The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-30
GETS REAL START
Topeka Council Grove Line to
Be Built.
Eastern Financial Men Have Be-
come Interested.
FOR NO BONDS
Y Concessions the Right of
Way and Terminals.
Company to Be Capitalized for
Million and Half.


plieation will be made to the state
charter board by new company, back
ed by responsible financial interests in
the east, for charter which VIII give
it the necessary. permission to go ahead
and construct the Topeka, Eskridge &
Council Grove railroad line, which was
projected more than two years ago and
which, it has been thought during the
past few months. had become q sort
Of a dead proposition.
Announcement to this effect was
made today by W. L. Taylor, president
of the United Milling & Grain COM
pany, who has been active In the pro-
motion Of the new company. Mr.. Tay-
Tor has received a charter drawn by
those in the east who are willing to put
up the money for the construction Of
the road and as soon as a few more de-
tails are arranged this charter viii be
filed. When it has been acted upon
IaVorably by the state charter board,
preliminary work, such as securing the
right of way and terminal facilities
VIII be stared and as there are likely
to be few obstacles put in the way Of
accomplishing this preliminary work,
the actual construction Of the line will
be commenced, certainly by next spring
and perhaps this fail.
This new company will be capitalized
at one million five hundred thousand
dollars and unlike the original company
formed to build this road it will not
ask for bonds to help pay for the con
structon. It will ask for terminal IA
cilities here In Topeka and at Council
Grove and also for a right of way and
1T Is Mr.. TaylOrs opinion that the peo-
PIE along the line of the proposed
road viii be only too glad to give
right of way. In fact a majority of
them have already expressed a willing
ness to do So and there will not be
much trouble in getting terminal facili-
ties either in this city or Council Grove.
1t is hfty-eight miles from here to
Council Grove and the road will be
built in an almost direct air line
southwest from this city. Two sur
yeys for this road were made by the
original company, one Of them going
TO EskrIdge by way of Dover and the
other to Eskridge by way Of Auburn.
II has not been decided definitely
which route win be chosen but in all
probability the road viii be run via
Auburn.
More than two years ago a company
was formed to build this road. or
rather for the purpose Of promoting
IT, S. <. Holiday was the president
OF this company and it was incor-
porated with a capital stock of $4,000.
IT was this company which made tn
surveys Tt also secured a bond issue
from Topeka for $4,000 for terminal
facilities here and bond issues from
townships along the line to help in the
construction of the road These bond
issues were for an aggregate of S130.-
coo. but they were promised on the
conditions that the road be completed
and be put in operation by December
81. 1905
These conditions could not be fui-
filled and the matter of building the
road was dropped for the time being.
Along last fall Mr. Taylor, who was
then chairman of the transpo
committee of the Commercial club.
took up the proposition again. He
went to Chicago and talked the matter
over with some eastern fnanciers, but
iney decided not to go into the prOpO-
sition, as it was evident that the road
could not be completed in time to get
the bonuses. and the matter was drop
ped again But Mr.. Taylor took 1t up
personally IN January and held auOth-
er conference with these f7nanciers.
lie told them he believed that Council
Grove and Topeka would furnish ter
ninal facilities and that several prom
nent men iYlng along the proposed
line had assured him that a right Of
way could be secured for nothing The
ca pItalists We're so impressed with the
proposition that they sent an expert
on here some time after that. He
worked secretly and spent four weeks
In going over the proposed line and
making stigations.
His report was so hattering concern
ing the conditions Of the country
through which the road will pass and
the possibility of gross earning which
would pay handsome dividends on the
cost of construction. that the men who
sent him here told Mr.. Taylor that
they were perfectly willing to put UP
the money to build the road and since
shat time Mr.. Taylor and they have
been working out the preliminary de-
tails with the result that .. charter has
been drawn for the organization of
che new company and VIII be flied with
the charter board soon.
This charter asks permission for
the construction, purchase or lease
and the operation and maintenance Of
a railway for the transportation Of
persons and property, to be operated
by steam. electricity or other motive
power and a telegraph and telephone
lire in connection herewith, from the
city of Topeka. Shawnee county Kan
sas, to the city Of Council Grove, Nor
ris county, Kansas, of the estimated
length Of sixty miles. with power to
purchase, take hold and convey real
estate by subdivision and sale as town
sites adjoining its line Of railway, and
to construct and supply light, heat and
power from its power plants to the
public adjoining or In the vicinity of
its line Of railway. to aid in the con
struction. maintenance and acoommo-
GatiOn Of its railway, together with all
such power incidental to such railway
corporations as are provided by law"
Present plans are to operate sort of
a composite road It VIII be a stone
bai1asted road and laid with seventy
rate gasoline motor cars for passenger
and travel and steam hauled trains to
handle the freight business.
~ Il. Shamlener mayor Of Council
Grove. and II. 3. Babst, two Of the
prominent men in the sections the
road Will tap, will probably be with
Nr. Taylor among the directors Of the
road.
AR. Taylor Is particularly en-