The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-30
STRANG LINE SOLD
Mckinley Purchases anEntrance
into Kansas City.
Another Move in Perfectlng
Western Trolley System.
WILL REACH TOPEKA.
Old Owners to Extend Road for
the Buyers.
Traction Promoter Already Has
Keynote Positions.
WILL REACH TOPEKA.

Kansas City. Jan. 30.-The Strang
electric line, connecting Kansas City
and Olathe, Kan. has been sold to the
Mckinley traction interests. The Strang
company will extend the line to Law
renee and Topeka for the buyers. work
on the extension will begin as soon as
possible.
w. B. Strang, president of the Mis-
souri, and Kansas Interurban Railway
company, is in New York in connection
with the deal. A. F. Hunt vice presi-
dent of the company, refused last night
to discuss the purchase.
The Strang line includes % miles of
single track and an owned right of way
so feet wide. 1t pays interest on IA
million dollars. according to Mr.. Hunt
The line was built four years ago. For
two years motor cars were operated on
the line. The present electric cars
were put into use two years ago.
Predicts Interurban Development.
The buying of the Strang line is re-
garded as another move in the perfect
ing of an extensive interurban system
in eastern Kansas by the interests rep
resented by Representative William B.
Mckinley of Illinois, promoter of the
trolley system extending into Illinois
from st. Louis. Mr.. Mckinley already
has the Topeka street car system and
the purchase of the new Lawrence line
by him practically is closed.
s'We'H see some remarkable develop
ments in the interurban situation this
spring" Mr.. Hunt said. L don't care
to discuss the reported sale Of the
Strang line, but such a deal would be
only one of several that may be eX-
pected within a few months. Kansas
City is the logical center of great
1nterurban system and the field is alb
solutely undeveloped. McKinley's Hi
nois lines showed him the possibilities
and he is eager to enter the field.
Surveys to Lawrence and Topeka.
Few persons realize the opportuni-
ties. The building of about hundred
miles of ok. for instance, would con-
meet Kansas City with some $50 miles
Of interurban lines in southeastern
Kansas and southwestern Missouri. AT
present the Helm road extends from
Joplin northwest through Pittsburg to
Mulberry Kan. within II miles of Fort
Scott. The southwestern Missouri line
extends from Joplin to Carthage. Then
the Union Traction company has line
from Coffeyville to Parsons A branch
of the Helm system extends west from
PittSburg to Mineral, which is only 10
miles from Parsons. Now you can see
what a line from Olathe to Fort Scott
and Mineral, and a line connecting
Mineral and Parsons would mean.
And the extension. of the Olathe line
to Topeka would bring Lawrence and
the Kansas capital into the same cir
cult. We have the surveys from Olathe
TO Topeka already made. With that
Topeka extension built-and it will be
built this spring-another rich territory
in the direction of Ottawa would be OPP
ened. Baldwin men are talking street
cars, and a line will go in there soon.
All it needs is a starter to make Kan
sas City the center of a system of
trolley lines like that which connects
Indianapolis with the towns of Indi-
ana"
Where Syndicate Operates.
The Mckinley syndicate now operates
more than 500 miles of interurban rail-
way lines in Indiana and Illinois. For
two years the company, headed by Rep
resentative Mckinley, has been making
plans to enter the Missouri valley field
when an inter-linking system to join all
the larger cities of Kansas and Mis-
souri, AS an entering wedge in the
Kansas field, the syndicate purchased
and is now operating the Topeka Street
Railway company.
At Atchison, the syndicate has pur-
chased an interest in the local electric
light plant. AS a preliminary to build
ing the Kansas and Missouri lines, the
syndicate is planning to build a bridge
across the Missouri at AtchiSon as a
means of entrance for an electric line
from St. Joseph to Atchison. A federal
charter already has been asked for the
building of this bridge. To make pos
sible the building of the St Louis to