The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-22

clsiOn against the merger Of the North
ern Pacific and the Great Northern
railways and said that the decision was
the greatest declaration of independence
the American people had made since
1776 That it meant the maintenance
of competition and the construction and
ownership of railways outside of the
interest Of a. few magnates.
Mr.. Dickinson. who has spent the
business portion of his life. thIrty--t hree
years. with the Union Pacific railway
until within the last six months and for
large part of the time as general
manager spoke of his connection and
faith in the Orient railway He said he
had first regarded It as a joke but unon
Investigation had decided to give up the
position which he could have held
deubtlessly indefinitely and to invest 4
large sum of money about 100000. IN
the enterprise.
John E. Frost. president Of the Com
mercidl club. spoke of his acqu8i utance
wells ia efalasburg. III. and pointed out
TO the visiting railway men the import
ance of 3 connection with Topeka AMI
the building of road northwest from
this city through an unoccuDied terri
tory.
In reference to this M Dickinson
said he had little doubt but that this
line for which Topeka has so long
sought would be built by some road
He said that the Union Pacific had al
most been ready to build it long ago
Z H. Crosby said III his occasional
visits in Louisiana. where he was born
and where he still had large interests
Mr.. Stilwell was very highly regarded
as man who had opened up large
portion Of that state by cons tructlug z
railroad and giving reasonable rates
Herbert Hackney spoke Of the great
Importance Of fair freight rates and
confirmed Mr.. Stilwelfs statement a bout
the immense advantage which had ae-
crued TO Kansas through the reduction
of rates brought about by The Kansas
CITY Southern railway under Mr. Still
wells management
p T. Bouebrake. in referring to the
great future of the Orient said that It's
prospects were far brighter than those
Of the santa F'e were a few years ago
when that road began its first c0nstrlIc-
tfcu in this town when its proposed
terminus on the Pacific coast was re-
garded as dream
Senator J. r. Burton spoke enthusiast
tieaIly about the road and his regard
for Mr.. StIweu He said that he was
putting what money he could rake and
scrape together and spare into this en-
terprise chat he thoroughly believed in
Ii and its management He said 1t
wiz not hurt anybody nor any road.
but VIII help everybody; that after II
leaves Wichita the lire runs through
territory not covered by railways and
with untold mineral resources. through
4 country which would furnish an inn
mense business and be a line which
would be a powerful factor in the de-
vel0pment of the Orient trade.
Major r. j. Anderson secretary Of rae
Commercial club. made strous appeal
tor just freight rates for Topeka and said
that If MT StllWeH GotIid bring this apouV
the people would bow down and worship
him He referred to the fact that rev
years ago II cost more 90 transport rrelSnt
from TIE east side Of the Mississippi river
to the west side of the same river than II
does now To haul the same freight from
the east shore of the Pacific ocean to me
west shore- that it now costs more TO haul
freight from Kansas City TO Topeka than
from points six times far east OF kan
sas CITY, that the charge 70 Topeka IS
tweury-nine cents against ten cents 70
some towns further from the Missouri tEEtIl
we are He stated that we had produced
sixteen million dollars worth Of manuI1c-
lures ir Topeka last year but our hope
for the future lay in the abolition OF e1-
tortionate freight charges
The evening was closed BY a glowing de-
serintiru Of Kansas from the voice OF :
4 McNeaI who declared that the state
was not only the greatest IN the union
hft was the center Of the verdi that 2
line drawn from Kansas 20 the oppeSits
side Of the earth was the same length IS
that drawn from that point to Kansas IT
She opposite direction east or west n'ftn