The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-13
jim ORR GOT The BONDS
A WEEK SCOTT COUNTY, KAN,
HAS NOT FORGOTTEN.
Citizens sim Angry Over the Way the
Missouri Pacine Captured SAC. ZOO Of
County Bonds Twenty-Five Years Ago
A Dream OF Being y Metropolis.

County Bonds Twenty-Five Years AGO
A Dream OF Being = Metropolis.
To-. KA. Kan. June 9.-The Missouri
Pacific Railway Company has in the last
month sent representatives into every
county If Kansas where bonds we're voted
and stock issued therefor for the con-
struction Of the road in this State
twenty-five years ago. Generally the
offer made for this stock Is 20 cents or
the dollar. In many counties the boards
OF county commissioners have declined
to accept the offer.
E. +. Jordan Of Omaha has visited most
Of the counties that hold stock in the
Missouri Pacific Company. Usually he
notifies the county clerk in advance OF
his coming and that official is expected
to summon the board OF county COM
m%issioners for a conference.
A surprise awaited Mr.. Jordan when
he arrived at Scott City, out in the short
grass country Of western Kansas.
Instead of finding the three members
Of the board of commissioners in ses-
sion he was presented in the court house
to u mass meeting OF the citizens OF Scott
county, who had assembled to protest
against the sale OF the stock at 20 cents
on the dollar and to remind the railroad
representative Of some Of the methods
used twenty-five years ago to induce
the settlers who had taken up home
steads on the prairies to vote $4,000
in bonds in aid of the Missouri Pacific.
for which bonds stock was issued to the
county.
In the presence OF Mr.. Jordan several
speeches were made by old settlers in
which the statement was made that the
bonds voted by the county were consid-
cred good and binding and that therefore
the board should not accept Of the oher
OF 20 cents on the dollar for the stock
held by the county. This was the de-
cision OF the mass meeting and resolV-
tons were unanimously passed instruct
ing the county commissioners to refuse
the offer.
A score Of men attended the SEQ City
mass meeting who were familiar with the
early day manner of voting bonds in
western Kansas and they did not hesitate
to impart their knowledge to Mr.. Jordan.
II happened that the voting OF the bonds
was brought about by promises which
were never carried out. One Of the stipu-
lations was that the bonds should not be
turned over TO the Missouri Pacific COM
pany until the roadtwas completed to
Scott City, which had just been declared
the county seat.
Repeated efforts were made to induce
the county commissioners to surrender
the bonds 80 that the company could sell
them in New York and get the money
needed In the construction OF the line,
but they were fruitless, Finally the
Missouri Pacific officials decided to try a
new tack and sent Jim Orr. a Missouri
Pacific attorney at Atchison. to Scott
county to talk with the people.
Orr was selected as n man peculiarly
fitted for this work. One Sunday evening
he rea shed the county seat by stage in
time to attend church. When the con-
tribution box was passed he threw in a
handful Of silver. On Monday he fell in
with the town boomers and made himself
agreeable.
When the bono subject came up Orr
remarked that he had heard something
about the voting OF some bonds but didn't
care anything about that. as his business
was to select a site for division head
quarters somewhere out there. and he
was simply going to look over the stu
alton. He wanted forty acres where water
could he had, that was all.
Mr., Orr became the lion OF the hour in
Scott City, and the people warmed up and
offered him a whole section. Orr said it
wouldn't be right to take 80 much. and
forty acres was all he needed. In the
afternoon he expressed a desire to go
jack rabbit hunting. and the village sports
rallied to accompany him .
He laid in a good supply OF beer and
cigars and the party set of on the hunt
Every one in the party killed more rab-
! bits than Orr, and 1t was the unanimous
verdict that he was the best natured and
most liberal sportsman they had met,
though he couldn't shoot much. That
night he played a little game OF poker
with his new friends. letting them win
his money with the remark that IL he To-
Gated there he would learn the game and
try and get even.
Mr.. Jordan. who sat and listened to
this early history Of the plains at Scott
City. was told in detail Of MIR. Orr's busy
week. On Tuesday Orr started a force to
dig a big well and at night attended a
farmers alliance rally in the town hall.
making sure 10 have u fellow call on him
to speak. His speech was "A powerful
arraignment Of m~onopolies and the con-
rent ration Of wealth.
The next day Orr surveyed the forty
acres of land and made a big plan OF the
ground. indicating the location Of the
roundhouse, division offices and machine
shops. and that evening went to a church
social. where he spent money right and
left, A contest was on to decide by ballot
at 10 cents for each vote the most popular
young lady OF the county. The daughter
OF the chairman of the board OF county
commissioner won easily, because Mr..
Orr gave her his support The Missouri
Pacific attorney also showed marked
attentions to the wives OF the other MEN,
beers Of the board.
Thursday was spent in the town drug
store. where Orr got acquainted with the
prominent citizens from the country.
Friday was a great day for Scott City
for water was struck in the big we'll, and
Orr was particularly delighted and en-
thusiastic. He dictated O tele gram to one
OF the head officers Of the Missouri Pacific
company in New York. announcing that
Scott City was an ideal place for division
h~eadquafters and handed 1t to the Mayor
to send. 49,,
That night a town meeting was held
and was followed by a supper. Orr was
the central figure. though retiring and
modest. To the toast Our Future
City he responded 10 eloquently that
those present could almost hear the
whistles and bell OF the big shops. and
when he wound up with the assurance
that in that Western metropolis he ex-
pected to enjoy the pleasures and re-
sp%onsibilities OF 4 citizen the applause
was deafening.