The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1917-02-02

re, as Well as lnnuentlal farmers
from the different counties.
President Zirkle of the Industrial
Club called the meeting to order and
after few remarks, introduced w.
c. Fordyce, one of the leaders in the
movement to build the new road.
Mr.. Fordyce explained the difficulties
encountered by those who would Sc
cure capital for railroad building.
He called attention to the fact that
less than 100 miles of line was built
in 1916, and said that there was only
one reason he was interested in build
ing this line. He told of having built
the short line from Scott City to
Winona and of its being losing ven-
ture because it started nowhere and
ended nowhere. His only reason foI
trying to build the new line at this
time is that this short line Is losing
his company 100000 a year, and b,
connecting II up with the Union Pa
/, cific on the north and the M. X. & T
on the south 1t will be paying prop
osition and a salable property should
they decide not to operate It them.
lselves.
However, he explained, they had
been unable to secure finances to con.
Istrret tho line. 10 had come To ths
people who would be beieftted and
asked them to assist by lending then
their credit until such time as the
road would pay its own way. Mr..
Fordyce spoke frankly and his hear
ers were impressed with his sincerity.
When Mr.. Fordyce had finished
President Zirkle called upon Herbert
Hobble and Warren Zimmerman OF
Liberal to express the sentiment at
this end of the line. They told OF the
enthusiasm Of the people of Seward
county and their willingness to as
sist to the extent of their ability,
Frank Mccoy Of Sublette, DR..
Hickok OF Satanta, John J. Miller Of
Santa Fe, were then called and each
gave assurance that their citizens
were favorable to the proposition and
expressed their readiness to get back
OF the proposition with a will.
Judge Lee Monroe Of Topeka was
next called. He dwelt on the bene-
fits of the line to this section, and
gave excellent reasons why the propo-
sition should be favorably considered.
Judge w. E. Hutchinson was the
next speaker and he aroused all kinds
of enthusiasm by his remarks. He
said that he had lived in Garden City
over thirty years, and dur
ing that time the question of a north
and south road had been before the
people many times, and he added that
this proposition is the best that has
been presented, and he considers 1t
the best chance to get road that
has yet been offered He gave as his
reason for this the fact that only be-
cause the gentlemen interested had a
white elephant" in the shape of the
Scott City branch, were they work.
ing on the proposition, and should
they dispose of or abandon the branch
it might be thirty years more before
anyone else would be sufficiently in
terested to start another project He
urged prompt and favorable action
and that his hearers were with him
is attested by the generous applause
which greeted his remarks.
Mr.. Gillespie of the U. s. Land C
Sugar Company made short talk
and pledged his company to the sup
port of the proposition. 1t was an
ticipated that this company with Its
great investment might not take
kindly to the proposition, but Mr..
Gillespie dispelled all doubt when he
stated that the proposed road would
save them $4,000 year in freight
on one item used in the manufacture
of sugar.
At the close of the meeting ris-
ing vote was taken to determine the
sentiment of the house, and motion
was made that the meeting endorse
the proposition. When the motion
was put the entire crowd with excep-
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