The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1922-08-17
RAILROAD BOND ELECTION
CALLED FOR SEPTEMBER IL
City Council Issues Order and Sets
Date as Early as Possible

the City Convened Tuesday evening
and made a call for an election to
vote. bonds in the sum of $4,000
to aid the Kansas & Oklahoma rail
road.
The date set was September IL,
the earliest date upon which the
election could be held. and on this
date the people Of Liberal will have
the opportunity of expressing them
selves as to whether or not they will
extend aid to the railroad company.
There is lot of misunderstanding
regarding his proposition and many
people think the present issue is in
addition to the old issue, making
total Of $4,000. Nothing could be
further from the truth. The Mayor
and council refused to deliver the old
bond issue, giving as their reason
the time limit had expired. Rather
they could not legally do SO, because
than again take the matter to the
suprem court and cause endless delay
and the prospect Of an adverse de-
cision 1t was decided to ask a new
election to vote bonds with the un-
derstanding and contract that the
old issue would be waived by the COM
pany. Accordingly Mr.. Byers has
signed waiver to the former issue
and this preludes any possibility of
his receiving or attention to secure
the former issue, and really makes
this election matter Of revoting the
500, 900.
The second object raised is that
present proposition does not guar
antee the road to Forgan being COM
pleted. Anyone familiar with the
situation would be satisfied that this
will be done. At this time the grade
is completed from the east line OF
the city to the Kansas line with the
exception of one mile which is in lit
| igation. There is no more work
done on this end until the townsite
of Greenough is reached. Here the
road is graded through the townsite
ad two miles east. Then there is
gap of two and one half miles not
graded. Here the grade is taken up
and is completed to Forgan. One
mile of track has been laid at For
gan and 5000 ties are on the ground.
The work Of grading, enginee r l n g
work. track and ties represent an in
vestment of $50, 100000 on the part
Of the company. The Greenough
townsite is as yet unsold.
Now, we wish the unbelievers would
consider this proposition. With
$36,0O0.00 invested beyond the
townsite of Greenough would it be
good business to stop the road there
and lose the investment on the other
end? This investment is responsible
for the very liberal proposition sub
mitted by Mr.. Byers. He is willing
to take the $4,000 in bonds of the
ity and guarantee the road to Green
ough. From there on he will be
abel to finance the construction be-
cause of the fact that the work is
we'll advanced.
| The Kansas G. Oklahoma has tan
gible investment in the city of Liberal
done at its own expense except a
small amount contributed. The load
reaches from the east line of the city
to the west. It is connected with the
Rock Islands tracks on the east and
with the same tracks on the
west. The grading in the west part
Of the city is the most expensive of
any on the line between Hugoton and
Greenough. They have land for ter
minals contracted and some of it is
paid for. All this without cent Of
public money.
Now how can anyone claim Byers
has not acted in good faith? He has
actually built his road across the
town on his own resources and the in
vestment already made will equal
the amount of the bonds asked.
Another kick is that the money will
be spent for the line outside Of the
state. We ask for proof Of this state
ment. If the opposition can prove
this then it is evidence. Their mere
statement is insufficient.
It has been stated that Byers has
not lived up to his contract In the
past. We ask the opposition to make
specific statements, giving the con-
tract violated and promises broken.
! Unless such, statements are made
there can be no answer, and II such
statements are made we feel that we
Il ~ A. Ala oaASo-