The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-26
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rice and Barton Counties Sell
Missouri Pacific Stock.
Receive 90 Per Cent. of Face
Value as Payment.
BOUGHT BY JORDAN
Mysterious Stranger Found Ger
tificates Long Forgotten.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

Great Bend. May 26.-Barton county
owns stock with a par value of $4,000,
that nothing was known about. And
these stocks are owned by seven town
ships Of the county.
In 1886 when the Missouri Pacific
railroad was built across the state of
Kansas 1t asked the people of the state
for aid and in each township through
which the road passed bonds were
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
gagged through the county, touching as
many townships as possible. After the
stock was received by the county and
receipted for September II, 1886, by
County Treasurer l.. r. Weaver, and
County Clerk Ed Teed, the people for
got about it. They never thought 1t
had any value anyway and so as time
passed 1t 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 with the announcement
that the county owned this much
stock and he was prepared to buy the
same. The county officers knew moth
ing of the matter and commenced to
had been received, but could find moth
ing farther in regard to it. The mys-
terious 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 represents.
The consensus of opinion seems TO be
that he is Hartman agent who is out
buying up the loose stock of the Mis-
souri, Pacific with the expectation or
securing control.
The stock on the market today is
worth $74. Mr.. Jordan said he would
be back in this county later, and II the
commissioners saw fit to accept his Of
fer the money would be ready for
them Meeting of the township boards
concerned is to be held soon and the
matter disposed of one way or other.
II the boards conclude to sell the stock
the county will receive $15,9SO-
Beside Mr. Jordan, there are several
other men engaged in looking up the
stock through this state and buying
the same. In such case the best offer
has been $40. In fact that has been the
only offer and most of the boards con-
suited have accepted the offer with
out question.
In addition to the county stock
there were 230 shares owned by the city
of Great Bend This was disposed OF
at the price named at the meeting and
a bill of sale will be given Mr.. JORDAN
when his check for the same is re-
ceiVed.
Rice County Sells Too.
Sterling, May 26.-Rice county picked
up $40, 900 on Wednesday when the
county commissioners sold 1000 shares
of stock of the old Wichita & Colorado
railroad which was acquired twenty
years ago when the county voted $780,
900 bonds to aid the road. This railroad
ran from Geneseo to the south line of
the county and was afterwards merged
into the Missouri Pacific system.
The proposition was made TO the
commissioners by E. F. Jordan of
Omaha. The commissioners endeaYofec
in every way possible to find the true
value. but nothing additional could be
ascertained. AS the stock has been
regarded as practically worthless for
twenty years, they finally considered it
a good business proposition to accept
the offer. There is now a $4,000 check
to the county's credit in the Lyons
bank, and the stock will be delivered
as soon as the check is honored.