The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-20
RAILROAD NEWS.
StiIWelI Made Money Out Of His
Banquet.
Raised Three-QuaFters of q MIL
lion for the Orient.
PUSH THE KANSAS LINE
Road Will Be Put Into Opera
ti0n by October.
Missouri Pacific Between Usage
and X. C. to Be Used.

Kansas City, Mo, Feb. 20-A. E. Still
well, president of the Kansas City,
Mexico & Orient railroad, aroused en-
thusiasm for his project to shorten the
distance between Kansas City and the
Orient at a dinner at the Midland hotel
last night. Among the guests were
men from London, England. points in
Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas, Indian Territory
and towns along the line of the pro-
posed railroad. There was an aston
ishing exhibition of faith in Mr.. Still
well and his project. 1t found a more
substantial expression than words or
resolutions. 1t was manifested In SUD-
scriptions to the Union Construction
company that is building the line from
Kansas City to Texas. Three quarters
of a million dollars was subscribed.
The subscriptions ranged from $1,000
to $4,000, and the money subscribed
came from all over the country.
Following the speeches made by w.
A. Harris, ex-United States senator
from Kansas; James Hogg, former gov
ernor of Texas, and ]. S. Braithwaite.
Of London vice president of the Orient.
Mr.. Stilwen announced the purpose Of
the meeting, the securing of subscrip-
lions to complete the line through
Kansas.
Another purpose of the dinner de-
veloped, when A. E. Stilwell announced
/ InaC the line through Kansas WOULD DC
completed and in operation by October
1. The line is to be built from Milton.
/ the present terminus in Kansas, to
Wichita and thence from Wichita to
Usage City. Mr.. Stilwell, recognizing
an inSistent demand for the opera ton
1 of the line, has made a temporary ar
rangement for the use of the Missouri
Pacific tracks from Usage City to
Kansas City until the Orient tracks
can be built from east of Usage City.
The line iS in fiOn at three
different points on the proposed syS-
tenn; from Milton, Kan, to Falrview,
Ok, ITO miles; from east of Chihuahua
to Albania, forty miles; from Port Still
well, on the Pacific coast, to Ell Fuerte,
a. distance of sixty-fve miles. The
| building of the line from Milton, Kan,
to Kansas City will put in operation 20
miles more Of track, besides opening
from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas
points. The Orient has enjoyed a traf-
| fic over the parts of the line in opera
ton that justifies rushing the compile
ton of the line through Kansas. The
/ Kansas line will tap one of the most
progressive and productive districts
along the line of the entire proposed
railroad. 1t runs through some of the
richest counties in the state and touch
es some of its most important cities,
including Wichita, Anthony, Emporia,
Usage City, Harper and Lawrence. 1t
runs through the following counties in
Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson, Douglas,
Shawnee, Usage, Lyon. Chase, Coffey,
Butler, Sedgwick, Sumner, Kingman
and Harper
In connection with the completion of
the line through Kansas work will be
gin on the terminal system in the two
Kansas Citys at once. The plan in
wolves a four track terminal, two for
cam railroads and two for electric
-ilroads. With six miles of terminal
tracks the Orient will enter the var
fous depots and establish connection
with practically every railroad in Kan
sas City with the exception of the Chi
cago & Alton railroad. The new ter
minals will cost million dollars and
will include two bridges across the
Missouri river. Work will be begun on
these terminals as soon as the weather
will permit.