The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-18
BEGIN OTHER END.
Council Grove Would Start the
Taylor Railroad.
Mission Township Right-of- Way
Trouble Not Cleared Up.
is NO DELAY THERE.
Right-Of-Way Promised to
Shawnee County Line.
Effort Will Be Made to Interest
Topeka People.
Is NO DELAY THERE.

The directors of the Topeka-South
western Railway company met in Esk-
ridge yesterday. Those who attended
this meeting from Topeka We're w. L.
TayIor, L. j. Anderson, C. K. Holiday,
Peter He'll and E. B. Merriam
The meeting was called to discuss
rlght OF way matters and to take some
action with reference to getting start
ed in Mission township this being the
only township that failed to vote bonds
to aid the railroad.
ne construction company has advis-
ed Mr.. Taylor that they are ready to
commence construction of the line just
as soon as they are furnished with right
OF way 10 build on. 1t is necessary that
me local company furnish right of way
1oE the entire line. Nearly all of the
rlght OF way has been provided for with
the exception of Mission township. and
tndt Is the only thing that is delaying
the progress of the line at this time.
w. +. Shamleffer, mayor of Council
Grove Who is also general right of way
agent for this company and one of the
most enthusiastic friends of the Tope-
ha-SouthWestern, sprung quite a sur
PRISE at the meeting yesterday. He
notlned the board of directors that if
they We're not ready to commence to
build the line from the Topeka end
through Mission township that Council
OAONS capitalists ndQ FORMED a SYnQ1-
cate and they are ready to deliver at
once the entire right of way for the
IopeKa-SOuthWe5tern railroad from
council Grove to the east line of Wa
paunsee county, which is within 20
would commence to build the line from
Council Grove and build east instead of
commencing 1t at Topeka and building
company would do with Mr. ShamIef-
fers proposition Mr.. Taylor said 1T
knew nothing of this until Yesterday
morning, just before we started to Esk-
Council Grove, and a director In this
company came to my office and advised
me that the Construction company need
not be delayed one minute if they were
ready to go to work and that Council
Grove people had made arrangements
to furnish and deliver the right of way
in Morris and Wabaunsee counties pro-
vided they would commence to build
from the Council Grove end of the line.
1 cannot say that the Construction
company will accept this inasmuch as
the bonds voted by the various town
ships and municipalities expire earlier
on this end of the line as it was origi-
nally intended TO begin the construction
from Topeka SO. that soon as Is or
20 miles was builtgit could be put in
operation, but if our people here and
in Mission township don't wake up and
help get this right of way matter set
tied at once the construction may be-
gin at the other end instead of at To-
peka.
Mission township being located so
close to Topeka doesn't take the in
terest in this railroad like the other
townships that are farther away and
do not enjoy railroad accOmm ations, |
and our directors who are interested
in the Topeka end of the line think it
will be necessary for the business men |
of Topeka to take hold and help get |
this Mission township matter straight |
ened out.
1T was quite a surprise to the To- |
peka directors when Mr.. Shamleffer |
deliberately advised us yesterday that |
there was no use of any further delay |
and that construction could begin at |
Council Grove just as soon as they |
wanted to start to work. He also |
gently reminded US that Topeka would |
receive the greatest benefit from this |
new railroad, and that Topeka's popu-
lation is about twelve times that of |
Council Grove
When asked what they would do in
order to begin the construction at this |
end Mr.. Taylor said: Il am unable to |
say at this time, or until have a con-
ference with the Commercial club and
other people interested in this city.
We most assuredly don't propose to let
Council Grove get the beginning of
this railroad if we can possibly help
it, but If the business men and those
interested in Topeka want the line to
commence at Council Grove why we
shall go there and commence to build
it,
The resignation of Mr.. C. B. Hen
derson as director from Wabaunsee
county was accepted and J. M. Miller
of Council Grove, congressman from
the Fourth district, was elected to fill
the vacancy. This gives Morris county
baunsee county.