The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-24
HOLD HOT SESSION
Central Branch Conference
Proves a Lively One.
Governor Stubbs and Vice PreSi-
dent Clark Get Excited.
STANDS BY HIS GUNS.
Executive ReiterateS State
mentS Made i'm State Journal.
Will Go Over Line Next Week to
Agree on Improvements.

liC COIlcISIlce HtIu lOudS DcANOcii
Kansas state officials and Missouri Pa
cific officials in the governors office
over the condition and prospects of
betterment of the Central Branch for
Atchison to Lenora and Downs was a
red hot affair from start to finish. At
times it bordered on the sensational,
when statements for and against the
road were disputed by the conferees.
Governor Stubbs. Attorney General
Jackson. Railroad Board Attorney Daw-
son and Railroad Commissioner Ryan
represented the state and Vice Presi-
dent c. F. Clark, Judge Claridy and
Bale Waggener and a few minor
officials represented the Missouri Pa
cific. Railroad Commissioners Kanavel
End Ryker were conspicuous by their
absence.
Governor to Go Over Line.
The upshort of the conference was that
Governor Stubs should the first of next
week take a trip over the Central
Branch in company with Vice Presi-
oent Clark and see for himself condi-
tlons and service as they are at this
time. Then they can agree, on that
trip, as to the details of the improve
ments needed.
However, it was practically agreed
toudy DeLWeen the governor, for the
state, and the vice president for the
road that three-quarters of a million
should be spent on the Central Branch
In 1910 and 100 miles of new S5-pound
rails laid, 140 pounds of rock ballast
PUT in.
To insure that this be done the state
can secure an order. either through
the supreme court or the railroad board
Tor these Improvements.
They Got Busy at Once.
There was no sparring for an open
ing when the conference was begun at
II o'clock. Mr.. Clark opened +he bali
by asking the governor if it was true
that he had said as he was quoted in
the State Journal. that the Pacific was
clverting it's Central Branch earnings
to the Improvement of main lines and
building of new roads to connect with
ne Pacific coast
The governor admitted the charge
and repeated his statements with en-
phasis.
Clark Denies.
Mr.. Clark declared that there was
no truth in the assertion; he said
that not dollar of Central Branch
earnings had been diverted for any
such purposes, and he was prepared,
he said to make an affidavit to that
effect
The governor then made the
startling statement that he was ready
TO make contrary affidavit
SO within three minutes of the be-
ginning of the conference the COVER
nor and the vice president were at
loggerheads and both getting pretty
warm.
Mr.. Clark was the first to recover
and he guided the conference craft
into safer waters. but all through the
Journey it was dangerously close to
the breakers on the lee shore.
Mr.. Clark declared that not a dol
lar earned by the Missouri Pacific in
Kansas had been diverted to the. ad-
vantage of it's lines outside the
state. The governor expressed polite
disbelief
The governor called attention to the
condition of Santa Fe and Union Pa
ciffc lines. main and branch, and con-
trasted their excellence with the mis-
erable condition of the Missouri Pa
ciffc lines in this state and especially
the Central Branch. which he charac-
terized as ''the worse piece of road as
regards service and maintenance, that
know of in this country
C1ark's Explanations.
Mr.. Clark's explanation of the con-
dition of his road in this state as COM
that the Santa Fe and U. P. had roads
clear through to the Pacific coast and
this advantage was the principal
means of their great earning capacity
and ability to make improvements.
His road. he said, was trying to get
joy the great benefits of coast de-
velopment and Improvement
Mr.. Clark stated further that the
earnings of the Central Branch were
$4,000 per mile in good years, and
practically all this went for interest
C1i debts and cost of operation. He
, aid that the roads mentioned by the
governor were able to make improve
ments from their earnings from trans
continental taffic.
The governor was not convinced.
however. and called attention to the
fact that branch lines Of other roads
were better than Missouri Pacific main
lines, and he argued that these branch
lines had no coast outlet. The COVER
nor argued that the territory through
which the Central Branch runs west
from Atchison for 300 miles is as fine
Gn agricultural country as there is in
lhe west and that it's support and pat
ronage entitled it to a good average
railroad and service.
Mr.. Clark agreed that 1.-The Central
Branch country is as good agricul-
tural country as 1 ever saw
The States Demands.
Then the governor went on to par
ticularize the states demands The
outburSt came following Mr.. Clark's
quotation of the railroad board that
the Central Branch was in fair shape
and making improvements The gov
ernor interrupted to declare: "I don't
care a -- Well, anyway, 1 don't be-
l'eve a word of it. No one can con-
vince me that the Central Branch is in
good shape. What the people of Kan
s as want is the road placed in as good
average condition as the other roads
cf the state and give a service to the
public commensurate with the patron
age received. If this is not done right
away the state will take drastic ac-
ton"
Mr.. Clacks explanations as to the
roads condition were ample. He was
doing the best he could and had ex-