Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-05-02
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WRECKERS.

Just why Receiver Guilford, an of
hcer OF the court who was supposed
to be nursing an insolvent railroad
to the end that it's creditors might
not lose all, should begin by declaring
war on the roads revenue, was
question which the managers of COM
petlng lines stroye vainly to answer.
But when, in defiance of all precedent,
he made the cut rates effective to and
from all local stations on the Trans
western, giving the shippers at in
termediate and non-competitive points
the full benefit of the reductions, the
railroad colony denounced him as
mailman and gave him month in
which to find the bottom of presum-
ably empty treasury.
But the event proved that the ma
Jor's madness was not altogether with
out method. 1t is an axiom in the
carrying trade that low rates make
business; create it, so to speak, out
of nothing. Given an abundant crop,
low prices, and high freight rates in
the great cereal belt, and, be the farm
ers never so poor, much of the grain
will be stored and held against the
chance of better condition.
SO it came about that Major Gull
lords relief measure was timed to
nicely, and the blanket cut in rates
opened a veritable fiood-gate for bust
ness in Trans-Western territory.
From the day Of it's announcement
frat fSo <,f
leaps and bounds. Stored grain came
out of it's hiding places at every
country crossroads to beg for cars;
stock feeders drove their market cattle
unheard-of distances, across the tracks
of competing lines, over and around
obstacles Of every sort, to pour them
into the loading corrals of the Trans
Western.
Nor was the traffic all outgoing.
With the easing of the money burden,
the merchants in the tributary towns
began thriftily to take advantage of
the low rates to renew their stocks;
iong-deferred visits and business trips
suddenly became possible; and the
saying that it was cheaper to travel
and grateful currency.
In short time the rolling stock
of the road was taxed to it's utmost
capacity. and the newly appointed
purchasing agent was buying cars and
locomotives right and left Also. to
keep pace with the ever-increasing
procession of trains, doubled con-
struction force wrought night and day
installing new side tracks and passing
points.
Under the fructifying influence of
such a golden shower of prosperity.
land values began to rise again. slow
ly ut first, as buyers intrusted the
! continuance of the golden shower;
more rapidly a little later. as the
Guilford policy defined itself in terms
of apparent permanence.
Towns along the line-hamlets lone
since fallen into the way-station rut
OF desuetude-awoke with a start. be-
stirring themselves joyfully to meet
the inspiriting conditions. At Midland
City, Stephen Hawk, the new risht-of-
way agent, ventured to ask municipal
! help TO construct a ten-mile branch
| 10 Lavabee: 1t was forthcoming
promptly; and the mass meeting, at
which the bond loan was anticipated
by public subscription shouted itself
hOarse in enthusiasm.
At CASTOR. where Hawk asked for q
donation of land whereon the company
might build the Compromised divis.
ion repair-shops, people fought with
one another to be first among the
donors And at Juniberg. where tbs
company proposed to establish the
first OF ceries of grain subtreasuries
warehouses in which the farmers OF
the surrounding country could store
their products and borrow money o.