Note: Many mistakes were made in the early newspapers relative to the name of this company. Sometimes they spoke of the Kansas City and South Western Railroad Company. At other times they got the initials reversed and in some cases they only showed K. C. & S. Have tried to correct items. Prominent figures were responsible for this road going to Winfield, Arkansas City, and then west. I set up a file for the President, James N. Young, who moved with his family from Chicago to Winfield during the time that the railroad was built. MAW

Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1884.

Messrs. Young and Latham, two friends of O. F. Godfrey, were in our city Sunday last.

[ANOTHER RAILROAD FOR WINFIELD.]

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1884.

Cowley County will have Competing Lines.

A meeting of citizens of Winfield was held at the Brettun House last Monday evening to hear concerning movements which have recently been taken toward the construction of a railroad direct to Winfield from the direction of Kansas City.

W. H. Smith was chosen chairman and Ed. P. Greer, Secretary.

Henry E. Asp, being called upon for a recital of what has been done, stated that since any report has been made to the citizens, James Hill, the manager of the Missouri, Winfield & South Western railroad company, has visited St. Louis, Chicago, and other cities east conferring with capitalists and railroad builders to induce them to take hold of the organization he represented and build us a road. He finally got Messrs. Geo. W. Hoffman, James N. Young, and L. D. Latham, of Chicago, and M. M. Towle and C. N. Towle of Hammond, Indiana, so far interested in the project that they sent Mr. L. D. Latham to look over the route, examine the situation, and report. Mr. Latham came about March 1st, at the time that our narrow gauge excitement was strongest, which was an element of discouragement to him, but such other facts and reasons were placed before him that he was prepared to make a favorable report. Mr. Hill returned with him and secured a meeting of the above named gentlemen at St. Louis, where they could confer with the authorities of the railroads running west from that city. Mr. Hill and Mr. Asp met them in St. Louis about the 11th of this month and the result of the arrangements made there was that Messrs. L. D. Latham, M. M. Towle, and J. N. Young were authorized to visit the route again, get further information, and make such arrangements as in their judgment was best for themselves and their friends.

These gentlemen arrived at Newton last Friday, where they met with Mr. Hill, who took them down to Arkansas City. That evening Mr. Asp went down and consulted with them. They came to Winfield Saturday, but after consulting with but a very few of our citizens, they returned to Arkansas City that evening, saying that they would be back Monday and then be ready to announce their decision. On Monday they returned and stated their decision that they could not use the old M. W. & S. W. charter because it did not cover the ground from Coffey County to Kansas City direct and was insufficient for their purposes in other respects, beside, if they built the road, they must have the full control.

They therefore decided to make a new organization and file a charter to suit themselves at once and proceed to build the road immediately if they can get such aid from the counties and townships along the line as will warrant them in proceeding. They locate by their charter the general office of the company at Winfield and Kansas City, Kansas. They will first try for aid between Winfield and Eureka over the route surveyed by the M. W. & S. W., if permitted by that company, and will pay for any part of the work done that they can make available. If they fail of getting sufficient aid by that line, they will next submit propositions up the Little Walnut to Rosalia. As soon as they are assured of the aid, they will put that portion of the road from their connection with the Ft. Scott & Wichita road to Winfield under contract and will complete it this season. They expect to bring their iron and ties on the Frisco road, which is now under the control of the Gould interest. They will build from that road to Winfield first. If they fail on both of these routes to get the aid, they will try another.

Messrs. Towle are the men who originated the scheme of carrying dressed beef in refrigerator cars, have overcome all obstacles, have their slaughter houses at Hammond, Indiana, twenty miles out of Chicago, where they have built quite a city and are slaughtering about a thousand beeves a day and shipping the dressed beef to New York. They have the idea that a slaughter house on the south line of Sumner County, with direct and cheap rates to Kansas City and New York, would have greater advantages over Chicago as a packing point than Chicago has over New York. They are worth half a million. Mr. Hoffman is the heavy capitalist of the concern and is worth several million. Mr. Latham is a railroad builder in which he has had much experience and success. He can command plenty of money. The same may be said of Mr. Young, who is an experienced broker and dealer in railroad stocks and bonds. There is no doubt of their ability to build the road. They expect to offer propositions for voting aid by our people in a very few days and to push the matter as rapidly as possible.

