The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-04-19
MIDLAND IS TO
REACH WICHITA
Branch Likely to Run from
Muskogee West.
GUTHRIE EXPECTS THE LINE
Planned Then to Be Extended d
to Wichita.
GUTHRIE EXPECTS THE LINE

| Guthrie, o. T., April 1S.-Guthrie some
| time ago conceived the idea of becom-
ing a great railroad center and she i'm
| mediately set about getting the roads.
She now claims TO have eight roads, in
| spite of the fact that some of the larger
| roads are swallowing the smaller ones
The men who have the railroad inter-
ests of the city in charge have FOR some
| time been casting longing glances at the
MIDLAND valley road 1t seemed the most
natural thing in the world for this line
when it reached Muskogee to construct
a branch, if not the main line, on west
to Guthrie and continue on up the val
ley of the Cimarron in a northwestern
direction. 1t now seems that the Mid
lam, company is determined TO push on
TO Wichita, as the following from the
Tulsa a. T) Democrat will show:
me Midland Valley railroad is next
akin TO gas and oil wells, in the way of
interest to Tulsa and community. This
| line, which is backed by many of the cap
italists and promoters of the former
Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf. is being
buliI upon somewhat the same plan as
was that road. which finally developed
into a trunk line and is now an impor-
tant part of the great Rock Island sys-
tenn.
''Messrs Frick MeCioud, Moliter and
others acquired some of the finest coal
property in western Arkansas and the
eastern part of the Indian Territory.
Some of these coal properties were in
operation and diners have been opened.
and all have been connected by rail.
This was the beginning of the project
for constructing the Midland Valley.
While building the line west TO the Ca
madam river, a purchose was made of the
Muskogee Southern, building southeast
toward the same river. These two sec
tions Of road viii be connected within
thirty days or less and through trains
will be run from connections with Mis-
souri, Pacific. Frisco and Kansas City
Southern railroads, at and near Fort
Smith to Muskogee.
From the latter place contracts have
been let for immediate construction OF
twelve miles of roadbed northwest and
the remainder of the distance between
Muskogee and Tulsa will be let, and
possibly as much as twenty-eght miles
are already contracted for. 1t is this last
part in which we are especially inter
ested.
Appropriation is now up to Tulsa for
the securing of the Midland Valley by
way of this place. In substance. the road
requires a bonus of S15.o0, one-half of
which is to be paid when the road is
completed from here to the Arkansas
river about three miles distant, and the
bridge put across that stream, while the
other half will be due when the road is
in operation between Muskosee and
Tulsa.
THE object in building the three miles
from Tulsa to Arkansas river before the
completion of the line from Muskogee
to that point is no doubt to sooner en-
aDie the construction of the bridge, and
to have that expensive and difficult job
finished by the time that the road is ex
tended from Mushogee to the river.
The Midland Valley will continue west
from Tulsa to Wichita, Kan, and pos
sibly further northwest. and it will build
southeast from Fort Smith by way OF
Hot Springs until a gulf connection is
reached This viii make it a high grade,
well built and an important trunk line.
which would be of incalculable benefit
to Tulsa. and as our citizens 10 doubt
realize the full import of such a desirable
railroad connection the bonus Will most
surely be raised.