The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-15
TAYLOR ISN'T ALARMED.
Missouri Pacific DoDesn't Scare Him
Survey a New Route.

w L. Taylor who is managing the
Council Grove electric road campaign,
says that he is not seriously alarmed
by the rumor that the Missouri Pacific
is contemplating cutoff between
Tonganoxie and Council Grove Of
practically the same route chosen by
the Interurban company.
Mr.. Taylor returned last night from
Harveyville, where they have been
counting noses and possible donations
Mr.. Taylor seems to be very we'll satis-
fed with his trip, and of the opinion
that Dover and Eskridge viii have to
raise the bet, or lose the road. Har-
veyvlle and Auburn seem to be in the
lead at present.
In regard to the Missouri Pacific
scare, Mr.. Taylor says:
IF the Missouri Pacific has anything
to do with the proposed Topeka and
Council Grove line, I know nothing
about it, but I do know for certain
that our survey would be of very little
use to the Missouri Pacific if they are
going to build a line as straight as the
crow flies because our survey follows
the valley where We expect to get busi-
ness. Another thing, they are off on
the mileage. A straight line between
Topeka and Council Grove would not
be more than "a miles, while our sur
vey following the Mission Creek VAL
ley. around by Dover, Keene and Esk-
ridge is only 5S.6 miles.
Another thing: The people along
the proposed line are not going to
give any bonus or help a trunk line. It
is not merely to see train go through
there a mile a minute, but what they
want is interurban service that will ac-
commOdate the public, give them
quick passenger service and also han
die the freight business, and If the
Missouri Pacific intends to build cut
off from Council Grove to Topeka, in
r-Tn to oh. Il T,<,
tween Denver and the east this cut
off would be of very little benefit to
the property owners between Topeka
and Council Grove.
We are going to survey a line, com
mencing tomorrow morning. starting
in back of Baughman's Ice Cream fac
tory and going to Auburn, so We can
miss Mission township all together. If
the railroad should be built on this
survey, it will probably go via Harvey
Vile to Council Grove instead of
Eskridge. The people at HarveyviIIe
road, especially the large land owner,
southwest of HarveyviIIe.
we took dinner yesterday with Mr.
I Southerd, proprietor of the WeiseI
ranch. They assured US they would
give US the right-of-way free and a
/ of stock per year. They now have on
their ranch, 1900 head of cattle. 900
head of horses and over LOO head OF
( hogs
'As near as the engineer could tell
/ from looking over the land. he thinks
the line could be built cheaper via
/ Harveyville. than by the way OF
+ Eskridge. The preliminary survey win
be made Immediately over this line
but until that is done, we can not tell
the exact cost of construction via thai
route.
Il interviewed several prominent
/ citizens around Auburn, while on my
last trip, and they blame Mission
township considerably for the delay
claiming they had agreed to vote
bonds to aid in the construction of the
line. but after they learned that they
would get the road no matter which
route 1t went, either by Dover or Au-
burn. they decided to vote the bonds
down, but now the new survey, which
will run south, east of Burnett
Mound, Will only strike a small corner
Of Mission township. The right-of-way
has been pledged for the entire dis
tance from Topeka to Harveyville, and
a large bonus per mile in addition, il
we can go over this route