The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-10
Southwestern Lines to Inaugu.
rate Big Colonization Plan.
Santa Fe and Rock Island In
vite Conference.
FOLLOW HILLS LEAD.
How Railroads Have Developed
the Northwest.
President YOakum Talks About
the New Southwest.

Colonization on a gigantic scale IS to
be undertaken by a number OF rail-
roads traverSing the great southwest.
the Santa Fe and Rock Island already
having issued Joint circular letters to
representatives from other lines to meet
with them next week and consider the
best way to get at this all-imDortant
proposition. The territory which it is
proposed to benefit is composed of the
states of Kansas. Oklahoma, Texas, Ar
kansas and the Indian Territory. When
the meeting a few days hence gets to-
gether there will be something tangible
resulting that will give them a basis
upon which to continue the development
of their plans
This scheme of inviting colonists along
the railroads is not a novel one Presl-
dent James j. Hill of the Northern Pa
cific is a great stickler for this means
of improving the territory adjacent to
his roads All the northwestern roads,
lines have carried on this scheme OF de-
velopment for several years
They have left no means untried OF
inducing settlers to go in and occupy
the vacant lands and develop the latent
-esources of the territory Their efforts
lave been crowned with the most graft
flying success, and northwestern terri
tory has been peopled and developed at
an exceedingly rapid rate to the great
benefit of the roads interested. every
new settler becoming at once pro-
Queer and a creator of new traffic
This new southwestern movement Will
partake largely of the same character:
Its promoters say that the states and
territories named possess everything TO
invite settlement and development The
soil is of the richest character, the
climate is equable and free from the
rigOrS of the northwestern section
Abundant crops of all kinds have been
reaped and the present moment affords
the most suspicious opportunities for
homeseekers to inspect the territory Ii
has been already supplied with ample
railroad facilities and only needs occu-
pants to develop its resources, which
are believed to be inexhaustible.
Speaking about this new southwestern
territory which the railroads have in
mind to use their efforts in developing.
President B. F. Yoakum of the ST Louis
and San Francisco in recent interview
said among other things;
..Frorzl my knowledge OF the past and
the present of the territory in question,
/ am confident of its future. Its diver
sifled interests and the Roadway that IS
being made by rapid development Of a
permanent character must be known to
be appreciated.
There is no cause for uneasiness on
the ground that the west and southwest
will not be able to take care of the COM
ing crops, so far as supplying funds are
concerned. Conditions down there uni
formly point to prosperity. In Texas
and the territories alone, estimating the
cotton crop at $500. 900 bales. the farm
ers will realize on cotton and cotton
seed products alone. at present prices,
about S135. 000, COO Putting this one pro-
duction on a per capita basis, 1t be-
comes evident that the financial position
of Texas and the territories is immense
ly strong, as compared with the position
of a few years ago. This applies not
only to bankers and commercial inter-
ests, but the farmers, stock raisers and
those engaged in local industries are be-
coming so independent that instead of
being borrowers they will shortly be
lenders of money
In time a large portion of the money
taken from the east for the movement
of crops will be western money, placed
here to the credit of western banks ana
withdrawn temporarily This is partly
true of the present season. Today re-
gard the east more dependent upon
the west than the west has been upon
the east for many years. and from my
knowledge of the conditions and the
substantial growth and development OF
the west and southwest. 1 believe that
this Independence of the west will in
crease as time goes on.
Not only will this ultimately prove to
be true in matters of manufacture and
Industrial life, but it will also apply to
money matters Therefore. although it
has been an axiom of Wall street that
large amount of money must go to
of crops, this will be much less marked
prove still less noticeable in the fu-
tura."
The plan will include the Inaugural
southwestern lines in order that pros