The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-22


they but bring their marketable pro-
ducts there to sell. The merchants
thought of all this but all they did was
to think; they did not act.
One man did act. He built pom
toon toll bridge from the Kansas side
to the Missouri side of the Missouri
This man is now Senator Vinton Still
Hngs, from Leavenworth county
1t was fifteen years ago that he de-
cided to throw the pontoon bridge
across the river Many people thought
1t impossible. Others thought 1t I'M
practicable. Those who had money TO
invest said it would not be paying
enterprise. The only man who would
not be scared was StilIings-
Eads built the bridge across the Mis-
sissippi river at St Louis and in doin6
80 accomplished a heretofore unaccom-
plished engineering feat StllinSs
threw a pontOOn bridge between a mile
and a quarter and a mile ana halI
long across the Missouri river at LeaV-
enworth and accomplished the feat or
building the longest pontoon bridSe IN
the world.
It was difficult to keep such long
pontoon bridge mOOred when the river
was swollen but the people OF Platte
county. Missouri, were glad TO ayalI
themselves of the crossing and VIM
ton Stillings had proven that a orldge
was needed and would be a paying IN
vestment and three years after pullu-
ing the pontoon bridge he made ar
engagements to build a steel span tolI
bridge in its place. Such a bridge and
of such a length meant large IN
vestment.
Vinton Stillings put a large amount
Of money into the enterprise and went
to New York and arranged for the
balance of the money. Then he or
dered the steel for the bridge. About
that time the -"panic OF 80 spread
over the country and Investments and
enterprises We're at a standstilI-all
bdt Stillings' bridge. That went on as
If nothing had happened and all the
cries of hard times and the bottom
falling out of things did not scare him
a bit and when every thing else in the
way of Improvements stopped, fac
tories shut down, and business was
depressed the Workmen We're rlVetinS
and the steam pile drivers were work
ing on Stillings' bridge. Tt was butt
and is in use today and is returning a
good profit to the investors.
Senator stillings is a lawyer. He
lives on a fine farm not far from The
National Soldiers home. He is one
of Leavenworth- He has built addi-
tons, besides bridges. He is not afraid
TO tackle anything. He tackled Steig-
er's island once. This piece of ground
is in the Missouri river and various
persons have tried to secure possession
of it.
Senator stillings is a joker, in his
way About the time that scrap pile
ralirOad engines were being sent to-
gether in head on collisions for the
amusement OF crowds at state and
county fairs VintOn Stillings decided
on a far more realistic and exciting en-
tertainment of this wrecking style. He
made the suggestion to several Leav-
enwOrth people and asked them to
think it over. Stillings' scheme was to
charter a steamboat, sell tickets al 81
each to excursiOnists. crowd the steam
boat full, run it up the Missouri river
a mile, have the boilers explode and
have genuine steamboat explosion
and wreck-not the ten-twenty-thirt
melodrama stage imitaIion--hut the
real thing. He thought it would be
far more exciting than these tame To-
connective collisions.
The senate was discussing the bill
to compel railroads to build sidetracks