The Greeley tribune., 1903-10-15
HAS TRUMPS
Union PACIFIC BAIKED BY
ONE WOMAN.
Lively Times in Little Town OF
Kersey Over Railroad
Siding and Other
Property.

The merIiest kind of war is on
In the little town OF keIsey between
the Union Pacific railroad and some
citizens. And what makes the thing
all the more eXasperating to the cor
poration is that one lone woman is
holding the best position and so lar
as can be seen the railroad Will nave
to come to her terms. The woman
in the case in Mrs. Ella G. McMur-
raw, owner and manager OF the Cot
tage hotel, one OF the most home
like and neat little hostelries along
any of the Onion Pacific lines.
So many elements figure IN the
case that it is almost impossible TO
bring order out of the chaos, but one
thing seems at this time certain,
that the railroad will have to con-
denim and then purchase the right OF
way through the town that II mas
occupied now for about p yeaIs, and
will thereafter have to pay taxes on
the property, from which 1t has been
exempt foI all this time.
In 1882 the Julesburg branch OF the
Union Pacific was built, and so far
as can be ascertained no filings were
made on the land occupied as right
OF way on the southeast quarter OF
section 20, township 3, range 20
north. In 1892 j. kersey Painter
secured a government deed to this
quarter section, having homesteaded
the piece. In the meantime the
railroad tack was reclining peace
fully over the corner of the property
Later on the depot was built on the
same ground. With that came Sid
ings and warehouse, the latter OF these
built by Mr.. Painter. An agreement
was made, it is said, between the
railroad company and Mr.. Painter.
that as rent for the land they were
to construct and maintain siding
running up to his warehouse. Two
years ago the company started TO
build section house on the same
ground, but TO this Mr.. Painter OBJ
jected, so they moved the location
few hundred feet farther east and
built on ground Of their OWE. The
building was located In the direct
line of the sizing running up past
Mr.. Pain,er's warehouse. This sum-
mer the railroad company wanted to
extend this siding several hundred
yards east to make room for more
'empties. The section house being
right in the way, grading was com.
menced for a new bed for the spur,
which would leave the Painter ware
house about fourteen feet away from
the track, making it practically i'm
possible to load from the building
August of the present year Mrs
McMurray, who had been occupying
the property for some time, purchased
the same and finding that her ware.
mouse would he practically worthless
without the tracks, although the
building was the best of its kind in
the town, tried to negotiate for the
retention OF the track there. This
she says was refused her by Z. P.
officials. so she hired gang OF men
who fenced in the whole business,
sidetrack and all. She finally gave
her consent to the q. P workmen
to remove the rails and ties from the
siding, which was done last Friday,
ard she now declares that the rail-
road shall no longer occupy the land
free OF charge. which she would have
been willing it should had the side
track been left where it was In the
meantime she has heen fortunate
enough to let the building to good,
sponsihle farmers for store house
for the winter.
Mrs. McMurray has employed
Thompson x Hatch attorneys, to
look after her interests in the mat
ter, and it is said that an eXamina-
tion Of the assessors books fails to
show that the Union Pacific has
ever paid cent of taxes on property
in the southeast quarter Of section
20. so it is believed the railroad is up
against it, other property owners ad-
joining the land in question: OH the
Dortn having also taken part in the
,,nt,oro,s,,
sS-..s7
Harvest Festival
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