The meeting passed a resolution to the effect that we want them to build the road and will do anything reasonable in aid thereof.

A committee consisting of D. L. Kretsinger, J. C. Fuller, M. L. Robinson, H. E. Asp, and C. A. Bliss was appointed to confer with them, get their terms, and report at a meeting to be called by themselves, and directed the secretary of the meeting to inform the company of these proceedings.

Adjourned.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 16, 1884.

Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad. Messrs. Latham and Young, of Chicago, were in our city yesterday and held a railroad meeting in Highland Hall. The gist of the proposition submitted is that the road is to be built by township aid, and $35,000 in Creswell Township bonds is asked for, in return for a similar amount of capital stock thereof. The road is to be constructed from a point in the Flint Hills, where it will join the Frisco road, yet no bonds are to be delivered till the road is in running order from Arkansas City to said points on the St. Louis and San Francisco road. The construction of this end of the road, which when completed will give a direct communication to Kansas City, is much facilitated by a temporary connection with the St. L. & S. F. R. R. Hence, the above clause in the proposition. The road from Kansas City to Arkansas City would give us a direct trunk line, and fully sixty miles shorter than any line now in existence. Of this proposition we only say it appears fair, and is at least worth the consideration of our people.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

ANOTHER RAILROAD!

WINFIELD WILL BE THE "FUTURE GREAT" OF SOUTHERN KANSAS.

A Third Competing Line to be Built At Once.

On Monday evening a large meeting was held in the Courthouse for the purpose of receiving and discussing the new railroad proposition. The meeting organized by placing Mayor Emerson in the chair with Geo. H. Buckman as secretary. Henry E. Asp then read the proposition as decided upon in a conference between the representatives of the railroad company and the railroad committee. After the reading of the proposition, Mr. James N. Young, of Chicago, representing the company, was introduced and stated that the company were now ready to build the road, and desired to do so with as little delay as possible. That their intention was to build from a connection with the St. Louis & San Francisco, north or northeast from Winfield, to the south line of Sumner County, during the coming summer, and that the company desired an expression from the citizens as to whether they wanted the road or not, and would aid it, at once, so that the final location of the line might be decided upon.

Senator Hackney was then called out and made a ringing speech in favor of the proposition and urged all to take hold with a will and secure it while they had the opportunity. Ex-Mayor Troup also spoke strongly in favor of securing the road at all hazards, as did Mr. Black, of the Telegram, and Judge T. H. Soward. A vote was then taken on the proposition, and almost every person in the house voted the affirmative. A committee of five, consisting of Geo. H. Rembaugh, Henry E. Asp, George. H. Buckman, Geo. H. Crippen, and Ed. P. Greer, was appointed to secure the necessary amount of names to the petitions. The meeting was one of the largest ever held in the city and enthusiastic and united on the railroad question.

[RAILROAD MEETING CONCERNING KANSAS CITY & SOUTHWESTERN.]

Arkansas City Republican, April 19, 1884.

A large number of the citizens of this township assembled at Highland Hall in this city last Tuesday evening to take action upon the proposition of the directors of the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad to run their road to this city, upon Creswell Township's voting bonds for $35,000 of the capital stock of said road. Judge T. McIntire was elected chairman, and S. W. Duncan, secretary. Upon being requested James Hill stated the object of the meeting, and, with convincing arguments, he dwelt at length upon the advantages of the road to the township and the city. James N. Young, president of the railroad company, then read the proposition, and a motion was made to adopt it, upon which considerable argument was produced. Pending the discussion, C. R. Sipes offered as a substitute for the motion that Judge A. J. Pyburn, T. H. McLaughlin, Dr. H. D. Kellogg, M. N. Sinnott, G. W. Cunningham, and James Benedict be appointed a committee to confer with the directors of the railroad present, and examine the proposition submitted and report whether it was suitable to the wants of the township, and just, and legally binding. The substitute was adopted and the committee, after making some small changes in the proposition, reported favorably, whereupon the house on motion adopted the report of the committee, and passed the motion to adopt the proposition as amended by the committee.

