The Globe-republican., 1906-11-01

Dodge City Made the Dividing Point
Of Two Divisions Between

kVuBc Gtty WAAC wv HNsNH6 49,
Of Two Divisions Between
Newton and La Junta.
For some time there mas been per
sistent rumor that the long division frcn
Newton to La Junta, on the Santa n
nllroad, would be divided, and an extr
division superintendent added 70 the GER
vice. AT different timss this rumor ha
taken tho form that whenever aucl
change should take plass, difsren
towns that now have divisions woul'
lose them.
These runners came frsm the fact tina
Western Kansas has bsen booming =
such an extent that the local business, \
addition to the through business ALREADY
had by the road, has piled more worl
upon the division from La Junta to New
ION than one set Of men can look after
From appearances, the officers Of thi
division have been working almost nigh
and day, and still have been unable t
keep up with the increasing business. i
has been apparent that some different ar
engagements must be made for increasing
the force on this division.
since the recent meeting Of the SAINTS
I a "a
Fe officers at Topeka, the rnmor hal
como from the headquarters town thai
the La Junta division would be DIVIDED
at Dodge City, and an extra division
superintendent added. With this rumor
came the additional rumor that Superin.
tendent Austin, of the Panhandle divis.
ion, would be brought to Dodge City to
operate the division between here and
La Junta, and that Superintendent Ayers
would operate the division between here
and Newton, from this place. There
was added to this rumoT the prediction
that Mr.. Ayers would be moved to Hutch
inson In about years time, where he
would have his offices ip the new Harvey
House, which is being built there, and
which is to be completed next year, and
that Mr.. Ayers division would have the
II. q s, road attached to 1t.
The rumors which have been floating
around have been substantiated. At the
resent meeting held at Topeka by the
officials, the showing on the increase Of
work In handling the western division,
from Newton to La Junta, was go strong
that 1t decided the matter Of making q
change. Since then an official circular
has been issued, which announces the
cutting Of this division at Dodge City.
Mr.. Aver lie to superi intend the division
from here to Newton, under the name Of
the Western division, and Mr.. Austin
from the Panhandle division, will super
intend the division from here to La
Junta, under the name of the Arkansas
River division. MIR. Austin's headquar.
ters will be at La Jnnta. Mr.. Ayers will
be here for the present, and possibly at
Hutchinson within year. 1t has been
impossible to get any information of a
reliable nature regarding the matter.
Railroads are very secretive about their
affairs. Even the employe whom a
change will effect greatly is not allowed
to know 1t until iS 10 announced In an
official bulletin. Often 1t means great
loss to the employe. 1t would perhaps
DO better business sense for the roads to
be less secretive, ana to maintain less OF
the attitude that 1t is none Of the pnbllc's
business when they are going to make
that affect towns and employees,
but they don'tseem to see IL that way. Ev.
along the Santa Fe 10 interested 10
the roads affairs, because II Is an impor.
tant part OF the country, aud they natur-
ally like to know what is going on. The
newspapers are asked questions about
railroad changes, and are under obliga-
lions TO answer them II possible
There has been a further rumor that
Aver will be transferred
to Newton until the Santa Fe's building
at Hutshinson Is completed, but this re-
port cannot be corroborated here.
The changes which are being made
will not affect Dodge City materially, as
1t will take only few families away
from town, and At the rate the Santa Fe's
business In the yards and shops here IL
being increased. 1t would only take few
months to regain more than would BE-
lost by some Of the division officers being
taken away.
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