Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-01-28
A RAILROAD PRIMER.
Some Pertinent Questions Concern
ing the Bonds Asked for of
Great Bend and Great Bend
Township and Their Answer.

HFeaL ben0 ana Great BEND
Township and Their Answer.
Question. In the petition call
ing for an election for bonds in
the matter of building the Kan
sas Northwestern Railway, why
does the petition read for a road
between Great Bend and Galatia,
if the road is to be $50 miles in
length?
Answer. Because the promoter
OF the road wish to use the town.
y ship bonds In the actual conStruc-
ton of the road and thus use few
er, of the railroad companyS bonds
In this way the company is COM
PEELED to use fewer of its bonds.
II ther were a graft in a deal of
this kind would want the bonds
held back and keep them as a
profit which they cannot do with
the railroad bonds as they must
account to the state for the issue
and use of the bonds. We're the
election call to include the build
ing of the entire length of road
the money would not be available
until the entire road was built
and it could not thus be used in
q the construction of the road, but
would come as a profit to the
company.
Q. People who are opposed to
voting the bonds or aid asked
for say it would cost the township
$500 q quarter. Why would all
that expense be necessary?
A. 1t would not cost anything
like that. 1t would be impossible
to make the expense that high,
and a little reasoning ON the part
of any one interested in the mat
ter would show that to be absurd.
There are only "a sections in the
township of Great Bend. That
would be 1876 quarters. If it cost
the township 800 a quarter that
would amount to $13,600 instead
of the $4,000 asked.
Q If the bonds are voted what
is the advantage of the township
owning railroad stock?
A. Railroad promoters would
prefer 10 exchange bonds for
bonds, not stock for bonds. The
stock in all probability will sell
at par. So there is a chance, ii
the township wants to take ad-
vantage of it, of selling their rail
road stock. People thought the
Missouri Pacific stock was worth
less but a short time ago a num-
ber of townships in Kansas cOun-
ties sold their stock at par. Great
Bend township could have sold IT
at par, but what it received was
n better than was ever fig
ured ON getting and was sold on
the rSt offer.
What assurance is there thai
the road will be built north of Ga
latia and south of Great Bend?
A road of that length would moi
be considered by the men prOmOt
ing this road. The capital neces
sary to finance the building o.
the road could not be abtameC
on such a short road. And tht
town and country people living
along the proposed road north o.
Galatia and south Of Great Benz
are fast arranging the building o
the road. In order TO build nov
it must be handled in division
or districts. At the general Otfl
ceS of the company are masses o
information from people in othe
towns and counties along tn
right of way who are working
, hard for the proposition.
O. They say a contract ha
been let for the building OF tn
road from Benkleman, Neb., t
Wichita, Kan, or Oklahoma City
Okla. What value is there to sue
q contract?
A. The same as there is to an
contract. Penalties are due g
course for any non-fulfillment c
contract. This is work which IL
wolves millions of dollars and
there was to be a hitcn Of an
kind in the proceedings no COZ
tracts would have been made
this time.