On motion of James Hill the chair appointed T. H. McLaughlin, G. W. Cunningham, and J. L. Huey a committee to have the petitions printed and circulated for signers. The meeting then adjourned.

Arkansas City Republican, April 19, 1884.

James N. Young and L. D. Latham, directors of the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad, attended the railroad meeting in this city last Tuesday. They left that afternoon for Walnut Township to attend a similar meeting there, that evening.

[RAILROAD ELECTION.]

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.

THE RAILROAD ELECTION.

Winfield to Lead Off and Take the First Rank.

Next Tuesday is the election in the City of Winfield on the proposition to vote a city subscription and bonds of $40,000 to the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company.

The men who have taken hold of this enterprise are heavy capitalists themselves and are backed by the heaviest capitalists and railroad interests of the country. They have large private interest which the ownership of this railroad would serve. It is a road competing with the Santa Fe road, it has no interest in common with that road, it will parallel the Southern Kansas auxiliary of that road from Kansas City to the Neosho River and come into direct competition with it at Eureka and Winfield. Every guarantee that could be worth anything is offered that it shall always remain a competing road, and if security were possible, it would be given. The bonds are now being submitted all along the line to the Neosho River, at or near Le Roy, and in case they are carried as is expected, the whole work from Le Roy to the state line will be put under contract at once and the first train that reaches Winfield will come from St. Louis by way of Le Roy and Eureka and in an almost direct air line from the Neosho River. In the meantime the division from Kansas City to the Neosho River bill be worked up and within two years the whole line from Kansas City will be built and in operation to the state line in Sumner county.

This will be the most valuable road for Winfield that could be built. It is just what we have always needed and wanted. It will wake up our dormant energies and bring laborers, and capital, and factories, and trade. It will place Winfield in the lead of all the cities of Southern Kansas. It will be worth to every person in this city from ten to a hundred times what it will cost him. Even if it was a Santa Fe road built parallel to itself half of the way and no more competition than the Southern Kansas is with the Santa Fe, it would be worth to the people of this city ten times what it would cost them.

Of course, Winfield will be practically unanimous for the bonds, but it is possible that many, feeling sure that they will be carried, will not take the trouble to vote. It is of great importance that Winfield shall poll a large and full vote for the bonds for much depends on the influence of this vote on the townships. If Winfield by its vote shall show enthusiasm in the matter, it will enthuse all along the line and insure the building of the road by the way of Winfield; but if through want of enthusiasm here, some townships should fail to vote the bonds, it would change the route to the Little Walnut Valley and probably to Wellington instead of Winfield. The road will be built from Kansas City to the South line of Sumner County either one way or the other.

Messrs. Hoffman, Towles, Young, and Latham have got the money to do it and all the backing that there is any use for, and besides they have use for the road. If it is not built through Winfield, it will be built all the same.

If it is built this way, the Neosho River will be the end of the first division and Winfield the end of the second division.

Let the voters of Winfield all turn out and give this project a rousing endorsement.

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1884.

Mr. J. N. Young of Chicago, President of the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company, passed through the city last Friday. He is only waiting for the carrying of the propositions before the work is commenced.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

Messrs. Young and Latham of the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company, were in the city Saturday. They went from here to Hickory Township in Butler County, where a proposition was voted on this week. They reported everything going along smoothly and that the road will surely be built.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 5, 1885.

SHE IS COMING!

Work to Commence Immediately on the Kansas City and Southwestern.

Rails, Ties, and Construction Trains Purchased and Contracts Let.

