The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-10
w. W. Sylvester Replies t.
Spanish "knOckers.''
Says Two Papers Are Hostile to
Americans.
NOT SUSPENDED.
Only Delayed by Loss of Cargo
of Ties.
No Truth in Report of Difficulty
About Title.

Referring to published statements that
work had been SUSPENDED on the Orient
railway in Mexico on account of a ques-
ton Of title to lands in the old Owens
con ession, Vice President w. w. Syl-
vester writes the Railway Age, under
date of Kansas City. August %:
There IS absolutely no foundation
for any statements regarding the sus-
pension of construction work on our
line in Mexico or elsewhere. 1 have just
returned from there myself and have
been over the actual work. and it is
beig pushed rapidly both east and west
of Chihuahua and from Port Stilwell.
at Topolobampo bay, easterly. In all
three of these places we are spending
large amounts o. money and on the
Pacific coast especially, where we are
arranging to double our forces.
There are two little Spanish Qapers
in the state of Sinaloa. Mexico, which
are always arrayed against = mericans;
for that matter any other nation when
goes into their country. One of these
papers has persistently maligne6 us,
and articles from it have been copiei
BY eastern papers which are closely
affiliated with railroads in this country
that are constantly fighting us. As an
g.
down there they speak of ou- railroad
as Amer can INVASION and any other
enterprise that might be started there
Is qesiEnated commercial INVASION
go into these details that you may
see in our case how great a fire a little
spark kindleth. The only foundation
Tor all these press items, which have
appeared all over the country, regard
ing the suspension of our work, was
based upon the fact that a little vessel
containing about Is, 900 ties. destined to
our road at Port Stilwell from San
Francisco, and which was all we would
require to finish our first 100 kiIometers
OF road from the coast inland, was lost
in the harbor of Topolobampo. In some
way she broke her rudder and drifted
upon the rocks, and vessel and ties
sank AS the nearest point from which
to order supplies is San Francisco. we
were obliged to recorder these ties there,
in order to complete the first 100 kilo-
meters, as mentioned above. This will
require at least 30 days to get a new
cargo down there and pending their ar
rival we called our local manager to
the home office to consult with him re-
garding pushing the work on the sec
ond 100 kilometers, as we are expect
ing rails for same to be shipped from
England at any time. This little acci-
dent and the calling of Mr.. Case to the
home office was the basis Of their petty
and annoying remarks.
of which you have undoubtedly seen a
great deal in the papers. this matter
has also been greatly twisted; in some
cases probably by parties ignorant of
the facts while in some few cases in an
effort to do us harm. The Owens claim
has nothing whatever to do with the
Orient railroads concession, in any
way, shape or form. Owens claim was
based on an interest he mas in some
land near TopOlobampo harbor. AS 1
understand it. he had an undivided in
terest with some Spanish and other for
eign heirs, and has been fighting this
matter for the last 20 years in an effort
to get the title Strengthened out. Some
months ago the California courts de-
clared his title to these lands legal.
Just what value this is seems to me
extremely problematic, as California
courts cannot deliver lands in Mexico,
no matter how they may decide on the
title His suit. however, regarding
these lands was not with us. and af-
fects our railroad in no way whatever.
Our own lands at Port Stilwell have
been bought and paid for and the Kan
sas City. Mexico & Orient railway and
its concession are not in any way con-
nected, directly or indirectly, with
Owens"