The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1905-05-12
STOCK SUBSCRIPTIONS
Farmers Are Determined tO
Raise the $l.O0 Per Acre.
Another Meeting Held on Tennessse
Fiat TO Discuss the Situation
ALL Are Encouraged.

whitman county farmers along the
line OF the Spokane K Inland have set
the mark OF their encouragement OF the
company by stock subscriptions at 81 90
per acre OF their holdings, and are de-
termined the amount shall be raised in
the various sections.
This was made more clear by the
meeting OF the Tennessee Flatters on
Ihursday evening, May 4. at their
school house. Some 20 farmers were
present, and they organized with Jas. H,
McCroskey, chairman, and Lawrence
higgins, secretary. The railroad com
pany was represented by W. s. Yearsley.
The party expected from Colfax failed 70
connect, but home orators deyeloned
sufficient to meet the emergency. There
We also present W II. Golding and !.
u. Baines of the Barton district com
mittee, and chairman VIM. Richardson
OF that recent meeting. These gentlemen
were OF great assistance to their Ten
nessee neighbOrs by describing their sue
cess. They reported about 81, 900 sub
scrlbed and good deal more in sight.
and assured their neighbOrs that the
quota OF Sl.OO per acre for their section
would be forthcoming. Mr.. Yearsley
presented the amended form of subscrip-
ton blank authorized by the company
accepting notes payable Nov. |, and
guaranteeing the line within three miles
Of lands Of subscribers, and final COM
pletlOn on or before Jan. |, 1907, or all
subscriptions to be returned. The meet
ing expressed the belief that every owner
OF right OF way that is wanted will give
same free OF cost. A committee on sub
scriptiOn was then appointed, consisting
OF K. l.. Huffman, Leonard Strobel and
Lawrence Huggins which Immediately
began work, and about $20, 900 was sub
scrlbed before the meeting closed This
committee agreed on territory for the
canvass az between their respective dis
tricts. Thus the ground is now covered
between Colfax and well up into Steptoe
town.
The meeting developed that all the
points relative to the Importance of the
road, and the values farmers will receive
from it are well understood. Among
them are: First, that this is no gift or
bonus, but an actual valuable invest.
ment OF money. Second, the company
ask it az an aid in financing the enorm-
GUS undertaking Of raising $3,000,00
or more that the line will cost in oper-
alton, for the more stock sold for cash.
the more leverage they have in standing
stiff for good fair prices for the bonds
they have to sell for the construction
money. Ii not sold at home it must be
sold elsewhere, or go to the bond
purchasers, and thereby the control gets
into foreign hands, the next step is
ownership or control by the present big
lines, then will come very quickly the
same high rates, and lost forever will be
the relief to shippers now in sight Next
is the certain rise of land in the region,
set by the farmers themselves at from
$40 to $50 per acre. Then comes the
actual cash saving from short haul from
five cents per bushel up, added direct to
profits. Then there are reduced rates,
freight and passenger, the saving in ex-
pense when going to town, frequent
trains or cars on the electric enabling
business to be, done in so much less lost
time. Markets Tor varieties OF products,
convenience in loading grain stock or
products, since cars are set down almost
at the very door, and SO on through an
endless array Of important items Every
one is we'll understood among the farm
ers. Another thing developed about
right OF way, in discussing the few per-
sons who are disposed to hold out
against free passage through lands. A
farmer on the line above Dry creek OBJ
jected because the line cuts off small
corner from his place, which he said he
could never sell. Glow much do you
want for it?" asked a neighbOr He
would not fix a price. The neighbor
offered him $50 then $40 and finally $50
per acre, he was looking, for tract of
few acres like that along the electric
road. When the farmer got this through
bis head be concluded that he would not
object further to the right of way.
The territory next to be organized is
Thornton and vicinity.