Winfield to very soon have Another Railroad, Which Means a Boom Unprecedented.

Henry E. Asp is just in receipt of a letter from James N. Young, of Chicago, President of the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company, stating that the material has been purchased and the contracts let for the construction of that line and that work will commence at Beaumont, Butler County, as soon as the right of way can be obtained. They commence at Beaumont, which is on the main line of the St. Louis & San Francisco, because the rails from St. Louis and the ties from Arkansas can be laid down cheaper there than at Kansas City. Work will progress both ways from Beaumont, and the prospect is that most of the counties and townships that have voted bonds can be reached in time to fill the stipulations contained therein. Some of the bonds are valid till August, others till June, and those voted in Winfield till May 27. But should it be impossible to reach certain places within the given time, aid will be re-solicited and the work pushed right through. This road is now a sure thing and its early construction means that Winfield and Cowley County will receive an impetus that will make her material advancement during the next year unprecedented. Further developments of a specific character will be made by our next issue.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 12, 1885.

D., M. & A. RAILROAD COMPANY. Chas. C. Black, secretary of the D., M. & A. railroad company, got in Monday from an eastern trip in the interest of that road. He was accompanied by Major Joe Hansen, general manager. Prospects for that line seem flattering. If Winfield gets the D., M. & A. and the K. C. & S. W., as is now almost certain in the near future, Winfield and Cowley County will have a solid, substantial boom that will outdistance anything yet on record. J. N. Young, president of the K. C. & S. W., is expected to arrive from Chicago today.

Arkansas City Republican, March 14, 1885.

O. F. Godfrey, while in Chicago visiting J. N. Young, the attorney for the Kansas City & Southwestern railway, learned that the road would be built immediately. Mr. Godfrey claims he had sufficient assurance to believe that the engine of the Kansas City & Southwestern will be here by July. Our Jim Hill was there working like a tiger for the road.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 1, 1885.

Messrs. James Hill and J. N. Young, representing the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad, called on us Saturday last. They gave it as their impression that the county aid could easily be secured for their road if we all pulled together as we should. If, however, we began fighting among ourselves, and only give them a divided support, the road would be compelled to seek other routes. It will need the total vote of the citizens along the proposed line of road, the earnest support and cooperation of every lover of our county's prosperity. To urge local reasons, it will be worth more to Arkansas City than the cost of the whole road. Our boom, now assuming such proportions, will out boom and boom over booms here. Our prophecy for 1896, will contain but a shadow of the reality. We need the road, not only for the competition it will give us, which will amount to thousands of dollars a year, but for the increased advertisement. All petty differences should be merged into the one grand aim of the general good.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 2, 1885.

We present on the first page the proposition of the Kansas City & Southwestern railroad to the people of Cowley County. President J. N. Young and Vice-President L. D. Latham are now here and mean to push things with a vim. Mr. Young will rent a house here and remove his family and make Winfield his headquarters until the road is completed.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 2, 1885.

THE RAILROAD MATTER. We publish on the first page of this issue the proposition in full submitted by the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company in Cowley County. It is elaborate, explicit, and covers every point that will possibly be raised, as between the County and the railroad. The time in which the road is to reach Winfield is limited to six months, with a bond to pay the costs of election in case it does not build within the time. The townships which have heretofore voted aid to the road are released by the terms of the proposition, and the line is located down Timber creek as heretofore surveyed. The Burden people made a very strong effort to secure the road, but President Young would not consent to any divergence that would lengthen the line. The proposition has been unanimously accepted by the Winfield Enterprise Association and by the people of Arkansas City and all along the line. The petitions will be out for signature this week. The COURIER will discuss the proposition at length during its pendency. While there are some things in it that we would like to see modified, we know that this is the best that can be done. The line is attracting much attention, and promises to be one of the best roads for the people that has ever been proposed in southern Kansas. Cowley must secure it. It is a matter of vital interest to every citizennot for a week, or a month, but for all time. With this line and the D. M. & A., our future is settled and our permanent prosperity assured. This is no time for vain croaking but a time when every citizen should go energetically to work to get every new enterprise that can in any possible manner be reached.

