The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1920-03-18
WILL MEET TO DISCUSS
THE NEW RAILROAD
Big Booster Meeting to Be Held Here
March 27.-Many Expected
From a Distance.

which not only the people OF Liberal
are invited but the whole territory
effected by the building of the Kan
sas and Oklahoma Railroad.
A conference was held at the
Chamber of Commerce office the
first of the week, Mr.. o. P. Byers
being present to tell the progress of
the road so far. While his talk was
not so encouraging as it might have
been it gave the information that
there was still good chance of
building the road.
The result of the canvas for sub
scriptions in Oklahoma was dlsap-
pointment and showed that the peo-
pie down that way evidently have
been misinformed as to the PROPOSE
tion.We cannot believe that they
would turn down proposition so
meritorious if they had considered
it from the proper angle.
AS in matters of this kind all sorts
of theories are advanced. One rea-
son given for the failure to subscribe
is that some people are of the opinion
that the road will build whether the
subscriptions are Forthcoming or not.
We had just as well disabuse our
minds on that score. Mr.Byers is
not financially able to go ahead and
finance the whole proposition him
self. Had it been possible the road
would have been in operation at this
time.
There is just one way to get this
railroad and that is to get into the
game and every man do his part 1t
is not only unfair but unreasonable
to sit idly by and expect one man or
dozen to build this railroad, and
if this policy is pursued there will be
no railroad between Liberal and For
gan This much is certain.
The territory affected must get
squarely back of Mr.. Byers and that
:, without delay if this road is buildsd
hid season. He has done everything
possible and has reached the place
where he must build now or get out
of the game.
He has contract for the rails and
other materials and the contractors
must receive word to ship or cancel
the order right away. If these Or
ders are cancelled it will delay the
building of the road year even if
the subscriptions are Forthcoming,
so speed is necessary in arriving at
our conclusions.
At this meeting it is expected that
Beaver, Forgan and Woodward will
be represented and have some defin-
ite proposition to offer. These towns
will all be benefited by the road and
they have almost as much at stake as
Liberal. If they will give their ala
in full proportion, and if the farm
ers along the line will look at the
matter in the proper light this road
can De hauling freight and passen-
gers by fall.
Liberal is going to have to come
across and dig deep and hard, but
iharoI olopa coppot t,r, tho tr,cu
We feel safe in predicting that Lib
eral will do little more than her
share, and we cannot help but believe
THAT the territory will do as well.
I This section must have more rail-
roads to property develop, and as is
always the case we must give them
aid.
Those familiar with the growth
of eastern Kansas and the best part
of Oklahoma know this is true. Enid,
Chickasha, Oklahoma City and 9th
er towns that have later become cities
have paid dearly for their first roads,
but they show to the world that they
were alive and fighting and when the
second road had been built others
were glad to build to them.
We predict that the building of
this road will be the beginning of an
era of railroad building in this sec
ton and if Forgan, Beaver, and
Woodward are connected with the
Rock Island it may mean other roads
for all of them, and general set
ting up of this section.
In this connection we learn that
another proposition is being talked
regarding a railroad from Beaver to
Liberal. While it is all right to in
(vestigate this we do not believe it is
$ood business to let up on our work
for the Byers road. 1t is easy to
talk roads but hard work to build
them, and while the other deal be-
ing broached may prove a winner,
personally we have no faith in it.
Should the nromoters tapree In huild