
Kent, however gave up the proiect for
a uIne and when he was ready to revive it
ne found that his pamphlets had fallen
INTO the hands of Others and that they
were working out his scheme So Kent
the western newspaper man. is still in the
business and he has no Russian decora-
tlon ana DeWindt and others are work
ing on ms scheme. There are people of
course who may doubt the tale but il they
were to see the bundle of official 6ocli.
ments with long ribbons and big seals
showing them to be all official communica-
uons from the car they might believe it.
King is Able to Walk.
Cowes. Isle of Wight, July 31.-Today's
bulletin on the condition of King Edward
follows: His majesty has made rapif
profess since Monday last. His general