Arkansas City Republican, April 4, 1885.

Jas. N. Young, a representative of the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company, was in the city the first of the week in the interest of that company.

[NOTE: I DID NOT COPY THE LENGTHY PROPOSITION OF THE RAILROAD.]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 30, 1885.

James N. Young and M. M. Towle, Chicago capitalists, at the head of the K. C. & S. W. Railway Company, are stopping at the Brettun.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 30, 1885.

Messrs. M. M. Towle and J. N. Young, of the Kansas City & Southwestern railroad, came in Friday. Mr. Towle will remain a few days, while Mr. Young comes to stay until the completion of the work. This important enterprise is now fully established, and only awaits the proper action on the part of our people to insure us the road immediately.

James N. Young and family move to Winfield and become residents...

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 14, 1885.

James N. Young, president of the K. C. & S. W., arrived Thursday from Chicago with his family, who will reside here until the road is completed.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.

James N. Young, President of the K. C. & S. W., has fitted up an office over the Winfield Bank, where all the business of the company will be transacted.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 21, 1885.

Beaumont Railway Item. James N. Young, superintendent of the Beaumont & Winfield road, has taken up his residence in the last named place. Mr. Young was the proprietor of the old Emporia & Eureka narrow gauge line some years ago. Township elections have been called in Omnia and Richland townships, in Cowley County, to vote on the K. C. & S. W. R. R. proposition. Richland will vote $5,000 and Omnia $7,000. These townships voted $12,000 and $15,000 in bonds to this road last year, but the company has released them, and submitted propositions for the lesser amounts. These townships are now enthusiastic for the road, the petitions being largely signed. The construction engine for this road is at Neodesha and will be at Beaumont the coming week. El Dorado Republican.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 4, 1885.

James N. Young, James Hill, and Henry E. Asp left today, the former to transact business in St. Louis relating to the K. C. & S. W., and the latter to look after the right of way, grading, and track-laying from Beaumont here. Now that the bonds are carried, the company will hump every joint in pushing the road through. Several hundred men are now at work and more are added as fast as they can be procured. Forty flat-cars, twenty box-cars, and two combination cars arrived at Beaumont yesterday for work on this line, and the entire rolling stock has been contracted for and will be ready for the track in a short time. Whoa!

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 4, 1885.

James N. Young, President of the Kansas City & Southwestern railroad, arrived this morning at 10 o'clock from St. Louis, having driven over the route of the road from Beaumont. About five hundred men are now at work grading and track laying and the road is completed to within five miles of the Cowley County line. If the bonds are carried next Monday, the line will be pushed as fast as all the men the company can get can push it. The engine will be puffing into Winfield within sixty days. With the advent of the K. C. & S., followed closely by the D. M. & A., with the building of our Imbecile Asylum, our street railway, and other prospective enterprises, Winfield and Cowley County will take on a substantial boom to continue until she stands the peer in population, wealth, and everything else, of any city in the great State of Kansas! What we want to do now is to fasten our eternal grip on everyone of these enterprises. To grasp them is great prosperity; to reject them is to die.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 18, 1885.

Mr. Jas. N. Young, of the Kansas City & Southwestern, left for the East Friday on business connected with the construction of the road.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 18, 1885.

Hon. J. N. Young, president of the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad company, and Ed. P. Greer will go on a trip over the line of the road from Beaumont to Kansas City to set on foot matters for raising aid and inaugurating the construction of the road in that direction. Now that the road is about completed through Butler County and assured through Cowley within six months, they consider it a favorable time to put the matter before the people further to the northeast. This is a road originated and worked up by citizens of Cowley County who have spent a great deal of time and money in the effort and it is fit that the first work should be put in on this part of the road to give us an early competing outlet by way of the St. Louis and San Francisco.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 18, 1885.

