The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-18
ORIENT PUSHING ON.
Road Is Completed South of
Cimarron River.

wichita, Kan, July 1S.-The line of
the Kansas City. Mexico & Orient rail-
way from this city northeastward has
been located permanently as far as
Cassoday Butler county, and from that
point to Matfield Green there is a gap,
and the balance of the way to Emporia
mas been staked and is ready for the
graders. Cassoday is almost on the
north line of Butler county, two miles
from Sycamore Springs, close to the
Chase county line. and about so miles
from Wichita
The Orient line will run beside the
missouri Pacific tracks until north of
the city, crossing the tracks between
IOlervllle and Greenwich. The Missouri
Pacific turns almost directly east at
IolerVllle, while the Orient will take an
Almost air line toward Emporia. The
nrSt station after crossing the Missouri
Pacific will be Palmyra, on the Butler
county lire and the road will cross the
McPherson brapch- Of the Missouri Pa
cific near Potwfn ana the Florence cut
on or the Santa Fe near .DeGraff The
next station win be Cassoday, almost on
the Chase county line.
The company has secured the right of
way on this territory for the greater
part Of the distance by buyins the Lana
outright from the farmers Some few
stretches will have to be condemned.
The Orient line in Butler and Chase
counties will pass through a section
considerably larger than Butler county
where there is no railroad within TWEEN
ty miles. Almost an exact quarter of
Butler county, more than quarter of
Greenwood county and half of Chase
county have no railroads. forming an
almost perfect square with rails as
boundaries containing twenty-five town
ships with the center near Cassoday.
This territory is given almost entirely
to grazing at present but the building
of the Orient will be a great boon to
the sJockmen as it will allow them to
ship their cattle to and from the feed
ing grounds and pastures without a
drive of twenty or thirty miles.
o. G. Burrows returned yesterday
from a trip over the southern line of the
Orient. He states that while the work
is being pushed wherever it is possible,
operations are greatly delayed by the
non arrival of bridge timbers. The road
is completed to Orienta, a new town
two and a, half miles south of the
Cimarron river, and the side tracks and
depot were being constructed yesterday.
Today the Orient expects to haul grain
out of that place, and Monday an agent
will be established there. The greater
part of the wheat will be shipped here
and already has been bought by the
several mills of the city. The road has
opened up a new wheat territory to
Wichita and while there is a market for
it here very little will pass. Mr.. Bur
rows states tnat wheat Is proving even
a better crop than was expected and
that the quality is excellent Several
fields have yielded as high as 40 BUSH
els to the acre. but the general crop in
that section averages between 25 and 40
bushels per acre. Orienta is very new
town but is growing rapidly under the
prospects of a railroad. Freight will be
handled between Wichita and that town
beginning with the first of next week.
Beyond Orienta the grade has been
completed to Fairview, which is six
miles south of Orienta. but there are
four bridges to be built between these
points, and as it is a difficult matter to
get bridge timbers it may be several
days before more can be done at that
point. However, the officials expect to
have the road completed and trains rum
ming into Fairview before the last of the
month Fairview is not a new town
and has never had a railroad but is
taking a new lease on life on the
strength of the Orient A new bank has
been opened and numerous other enter
prises have sprung UP. The citizens
have faith in the Orient and are eager
ly awaiting the day it is built into their
| little CITY