The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-29
A TROLLY Line.
Contract Has Been Let for Road
From X. C. to lola.
Chicago Company will Shortly
Begin the Work.
OTTAWA THE CENTER.
Will Parallel Southern Kansas
Railroad Quite Ways.
Eastern and State Capital Fur
nish Equal Money.
OTTAWA THE CENTER.

Kansas City, Aug. 29.-Hugh A.
Holmes, of New York city, last night
announced that the contract had
been given for the proposed new cleo
trio railroad line from Kansas City
to lola, Kas.
Mr. Holmes was at the Hotel Balti-
more yesterday in conference with
parties relative to the line, and early
last night received information that
Chicago construction company had
promised to do the work. He said
that he would meet representatives
of the contracting firm the latter part
of the week in this vicinity and that
the contract papers would be signed
between now and Saturday night. He
declined to give the price, but the
figures are known to run high. The
class of work is said to be difficult for
the line a good part of the way, owing
to the roughness of the country to be
encountered.
Rice, of Chicago, will set out in an
automobile this morning, making the
trip over the proposed route from
here to Ottawa, Kas., today Mr.. Rice
will then go over the situation pre-
paratory to the commencement of
work on the bridge which will span
the Marias des Cygnes river near OF
tawa. The following day the two will
proceed to auto to lola along the line
as proposed.
Mr. Holmes said last night that
about rs miles of the right of way had
been secured between here and lola,
10 miles, and he believed there
would be comparatively little difficulty
in securing the remainder. He ex-
poets within the next two or three
weeks that the contractors will have
a large force of workmen in Ottawa
ready to begin the work of construct
ing the grade. Ottawa will be the
central point from which the con-
struction will be made The work will
be done from there in both directions
at the same time.
at should think that between Oc-
tober 1 and November l., he said,
there ought to be 500 or 500 men
along the route at work. When the
road is completed. of course, is prob
lematical. Should we have it easy
in securing the remainder of the right
of way, by July 1 cars ought to be
running between Olathe and lola"
Commencing at Kansas City, the
road will pass out through Kansas
City, Kansas, Argentine, near Turner,
on the Santa Fe railroad, and thus al
most paralleling the Santa FEES South
ern Kansas division at a distance OF
from three to five miles, as far as OF
tawa. 1t will reach a point about II
miles northwest of Paola and the in
tention is to build a branch into that
city. From Ottawa the projected line
starts southwark until a short distance
south of the Marais de Cygnes river.
Then it turns sharply westward to a
point about directly north of lola and
thence directly into the last named
point. 1t will pass eight miles west of
Garnett, and at that point another spur
will be built into that city. Northeast
of Ottawa a dozen or more miles a
third branch will be built into Bald
win.
All of the country which the line and
its branches will traverse is exception
ally rich, and it is believed that the
road will receive liberal support. Some
of the sections touched have been in
serious need of transportation of some
sort.
From this main line with the
branches thus far contemplated a net
work of interurban lines may be built,
covering eastern and southern Kansas.
1t has been talked of for some time
that a road would be constructed
south from Johnson county. Kansas, to
Fort Scott, touching Mound City and a
number of smaller towns. Probably
this latter line will connect with the
Kansas City-Iola road somewhere in
johnson county.
Mr. Holmes said last night that
while he represented a large number
of eastern capitalists in this project
half the money was being furnished by
Kansas men. The company has not
yet secured articles of Incorporation.