The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-22
MAY BE A BLUFF.
Promoters of Franl1fort Line Think
Union Pacific Isn't in Earnest.

A number of the directors of the
Topeka, Fran fort and Northwestern
railroad believing that the Union Pa
ciflc is only bluffing in its project to
build line from Topeka to Marys-
vile to be known as the Topeka and
Northwestern, a meeting Will probably
be called shortly at which time active
steps will be taken to build the Frank
fort line
When the Frankfort company
showed real symptoms of building its
proposed road, the Union Pacific or
ganized company known as the To-
peka and Northwestern and immedi-
ately actively engaged in buying a
right OF way through Shawnee and
Jackson counties. That was almost
five months ago. Since that time no
further land has been acquired in
either Pottawatomie or Marshall coun-
ties through which the proposed road
was mapped out. When the Frank
fort people saw the move of the Union
Pacific, they decided to stop their
work entirely, or at least until such
time as was necessary to find out
whether the Union Pacific meant bust
ness or not.
A number of the Frankfort road
directors have now come to the con-
cluSion that the MarySville branch is
only bluff, and that the project was
started only to drive out their road.
Believing that to be the case they will
meet shortly and probably decide to
continue their own proposition at once.
The Frankfort people have 100000
voted in bonds in the districts which
their right of way traverses, and they
can obtain the money at any time that
they desire to have 1t. The road will
cost about one million dollars. 1t
joins the Missouri Pacific road at
Frankfort.
T. j. Anderson. secretary of the To-
peka Commercial club is president of
the road He was asked this morn
ing concerning the situation and re-
piled:
Unless the Union Pacific gets busy
mighty quickly, we will go right on
with our own plan. 1t does not look
right to some of our directors. They
think that the u. p. simply tried to
bluff us to give up our project. I
cannot see that they have yet done
anything in particular which would
make anybody believe that their in
tentions are serious. They have
bought no land in Marshall and Pot
tawatomie counties. They have en-
tered no condemnation proceedings in
either Jackson or Shawnee although
they have made deals at various
places. There are a number of en-
gfneers beating about up there, that
is true. But 1 cannot see why they
should take so much time to it. That
does not seem necessary by any means.
They have a fiat, level country up
there. and all that is necessary for
them TO do, is to run straight line
across it."
"I do not know just when our meet
ing will be called continued Pres
ident Anderson, but it will be shortly
Our directors have been talking over
the matter good deal. They favor
immediate action of some kind. We
have over 100000 worth of bonds
voted, and we can get the money any
time we want it, There are two
Frankfort routes proposed. The peo-
pie along both are anxious to get it,
and we need not fear of the money
being put up just as quickly as we re-
quest it
The officers of the Topeka, Frank
fort and Northwestern road are as
follows: T. J. Anderson, president
Topeka; ]. C. Morrow, first vice pres
ident, Washington; w. F. Jensen, sec
ond vice president and secretary.
Topeka; Theodore Saxon, treasurer,
Topeka; w. A. S. Bird, general attor-
ney, Topeka; P. L. Wise, chief en-
gineer, Topeka.
The following are the directors:
Theo. Saxon, w. J. Gregg, John
Feighney, NJ. C. Holman, B. P. Wag-
goner, Peter Gurtler. James M.
Rhodes, W. H. Lasswell, w. F. Jensen,
J. c. Morrow, T. I. Eddy, J. A. Bon
jour, T. J. Anderson, j. A. Troutman,
w. A. S. Bird.