The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-20
RAILROAD NEWS.
New Project Is Planned for
North and South Line.
Would Run From Benkelman,
Neb., to Wichita.
KANSANS TO BUILD 1T
VIII Float First Mortgage Bonds
to Raise Funds.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.
KANSANS TO BUILD 1T

Oberlin, Kan. April 20.-That western
Kansas will soon have a north and
south railroad is evidenced by the fact
mat committees of representative men
from Great Bend, Hays City, Oberln,
Atwood and Hill City, gathered at Hill
City for the purpose of taking definite
action for the promotion of the road.
The name of the proposed road is the
Kansas Northwestern Railway COM
pany, and its terminals are Benkel-
man, Neb., on the north and Wichita.
ran, on the south. The charter has
already been secured and the officers
elected. the president being E. w
Moses of Great Bend, and the treas
Bend.
The Hill City meeting was called to
order by F. D. Turck Of Hill City, and
h o. Caster of Oberlin, the present
county attorney of Decatur county was
elected chairman. Mr. c. c. Jacobs of
Atwood was elected secretary After
th1s preliminary business of the pur-
pose of the meeting was very clearly
stated by Judge E. c. Cole of Great
Bend. This was followed by d very
clear and complete outline of the pro-
ject by w. R. Crumpton of New York
city, who is the construction manager
of the road.
There was great deal of enthusi-
meeting. Mr.. Crumpton was asked a
good many questions in regard to the
proposition and informed those present
that the road is a sure thing but that
Kansas capitalists would probably fin
ance the scheme.
Among the definite things accom-
plished were arrangements to sell first
mortgage bonds on the road to the peo-
pie of Kansas who are interested
enough in the road to invest in the
same. Each township is to be asked to
assist in the construction of the road
through its limits. In addition to this
definite appointments We're called for
from the different committees in the
different counties for the purpose of
looking after the matter of financing
the road through the separate counties
and for the sale of the bonds.
At the close of the discussion O. B.
Towne, the editor of the Oberlin Times, |
introduced the following resolution as
being the sense of the meeting:
Whereas. The western half of the
state of Kansas is practically without
railroad competition with the exception |
of east and west lines. these however |
being of such a character as not to aid |
materially, beyond a certain point, in |
the development of the country and in |
this being evidenced by the fact that |
there are but three towns in the west |
ern half OF the state with a population |
of 5000 and more: and
whereas, me eastern half of the
state. because of it's superior railroad
facilities and competition, has develop
cd about As towns and cities of 5000 and
more population; and
Whereas, The valuation of all real
estate in the eastern part of the state |
is much higher than it is in the west
ern part, this difference being due
largely to the difference in railroad IA
cilities: and
Whereas. We have examined into the
nf
Railway company, and have found that
the financial plan is sound and trust |
worthy, and that the method of pro- |
noting the same is equitable and prac-
ticable; and
Whereas. The advisability and de-
STABILITY of this project is apparent to
all. in that it directly connects the
great railway systems of the northwest
ern states with the central Kansas,
Oklahoma and Gulf lines. thereby MAX
ing a short route across western Kan
sas. from the northwest to the south
east and the gulf: and
Whereas. This route would be direct
between the northern and southern por-
tons of Kansas, thereby making our
state more homogeneous and also, would
establish new route for our products
to Kansas City and the markets of the
world-New York, the ports of Europe, |
and by way of the Panama canal to
the Orient, and further:
Whereas, The opening of this new
route would be or untold benefit to
the people of central and western Kan
sas in vastly increasing property and
market valuations. in the reduction of
the freight hauls. in the cost of travel
and also in opening a direct route to
the coal and oil fields and the cement
ard brick works OF southeastern Kan
sas; be il therefore
Resolved, That we. representing the
financial and property interests of CEN
trail and western Kansas and more IS
pecially of Barton. Ellis. Graham. De
catur and Rawlins counties, do most
heartily sanction and approve the pro-
ject of the Kansas Northwestern Rail
way company. We pledge ourselves to
further in every honorable way the con-
struction of the road, also using our
best efforts, for that purpose, to secure
the hearty cooperation of all others
who may be, directly or indirectly af-
fected thereby. And further
Resolved. That we recommend not
only to the people of our own counties
that they help along the project bv
the purchase of its securities, but that
We also recommend to our friends in