The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-12
LELAND EXPLAINS 1T.
What Led to the Controversy at Wa
thena ChalItauqua.

Cyrus Leland is rather amused
about the reports of the trouble with
his brother-in-law at the Wathena
Chautauqua last Wednesday. He to-
day gave out the following story of the
affair and the transaction which led
up to it:
Some thirty-seven years ago Doni-
phan county voted bonds for two rail-
roads-one an east and west road and
the other north and south road
100000 to each road. The PROPOSE
ton for both roads was submitted at
the same time and carried by nearly
the unanimous vote of the county
During the campaign on these bonds,
the railroad promoters and orators
campaigned the county, and their prin-
cipal argument was: Vote the bonds
Each road will give the county $780,
600 in stock. Within few years the
stock will be worth par. You can then
pay your bonded Indebtedness with
your stock and have the benefit of the
roads, also the taxation from same
About two years afterwards, when
the grade was about completed, a gen.
tleman from Michigan came before the
county board and persuaded the board
to give him the 100000 of stock in
the north and south road for the sum
of $40, claiming that the stock was of
but little value to the people but that
they could hurry the completion of
the road.
about this time there also ap-
peared a gentleman from st. Joseph,
Mo-, Who made a proposition to the
county board to give him and his as
100000 in stock in the east and west
road for the sum of SO on a promise
| to build a railroad from Wathena to
Doniphan, a distance of about ten
miles.
This road was built by laying the
ties along the Missouri river bottom
the larger portion of the distance on
the county road. Some old iron was
We're put on the road and it was run
for a short time. Then the rolling
stock was removed and the rails and
ties were taken up.
| about the time this transfer of
stock was made, the stock became
quite valuable. Some of the parties
interested in building the short road
made the statement, after they had
secured the stock. that they could sell
| the stock for a good deal more than
enough to build the road.
Now Doniphan county voted over
$1,000 per mile for these two roads
and the stock. as every lawyer would
say, was given away or sold without
any legal authority by the county
commissioners. Many people, as well
| as myself, believe that the commits
/ sioners should have been prosecuted
| and sent to the penitentiary for this
| act.
THE transfer mentioned above is a
matter of record in the Office of the
county clerk of Doniphan county.
AT the Old Settlers meeting at Wa
thena 1 was selected as chairman.
announced that there would be only
short speeches of two or three minutes
allowed When Mr.. Perry was called
upon he came to the front of the plat
form and 1 introduced him. After say
ing a few words. he started in on e
TRADE against the Kansas Chief an6
| others for having published the records
of the county, He was quite abusive.
i or, 70 fnId h n fc yae
up. He replied that he was going tc
| address the old settlers. I said: 'YoU
cannot use any such language here
| This is a social gathering of the ole
| settlers and no such stuff can be rung
in here He declined to cease talking
I took him by the collar and led hin
| across the stage to the steps He walk
ed down the steps himself and left the
grounds. Nobody interfered and there
was no particular excitement about it
Only those nearby understood what hi
had been talking about. Some of those
back in the audience thought he ha6
been taken sick and was being led OF
the stage on that account
| Mr.. Perry is quite an old man anC
childish or he would not have tried tt
Introduce a subject that was not suit
able for the time and place. He haG
been at one time the attorney for one
of these commissioners and since thu
article appeared in the Kansas Chief hi
has been chewing the rag abut 1t ant
tried to take advantage of this oppor
tunity to force himself upon the audi
ence with a subject that they were no
wishing to hear about at that time.
II am pleased that the people ovel
the county will now be interested
enough in the matter to inquire into th'
particulars and learn how. when anC
why this stock was disposed of by th'
county commissioners. 1t never. pays tt
help uphold a wrong and 1 deem the
transfer of this stock one of the great
est wrongs that was ever perpetrate6
unon any county.