The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-05-06
WHEEL Town AWAY
Iowans Move Two Miles to Site
on Railroad.
Community Is Betrayed by Coup Of
Thrifty councIlman-stampedes
Residents to City on Pro
posed Line.

Des Moines, Ia.-Wheeling town
two miles overnight!
This feat, accomplished by the resi-
dents Of q thriving Iowa community.
and the exciting events that preceded
the municipal hegira were vividly re-
lated by a former resident Of the town |
in question. The incident occurred IN
the early 's0s. when the railroads
practically made over the maps Of
many portions of the west.
"The one great handicap or Cal
liope-for that rs, or was, the name OIL
the town, was the fact that 1t pos
sessed no railway connection.
"But one day man, glorying In Q
generous girth and many hued
waistcoat, arrived in Calliope. To the
village president he signified his der
sire to meet the village board, and II
was convened in session extraordin-
ary that very evening in the school
house. To this staid and deliberatiye
body the imposing stranger outlined
his plan for a newer and better Cal
llope. The Mississippi & Pacific
Coast railway-that was not its name
hut IT will serve-he declared had de-
clded to extend its projected line
through Calliope on its way to the
shore of the Pacific. AS evidence OF
the good faith OF the company the
representative exhibited map where
In Calliope was indicated by black
dot. whose dimension were exceeded
by none-no, not even Chicago. Ine
stranger went on to point out the ao'
vantages that would accrue to the
town by the fulfillment OF the plans
of the railroad company.
"The supposition, however, was mol
, well founded, as he soon found. II
the railroad wished to come to Cal
, Iiope. well and good. declared the
sturdy burghers, but Cailiope would
, offer no bribes. At this the railroad
representative lost some OF his suay
, ity. and informed his audience that \
Calliope did not choose to accept tn'
generous compromise held out to 1t Dy
the railroad, the company would make
Calliope come to the road.
"Then one day an ugly rumor wal
afioat. It was whispered from moutf
to mouth that one of the councilmeI
who had been most emphatic In de
nouncing the railroad agents prone
! had bought a quarter section in TN
/. path of the projected railroad, and II
: company with the railroad advanc
4 agent was laying out the new town
a Further investigation disclosed tina
the councilman had bought an eve
! 16o acres Of land---what was more. b
a had parceled 1t out in regulation cit
i lots, had opened cracker box offic
- and was doing fourishing real estat
10 business.
"a "The hegira continued. The th
4. same suave gentleman visited II
q. principal merchants of the town an
3. made them an offer of free site
a. the new city If they would move.
II was too much Immediately there WI
II a scramble to secure the most desi
"A able locations in the new city-whic
al. by the way, he said was to be name
ha Hawarden-in his own honor. One
i. one they set to work to move the
ts struotures-which were of frame co
he struction-two miles down the slol
In to Hawarden.
a. "It was no use And even the Q
"A timers saw It. Mournfully they. to
10 bade farewell to Calliope and beto'
themselves and their abodes to 4
!. warden, which grew to city OF 10
- within month.
~ ~ @And Calliope? Well, what "
- ~ once Calliope ~ now aondsht'
- cornheld."