The Atlanta Town Company was organized here yesterday. The company purchased two hundred and forty acres of land near the center of Omnia township on the line of the Kansas City & Southwestern railroad, and will survey and plat it at once. Already several capitalists are waiting for the survey, to begin the erection of business buildings. A large lumber firm will put in yards, a newspaper is on the way, and the boom has commenced. It is the center of a fine productive country and will make a flourishing burg. The company is composed of W. H. Gilliard, Wm. A. Day, J. W. Kerr, Jas. N. Young, of Chicago, Henry E. Asp and Ed P. Greer. The railroad will be completed to the town by the tenth or fifteenth of July.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 2, 1885.

J. N. Young, President of the K. C. & S. W., and Ed P. Greer left for Topeka and other places Friday.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 2, 1885.

O. M. Nulty and Doc. Blakslee, Cherryvale, were over today on business with J. N. Young, of the K. C. & S. W.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 2, 1885.

James N. Young and Ed P. Greer have gone to St. Louis on business connected with the K. C. & S. W.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 9, 1885.

Henry E. Asp writes us from the road that the K. C. & S. W. road will be completed to the Cowley County line July 4th and to the new town of Atlanta July 11th. They are making things hum up there notwithstanding the rains. Henry got the Hickory township bonds on the 20th ult. and Ed. Greer took them to Topeka to register on the 30th, whence he went to St. Louis with them, where he meets President Young to transact further business for the road. Henry and Ed. are developing into railroad builders, but cannot be said to beat Jay Gould in that line yet.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 10, 1885.

The Latham Journal, just started in Latham, the new Butler County town on the K. C. & S. W., has just reached us. It is a neat six column folio, published by Olin W. Meacham, and blows its bugle loud for Latham.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 1, 1885.

The Kansas City and Southwestern railroad company will open its line between Beaumont and Winfield, Kansas, a distance of forty-two miles, on the 1st of October. It is stated that an extension from Winfield to Arkansas City will be completed by the 1st of December. Press Dispatch.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 8, 1885.

Messrs. Fitzgerald and Mallory together with Mr. J. J. Burns, the two former gentlemen contractors of the D., M. & A., and the latter vice president of the above named road, made THE COURIER a pleasant call Thursday. An effort will be made to make Winfield their construction headquarters, bringing their supplies over the S. W. from St. Louis. This will be a feasible matter in a few days. The K. C. & S. W. track will be in this city by Saturday. The feasibility of this matter is not the only good feature either. Instead of all the supplies going to Wichita and then down on the Santa Fe to Belle Plaine, at least 80 or 90 miles out of the way, it can be transferred from the Frisco road at Beaumont to the K. C. & S. W. and run down here in much less time and with considerably less trouble. Besides Winfield is a much better point for getting their incidental supplies.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 8, 1885.

The K. C. & S. W. Completed to Winfield and Opened for Through Traffic.

