Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-05-21
HAD OVER $4,000
IN RAILROAD STOCK
MYSTERIOUS STRANGER AP-
PRIsEs COUNTY OF FACT.
Stocks Was Received Years Ago When
the Road Was Built and Had
Been Forgotten.

Barton county is not only out of
debt, but owns stocks with a par value
Of $4,000, that nothing was known
about. And these stocks are owned
by seven townships of the county.
Would you let that much money lay
around until you had forgotten about
it?
In 1886 when the Missouri Pacific
railroad was built across the state Of
Kansas it asked the people of the
state for aid and in each township
through which the road passed bonds
were voted. The road in return for
the bonds presented the township with
an equal amount of stock, each share
which had a par value of 500. So
many townships in Barton county
were anxious for the road that it zig
zaged through the county, touching as
many townships as possible. After
the stock was received by the county
and receipted for Sept. II, 1856, by
County Treasurer L. F. Weaver, and
County Clerk, Ed iced, the people
forgot about it. They never thought
it had any value anyway and so as
time passed it was forgotten.
Then entered the MYSTERIOUS
stranger in the person of Edward F.
Jordan, who registers from Douglas
county, Nebraska, and who appeared
in the court house the first of the
week with the announcement that the
county owned this much stock and he
was prepared to buy the same. The
county officers knew nothing Of the
matter and commenced to look it up.
They found that the stock had been
received, but could find nothing farth-
er in regard to it. The mysterious
stranger announced that he was ready
to pay $40 per share for the bonds
and that was the top price.
Considerable speculation has been
INDUCED in as to what the mysterious
stranger wants and who he repre-
sents. The concensus Of opinion
seems to be that he is a Hartman
agent who is out buying up the loose
stock of the Missouri Pacific with
the expectation of securing control.
The stock on the market today is
worth $74. Mr.. Jordan said he would
be back in this county Friday, and if
the commissioners saw fit to accept
his offer the money would be ready
for them. A meeting of the township
boards concerned is to be held to-
morrow and the matter disposed of
one way or other. If the boards con-
clude to sell the stock the county
will receive $15,9SO.
Besides Mr.. Jordan, there are sew
eral other men engaged in looking up
the stock through this state and buy
ing the same. In each case the best
offer has been $40. In fact that has
been the only offer and most of the
boards consulted have accepted the
offer without question.
In addition to the county stock
there were 230 shares owned by the
city of Great Bend. This was dis,
posed of at the price named at the
meeting last night and a bill Of sale
will be given Mr.. Jordan when his
check for the same is received.
The county stock is owned as fol.
lows:
E. Grant township, 100 shares; Walnut
, township, 12O shares; Albion town
ship, 70 shares; Eureka township, IN
shares; Homestead township, los
shares; Independent township, 1OC
shares; Great Bend township, Isl
shares. Total 799 shares.
No statement is made as regard.
Cheyenne township, but undoubtedly
shares of stock must have been is
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