The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-01-19
GOLDEN BELT RAILROAD
CHARTERED

Bend were more than delighted at
{ the news in the Kansas City Star,
Sunday noon, that the State Charter
Board had granted to the Golden Belt
Railroad of Kansas their charter, and
/ all of the Associated Press papers on
Sunday carried the news. 1t was not
expected until after the State Board
of Utilities had been here this Thurs
| day, the 18th, and made their deci-
sion, but the application was so
straight it was allowed without wait
ing. The official document, with the
great big gold seal of the State of
Kansas, arrived from the Secretary
of State. 1t lasts for fifty years, and
names John Schlyer, B. F. Replogle,
Alex Philip, Isaac Zeigler, E. R.
Moses, Chas. Lischesky, Louis Kos
suth as the active Directors, with
John Jacobs of Ellis County, Andrew
Stremel of Rush, and J. F. Bales of
Barton, county commissioners, as
associate Directors. 1t authorizes
them to build and operate a standard
guage, trunk line Of railroad from
connection with the Santa Fe rail
road at Great Bend, Kansas, north
west through Barton, northeast Rush,
and Ellis counties to railroad connec-
tion at or near Hays, Kansas, and
elsewhere, connecting the great
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the great Southwest and the Gulf of
Mexico, a distance of about ffty-one
to sixty-four miles. The place where
the business is to be transacted is at
Hays, Ellis county, and at Great
Bend, in Barton county, Kansas. Each
of the Directors are to have one
Directorate share for them and their
successor. And it can be capitalized
at $590,0O0, the amount the cities
and the townships are asked to sub
scribe and issue their 25-year bonds
in payment thereof. 1t lets them
cross the U. P. Railroad anywhere be-
tween Victoria depot and Ellis depot
if Hays does not want it.
This shows the two cities and the
townships are to own every share of
stock sold, so no railroad, bank or in
dividual will have any say in electing
the future directors or running the
road for twenty-five years. That is
why it hes been called the Farmers
ALLIANCE Railroad of Kansas,
straight case of cooperation of the
Farmers interested.
On Tuesday, Secretary Freese ap-I
peared before the Commercial Club
and told them of the receipt of the
Charter, and the coming of the State
Utility Board on Thursday. That the
Charter provided for railroad connec-
ton with the Union Pacific at or near
Hays, and it could not come TO
to cross the Reservation, so they had
HAYS unless permission was secured
best join the City and County author
tiles in securing that permission, and
sign up the Bond petitions in Hays
and Big Greek, showing they wanted
the road built into Hays.
Last week, Secretary Freese was
over at Lacrosse and Great Bend
transacting railroad business, and
Thursday. evening had a wide-awake
meeting of. their Commercial Club,
who are to send a big delegation over
to Hays, this Thursday morning, to
appear before the Utility Board.
While there ne engaged a big Office
room for Director Kossuth and his
force of men who will have the build
ing of the Barton county part of the
road, when ready for work. He took
a main floor room and also one on
the third floor overlooking the pro-
posed road for fully nine miles to the
northwest. The Great Bend Tribune
took whole column on Friday, tell
ing of the meeting, showing that city
is enthused toward building the road.
The Commercial Club there offered
them a Desk room in their Chamber
of Commerce rooms for the use of
the Secretary who may be selected
at the Organization meeting of the
Railroad Board, under their charter.
The State Board of Utilities came
here tbs Thursday, and held a hear
ing in the morning before a large
audience. The Secretary showed the
financial statement and a number of
citizens and farmers told why the
road should be built. A large delega-
ton from Great Bend accompanied
Directors Moses and Lischesky over
here, Mr. Msoes telling that they
would guarantee that city and county