The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-14
ENGINE Is ON STRIKE,
Receiver Throws Up Job, Single
Employee Works.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

Blaine, Kan. Dec. 14.-The Kansas.
Southern & Gulf. the railroad operated
by the state of Kansas to give the peo-
pie of Pottawatomie county access to
the outer world, has finally given UP
the ghost. The one and only engine
of the road, like the one-hoss shay, has
literally fallen to pieces. after years
and years of constant use and many
repairings. 1t could not pull itself any
longer and has been dumped into the
scrap heap.
has notified all patrons that no freight
can be hauled. The following notice
was posted along the line from Blaine
to Westmoreland: :
owing to the fortune have accumu-
lated as receiver Of the Kansas, South
ern & Gulf railroad during the last 18
months, I have resolved to resign as
receiver and give others desiring to ac-
cumulate fortune a chance for the
position. On account of the condition
of the engine the road will be unable
| to handle any freight after November
49,
Has Still One Employee.
The road has a mail contract, so the
one employee, engineer, fireman, con-
ductor, train porter, fagman, brake
man. baggageman, express messenger,
station agent and everything else Of a
! HOI1ldu udIuT0 OH a Td1lTOdQ, Will maui
| the mail from Blaine to Westmoreland
| and back on a handcar.
| The Kansas, Southern & Gulf was
once planned to run from the Dakota
and Canada wheat fields to the Gulf
Eighteen miles in Kansas were built
and then the road stopped growing. The
road had fully equipped line for that
10 miles. 1t had two engines, four
/ boxcarS, two fiat cars, combination
smoker and baggage car and coach.
For years it was operated and the
| bond interest was paid. Then the en-
gines and cars and tracks became sc
| bad that considerable amounts had to
| be paid to make needed repairs, and
the interest was defaulted. The bond
| holders ordered the road abandoned
Then the state of Kansas took charge
on the ground that the road had re-
| the building, and that the road had
| certain obligations to fulfill. If the
| bondholders would not operate the line
| the state would. The attorney general
| took charge and c. E. Morris was ap-
pointed receiver.
| Morris took the money on hand an6
made needed repairs. Then he. traded
/ the two engines off one that was
/ better than either of the other two. He
| fired some useless employees, like con-
| ductors, station 10agents, esporters an6
| trackmen, and UNDER orders from the
| state put into effect freight and passen-
/ ger tariffs that were nothing less thar
| exorbitant. Kansas has a 2-cent pas
| senger fare, but the state operated road
| charged 5 cents actual mileage. The
| freight rates were about six times a:
| high as other roads were allowed tt
| charge.
| Westmoreland is the county seat O
/ Pottawatomie county, and the Kansas
/ Southern & Gulf is the only railroad, 81
| the merchants did not object to the higf
freight rates. and the citizens did no
kick about paying cents a mile.
An Accommodating Schedule.
| The one employee, engineer, station
agent, repairman and everything else
| would stop his train anywhere to picl
up business. If a housewife had tw'
dozen eggs she wanted taken to Blain'
or Westmoreland and traded for calico
or the farmer wanted a plowshar
sharpened, they tagged the train at tn
crossroads, explained what they wante'
done, and the engineer handled the bust
ness and brought the goods back o.
the return trip. The road charged
small fee for the work.
The road was mighty nice and accom-
modating to every one. If a passenge
saw a flock of ducks in pond besid
train would be stopped while he mad
few shots. But even with these ac
commodations the road did not pay
One day the receiver called up the couT
and explained that the engine was on
| tear and that it would cost $50 for re
pairs and the receiver did not hav
the price. The judge told Morris tina
the court and all his retinue was com
ing over next week and hold court, an
if the engine was not on hand to max
the trip the receiver would be fined fo
contempt. The engine was fixed a
right, but the court made the trip in
motor car.
But the engine has got into such
bad way now that it can not be re
paired, and the road does not have tn
money to buy a new one. so the receiv
er has resigned and the road has bee
i oil