The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-03

I country were satisfied and the exteu-
sion Of lines was less rapid Practical
/ fy all of the railroads OF Kansas were
built by that time
When Construction Era Ended
! It will thus be seen that the era of
railroad construction did not end in
Kansas until about 1880 Up to that
time the people of the state were en-
gagged in q mad race to secure more
railroads. Right OF way were do
OF all sorts were invented 10 get more
railroads than some rival community
Roads which could not possibly pay
were started by local capitalists and
existing trunk lines forced TO buy
them TO protect their territory. The
Chicago Kansas & Western and the
F'e and Rock Island companies re-
specttveIy), as wei as the Missouri
Pacific and Union Pacific, were ex-
tending their lines TO all portions Of the
state and the communities through
which the surveys ran, were feveriSh
with excitement
But by 1850 this had all ended, and
the railroads found themselves face to
face with the stern necessity OF raising
revenues 10 pay operating expenses
and Ixed charges on a vast mileage,
much OF which did not take in enough
money TO pay the actual running sx-
penSas Of the trains 1883 followed
with railroad receiverships. and II was
not until 1855 that the railroads again
came IN contact with prosperous
times Up 10 1885 It was an era of
construction and Of struggles with ad-
verse circumstance
II the farmers Of Kansas had before
that time suffered from grasShoppers.
drouths and parties the railroads were
afflicted With the same diseases The
locality described in William Allen
Whites Whats the matter with
Kansas was the territory from which
the railroads were compelled 10 earn
their revenues It vas about this time
that the Hutchinson & Southern rail-
road, extending from Hutchinson south
to the state line. about so miles.
through one OF the most fertile por-
tons Of Kansas. was practically given
away In other words. a couple OF
euterprISfuE gentlemen were able to
payment OF $4,000. the balance Of the
purchase price which was r1dtcuIOuSly
low being secured by a new issue Of
bonds executed by the purchasers
When Railroads Were Popular.
During the construction period
were very naturally, popular. /
and the complaints directed against 4
hem were those Of individual travellers I
y no growIed about the fuCiviIfty Of a. /
station agent or SwOre about the slow
;peed Of the trains After the roads
we're built and times became hard
public sentiment changed enemies
became active and friends passive
From 1890 TO 1888 II was not only a
struggle with hard times and stern
necessity, but conflict with a ma
GRITTY of the people who were deter
mined TO materially cut the rates and 4
hus 70 substantially reduce revenues
which were already far too low Il
viii not enlarge upon the difficulties
f the railroads during the days OF +
7opuTfsm and Coxey'S armies be-
ieEe that the people Of the state are
low satisfied that 1t would have been
Iuwise TO have reduced their revenues 4
L that tine Maximum rate laws
laSsed in ueighbOFiug states during
hat period were held 70 be urcouStf-
utfouaT
In 1883 the revenues OF the Kan
as lines began picking up and
hereafter some of them were en-
.bIed 70 pay dividends on their stock