The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-18

drive over just what they wanted to
fnd-two splendid routes from
Hutchinson to the Northwest with the
Golden Belt wheat fields IN every d.
rection. The possibilities are easily
seen by anyone-wheat to be shipped
south, a direct route, and Arkansas
coal, southern lumber, ETC., from the
south to the wheat belt.
It was decided that as soon as the
Government lets go of the railroads,
and the owners once more run them,
which by all indications will be very
soon, this proposed route will be COW
cred by the long looked for north and
south railroad. The money for its
building is ready, the bonds contract
ed for and all of the stock is taken.
Two years ago these same parties
offered $4OO,OOO.O0 for all the rails,
ties, engines, and cars of the Winona
to Scott City railroad that was sold
at Government sale at Russell
Springs. There are fifty-two miles of
rails, just enough to build from Hays
to Great Bend, in that purchase. Over
about this same route, the whole out
fit to be moved over the Union Pacific
to Hays and built southeast from here,
but the whole thing was knocked in
the head by the Government author
tiles not approving of the bond issue.
The Liberty Loan Campaign was in
full blast at the time and nothing was
allowed to interfere with money rails
ing then, so the material was retailed
out to various parties and the matter
dropped until it was known that the
Government was to return the rail
roads to private ownership.
Since then matters have moved
along pretty fast. The worked out
time table shows two trains a day
each way in addition to freights. The
passenger cars will be of the type
used by the Los Angeles system of the
Philadelphia Car Companies make
and propelled by gasoline. They will
run from twenty to twenty-five miles
per hour and stop at any crossing,
leaving each end of the route about
$50 mornings, and back in the after
noon, a three hour run. A station will
be located at Fl. Fletcher, after
block-house style with guns, etc, as
an historical point on the line, and if
the Reservation authorities will con-
sent, a depot and sidetrack will be
located at Camp Custer and that made
the picnic ground of Hays, with all
the paraphenalia for pleasure and
pastime. Extra trains will be run
during the summer to care for this
picnic trade.
The Road gives each township
through which it runs a good depot
and sidetrack, and certain Galvest-
ton parties are arranging for several
elevators along the line with coal and
lumber yards in connection. The
bond petitions for the various town
ships are ready to use and charter will
be filed as soon as private ownership
- SAISO pOSSlO1C. II Is expected
that the road will be in operation
within year.
While southern parties will furnish
the money and control the road, five
of the retired business men of Ellis
County have been selected and will
be asked to take charge of building
the road in Ellis county, being paid
a small salary as superintendents of
construction and have full charge of
building the road and its depots until
the road is in full operation. During
the construction of the road the Office
of the company will be in Hays and
Hutchinson
The road means a better price for
wheat, better accommodations for
travel, and a better Golden Belt coun-
try.