The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-01
KANSAS NEWS.
Orient Situation at Wichita
Grows Serious.
The Question Of Terminals Is
Still Unsettled.
PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.
Chamber of Commerce Trying
to Help Out.
Meeting of City Council Called
to Consider Controversy.
PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.

Wichita, Oct. 1-Mr. John Eaton,
general counsel of the Orient railroad.
left Wichita detected, after fruitlesS
day in the city. and leaving the prob
solved.
The situation is serious. There was
general concern over the city last even
ing in regard to it. Practically every
body views the Orient as the grea test
thing by far Wichita has in view at
present. The road, more than any other
ever projected in this section, has shown
a preference for Wichita and given earn
est of the things which a railroad can
bestow-Wichita was to receive all. and
for the first time at the hands OF a rail-
road.
Now the really minor matter of a place
for a passenger and freight station, as
accessible as other passenger and
freight stations, has interviewed, the first
break in a friendship which promised
/ to be famous
The Orient originally asked that it be
given Fourth avenue from the south up
/ to William street. Action on this re-
quest was postponed, the Frisco seized
| the east side of MOSley avenue on which
the Orient had been granted right of
way. This left the Orient merely way
into the southern part of the city, with
no way out and without access to any
portion of the city suitable for station
| location.
Yesterday the city council was called
in special session to consider a new
right of way. Formerly remonstrance
on the part of several wholesalers along
the Orient had been presented. This
was again presented yesterday and the
council again postponed action. The
Orient officials say that immediate &C
| ton is imperative, and the failure of
the council to act was discouraging to
| them in the extreme.
| 1t is plain that the Orient must be
given accessible terminals in Wichita.
| Failure to provide them would be sui
/ Cida1 IF Fourth iS not 1Naila bile
then some other plan must be devised,
and that quickly. Only one Substituts
has been suggested so far, and it is not
known whether it would be acceDta Bile
to the Orient officials or not, but I'M
doubtedly would be. This suggestion is
that the Orient be granted right of way
up the west bank of the Arkansas river
until it reaches a point just opposite
William street, that the river be bridged
and right of way be granted east OH
/ William street to Main street, the pas
senger station to be located just west
and across the street from the city
building 1t is said that property own
ers all along West Douglas avenue are
enthusiastic over this suggestion This
would place a station within one block
Of the corner of Main street and Doug
las avenue.
So much feeling came out over the diff.
/ ficulty yesterday that the chamber of
commerce passed ringing resolutions in
favor of the Orient Seing given what
it asked; that is, right of way up Fourth
avenue.
Whether the station goes on East
| William street or on West William, or
on East Douglas or West Douglas, the
terminals must go somewhere. Wichita
can not afford to imDeril in the least
| the notably amicable relations it has
established with the great Stilwell sys-
tenn, which proposes not only to open a
great new territory to Wichita. but to
make this its principal division point
and to place here its principal shops.
The Orient officials do not believe they
have asked anything unreasonable.
They say they have attempted to secure
terminals with as little injury to valuable
property as was possible. and there is
no Disgusting the fact that they are
| considerably discoura ged and put out
over the results of their endeavors up
to date.
1t is probable that some important ac-
ton will be taken Immediately to pre-
vent a bad situation from getting
worse.
The special meeting of the city coun-
ell was called to consider the granting
of a franchise to the Kansas City Mex
leo & Orient Railway company to use
| the east half of fremont avenue from
Bayley avenue to William street and TO
establish at the southeast corner of
| fremont and William a passenger de-
pot and south of that structure freight
depot.