Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-08-17
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RAhA8D By|LI
By FARMERS M Mt
| 60 70 JUNK Pile
Atlantic { Southern Has Not
{. Turned a Wheel Since
y January 1. {}Nh
IS ONLY IS MILES LONG
Strikers Once Ran II TIN They Got
Their Back ~Pay"-leslie N.
Shaw Wanted Il Once But
Changed his Mind.

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Atlantic, lathe last chapter In
the spectacular history of the Allan
Tic & Southern railroad Is about to be
written; the line is about to be sold
for Junk. The rails and ties will prob.
ably be taken up and carried to Ar
KANSAS, and they will be used In
building . little railroad In that state.
The stations will be sold to anyone
who will buy them and the right Of
way will revert to the farmers along
the way who originally donated most
Of It to the railroad that was to bring
competition and q reduction ir freight
and passenger rates. Not . wheel has
been turned on any portion Of the
road since January l, and the owners
are now negotiating for the sale Of
the property to W. Harding Davis Of
st. Louis. q dealer in secondhand
railroad materials, for use OF the line
that Is being built in Arkansas.
The Atlantic & Southern was
unique among railroads. 1t is thirty.
i've miles long and was completed on
January I. 1911. after . spectacular
building race for a price Of $4,000
which was to be paid conditional upon
the completion Of the road upon that
date. During the last month Of build.
Ing the work was carried on day and
night, electric lights being strung
along the line and double shifts. both
as to men and horses, employed.
The job was completed with only
few hours to spare and the first
train to pass from end to end arrived
1t the terminal within less than one
hour OF the last moment possible for
Il to do 70 and yet win the prize.
Built by Farmers.
The little railroad was built in large
part by farmers. Not only did the
farmers finance the deal, but they
performed. most Of the work. When
ever . farmer had nothing else to do.
he ,hitched up his team. drove over
to the line and put in a days work
onsthe grade. Sometimes he was paid
In actual cash; ct other times he was
given credit on his stock subscription,
and at still others he was paid in stock
Of the road. Much Of the right Of way
was donated by the farmers and some
of4the cross ties were cut by them and
delivered free.
The building Of the Atlantic &
Southern followed closely upon the
completion Of the Atlantic & North.
ern. aIroad about eighteen miles long,
running northward from this town.
But whereas the northern road was a
success from the beginning, the South.
ern never paid operating expenses,
much less q dividend.
Operated by Strikers.
At one time there was a strike on
the road. the section men and the I'VE
trafnmen quitting work because they
had not been paid. They b%arricaded
the line and for almost a month not
. train was operated In either direc.
ton. Finally the strikers took pos.
session, ran trains. took the money
and paid themselves or and then sur.
rendered the property to the owners.
Tho little road was expected to
prove that 4 farming community could
finance and build its own transports.
ton systems. Every farmer along the
right OF way took stock and gave do.
nations; towns voted bonds to aid in
its construction. Then they got down
to work and built the road.
Although only thirty-fve miles In
length, the road had more directors
than the Pennsylvania, New York
Central, Union Pacific and . dozen
other big systems combined. At one
meeting 300 Of the directors were on
hand-and they were not all there at
that time, either.
But the Atlantic & Southern was
not without prospects-and big ones,
too. The late Edwin Hawley at one
time had his eye on the property, and
ct the time OF his death was prepar-
Ing to purchase It and make it a con.
meeting link between the Minneapolis
k15E Louis, lows Central, Chicago 4
Alton. Missouri, Kansas g Texas,
Glover Leaf and Chesapeake & Ohio
roads. It was his Intention to extend
the little line southwark to Kansas
City. northeastward to Des. Moines and
westward to Omaha
Leslie N. Shaw Wanted lt.
And after Mr.. Hawley's death Leslie
N. Shaw. formerly secretary Of the
treasufy. tried to buy the property ct
receivers sale. MI. Shaw deposited
$4,000 when the line was knocked
doyvh5t6' him ct auction, but failed to
come forward with the remainder at
thss proper time and his deposit was
copnscated. He Is Stills fighting In the
courts 10 get his money back.
4 Two years ago, after passing
through rsceiysrship, the lime vas sold
at shelton and Vas purchased BY the
arm which had furnished the cross
ties, ths BID being the amount stu
lueFit. This firm operated the road
f0r eighteen months. lost money every
Iaonth ana anallly, On JannaSy 4
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