The Lamar register., 1921-10-05
NOT UP TO EXPECTATIONS
Old Timers in Lamar Could Not En-
thuse Over Efforts of Railroad
Promoter.

The Elks Club rooms were crowded
last Friday with business men and
citizens gathered together to listen to
the statement of President Cook of the
so-called Panhandle Short Line, but
there was a noticeable chill in the air
that made any manifestation of en-
thusiasm impossible.
Old time Lamarites had seen the
only and unapproachable J. Rufus Wal
lingford in the act of promoting the
late lamated Denver & Gulf railroad,
and the efforts of others seem tame
by comparison. They had seen the
Hon. J. Rufus in the presence of
throng Of many thousands lift the
first shovelful of dirt on the depot
site with all the grace of his three
hundred pounds of averdupoise unsoil-
ed by previous manual labor. They
had heard him paint pictures Of the
vast tonnage rolling over the road un-
til they could almost hear the engines
footing in railroad yards, and they had
burned cords upon cords of perfectly
good firewood and outbuildings to cele-
brate our great good luck in getting
this kindly gentleman to take an in
terest in our affairs. They had seen
him graciously accept Lamar's prefer
of doubling her bonus if he would wait
until trains were running, and when
actual cash was needed had seen him
go out and lift it from Texas and Min
nesota bankers to start the scrapers
to moving on the grade which still
decorates the west side Of town, and
which he left others to pay for.
Having seen all this they could not
be expected to holler much over the
tame affair Of last Friday night, no
fireworks. no dirt shoveling, no thrills,
just a straight plea for loan Of mon
ey without any real security-and
ninety per cent of the audience wanted
that same thing themselves. The Of
ficers Of the Short Line may have
forty millions Of bonds sold-we are
not going TO dispute their word-but
II they have under present conditions
OF the money market they are the
marvels Of modern finance, and II
would be an impertinence on Lamar's
part to offer them a paltry loan.
However. the Lamar people Just to
show they are sports and willing TO do
all that is reasonable to help out the
citizens Of Baca county, offered Mr.
Cook n straight bonus Of fifty thous-
and dollars payable when trains arc
running as Lamar's share Of the pro.
motion. II as he says the road Is
financed this is far better PROPOSE
tion for his company than the loan Of
a like amount. Had our old friend.
Mr.. Wallingford. known here as NJ.
Umsted, been promoting this scheme
he not only would not have forgotten
that letter from the New York financ-
ial agents announcing the sale Of
bonds, but he would have also had a
Of samples from those iron
mines and a nice supply Of handsome
ly engraved passes over his proposei
road for the leading contributors. A
nice regard for such details always
his work.
Lamar people believe that nothing
but the best is good enough for La
mar, and when they are going to be
hooked they want the fisherman to
use all the latest most up-to-date ap-
pliances-just like he thought he was
after big game and would have a hard
time landing it. That kind Of a COM
pliment is always appreciated and gen.
orally wins.