The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-10

RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock Island Railroad to Pros
pect For Water.
$4,000 to Be Spent in Western
Kansas.
MAY REMOVE DIVISION.
Inadequate Water Supply at
PhilIipsburg the Reason.
MAY REMOVE DIVISION.
Strenuous Efforts Being Made
to Retain Division Point.

The town of Phillipsburg, which is
now the Rock Island division point IN
western Kansas. is worried over the
question as TO whether the Rock Island
railway contemplates removing the d.
vision point from that place. The ques-
ton OF securing an adequate supply OF
water IS the only one in consideration
If ii is found that an adequate supply
may be had at Phillipsburg. the Rock
Island viii keep the division point at
that place and will spend several thou
sand dollars IN improving the present
terminal facilities at that point. If 1t
is found that water may not be found to
meet the increased demands of the rail-
road at that point and that il is found
at some of the nearby towns, there may
be reason to credit some of the rumors
of a division removal from Phillipsburg.
a recent number of. the Phillipsburg
Dispatch says,
For several years the towns along
the line Of the Rock Island road from
Smith Center to Norton have been
hoping to secure the removal of the
division from this city to their own
town, but never have any OF the ofhcerS
of the company had any hand in the
removal question. The water question
has been a very serious one Tor the
company since building their line
through this part of the state In many
places the company has been compelled
to take out bridges and make dams to
increase the supply of water. rests
have been made at various points along
the line, but at no place has there been
found an ineXhauStible supply or water.
While we have been able for the last
fifteen years. to keep them supplied
fairly well, the time has come when
they expect to enlarge their business
here and put in permanent buildings
and a much larger supply of water will
be needed
There has been much said about the
scarcity of water at Phillipsburg by
some of our neishboring towns, who
hope to be benefited by the removal,
but the facts are that no city in north
west Kansas has furnished nor con-
summed one half the water that Phillips
burg has. Besides supplying the needs
of a city of LOO people our city water
works has furnished the railroad COM
pany on average of two million gallons
per month for the last year.
The railroad company is ready now
to enlarge the round house and put in
a much larger turn table, and make
other needed improvements. but want
the question thoroughly investigated
before work is commenced.
Last summer this city spent about
$4,000 putting down a we'll, but employed
not only incompetent but irresponsible
people to do the work, and before we
had ever tested the we'll to learn its
strength. it caved in.
Litigation between the city and the
contractors en- this damaged well has
prevented the cleaning out of the well
and poverty has kept us from putting
down another, so that as a matter of
fact, the quantity of water at Deer
creek, where we must get our supply. if
at ALL is entirely unknown, and the
amount of water which can be obtained
there is as much a matter of specula-
ton now as before we commenced our
work there last summer.
The railway officials say emphatically
that they want the division to remain
here at Phillipsburg if a sufficient sup
ply of water can be secured.
They further say that before they
put in their new and enlarged buildings
they must know certainly that they
can have all the water they want.
In order to settle this question. H. A
Parker, acting president, several weeks
ago wrote Mayor Lewis a letter calling
attention to this water question, and
after the exchange of a few letters and
to settle this question Mr. Parker and
MI Daub. the water commissioner of
the company, came to this CITY to visit
the Deer creek pumping station, where
a thorough investigation was made,
with the result that they believed that
an abundant supply could be had there
While on the ground Mr.. Parker in
structed Mr.. Daub to ship to this city
at once his drilling outfit and put down
a hole to a sufficient depth to make n
thorough test This work will be com
menced at once, as Mr.. Daub was or
dered to have the test completed By
~
"A delegation from Norton, COMPOSED
of some of the prominent business men
of that city, was here and asked for a
conference with Mr.. Parker but they
were Informed that no change of loca-
ton of their division was being consid-
cred nor would be until the water sup
ply at Phillipsburg was fully investi-
gated; and should it develop that a sIlf-
hcient supply could not be found. that
in the new location the question of
water supply would be the only one to
be considered
Mr. Parker said nothing would be
expected of the city to retain the diyi-
sion He said he did not expect the
city to supply the railroad company
with water, but on the other hand if a
supply was found they would put in
their own plant and would gladly ex-
pend $4,000 or $4,000 to secure water
and keep the division here. or they
would advance the money to the city to
complete their own plant and take il
in water receipts, as might be thought
best by those interested
Within the next two weeks We shall
know all about the supply of water.
and Will also know whether we are to
lose our division or whether it is to be
greatly enlarged, and all future cues
tons of its removal settled"
ANOTHER GREAT MERGER