Again does THE COURIER chronicle another big stride in the progress of Winfield. From month to month and from year to year has it heralded steps in our city's advancement that have gradually placed her in the ranks of the best cities of the westwith present worth and future promisethe admiration of all. Improvements which in the infantile days of the city, would have resurrected every booming cannon and screaming eagle and old wood cut in the office, now pass with a few lines of notice. These material advances, backed by a people whose motto, like that of the state, is "Ad astra per aspera," have come to be taken as matters of common note. The first railroad, which set our people wild with hilarious demonstrations, has been gradually followed with a second road, our splendid water and gas works, our magnificent Fair Ground and Park, the Imbecile Asylum, the M. E. College, and now a third railroad, with the fourth in the grasp of the very near future. And the city's private improvements stand absolutely unexcelled by any city of Winfield's age. At six o'clock Tuesday evening the construction train of the Kansas City & South Western railroad rolled into the depot, on North Main. Today the road was opened for through freight traffic, the first freight going out being three carloads of flour for the Winfield Roller Mills. The first passenger train left this morning at 8:30. Tomorrow morning a through St. Louis coach leaves Winfield at the same hour, connecting directly with the Frisco at Beaumontno change of cars. The regular passenger train will leave Winfield at 8:30 a.m. and return at 7:00 p.m. An accommodation coach will be attached to the regular freight the last of this week or the first of next. The Kansas City freight for points on the K. C. & S. W., now comes by Winfield. This road's equipments are splinter new throughout and first-class in every respect. The road is as good as any in the west. It gives Winfield direct and through freight and passenger connection with St. Louis, something badly needed, giving a much shorter and quicker route, with reduced freight rates. Five hundred men and teams are now at work surfacing, grading, and track laying. The depot here is neat and convenient, and will soon have its network of side track. The track will reach Arkansas City by November first, when work on the Geuda and Caldwell branch and eastward from Beaumont will be commenced and pushed right through. The Kansas City & Southwestern railroad will be one of the main arteries reaching out from Kansas City through the Southwest. It is backed by men of large influence and capital. Every foot of road so far has been built with the company's money, without the sale of a bond. Not a bond has been placed on the market. Hon. M. M. Towle, at the head of the company, is now here from Chicago looking over the line and is highly pleased with its outlook. Hon. Alonzo Stevens, of Chicago, Mr. Towle's associate, also inspected the road and its prospects a few weeks ago, with equally satisfactory results. James N. Young, L. D. Latham, and James Hill are personally supervising the construction of the road, and are determined to make it one of the best lines in Kansas. The origin of this road was with Winfield men, several of whom are members of the company, and the headquarters of the road are at Winfield. Winfield money and enterprise inaugurated the line, and its feasibility and splendid opening for investment soon enlisted eastern capitalists who have made it a solid realityone of vast benefit to Winfield and every town it strikes.

A CELEBRATION BANQUET. The completion of the K. C. & S. W. to Winfield was celebrated last evening in the Brettun by a grand banquet given to the railroad track layers and graders by L. D. Latham & Co., the contractors. Owing to camp headquarters being yet at Floral, a number of the employees couldn't be present, but one hundred and eight of them engaged in the feast, and expressed the warmest appreciation. After the supper to the gang men, Messrs. Harter & Hill, ye landlords of the Brettun, complimented the officers, contractors, managing employees, and engineer corps of the road with a magnificent banquet, which was thoroughly enjoyed and most appreciably received.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 15, 1885.

Note: Skipping Time Table of Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad on this page.

Time Table shows trains going west and going east. Shows as stations: Beaumont, Burgess, Latham, Atlanta, Wilmot, Floral, Winfield.

Shows S. C. Gibbs, Gen. Passenger Agent.

Shows F. D. Blackman, Local Agent.

Shows L. D. Latham, Superintendent.

Latham, Butler County, on the K. C. & S. W. railroad...

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 15, 1885.

A COURIER representative spent some days at Latham, the new town in Butler County on the K. C. & S. W., last week. The town is but three months old and contains about two hundred inhabitants and fifty houses. It is full of bustle and activity and promises great things in the future. Its business location is most favorable, being the only available supply point for a large territory of rich agricultural lands. New settlers are flocking in and the improvement and growth of the place is phenomenal.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 22, 1885.

Leave Winfield 8:30 A. M.

Leave Floral 9:10 A. M.

Leave Wilmot 9:25 A. M.

Leave Atlanta 9:35 A.M.

Leave Latham 10:40 A.M.

Leave Burgess 11:05 A.M.

Arrive Beaumont 11:30 A.M.

Leave Beaumont 4:30 P.M.

Leave Burgess 4:55 P.M.

Leave Latham 5:20 P.M.

Leave Atlanta 5:55 P.M.

Leave Wilmot 6:20 P.M.

Leave Floral 6:40 P.M.

Arrive Winfield 7:00 P.M.

Trains connect at Beaumont with St. L. & S. F. Railway trains. A through coach will be run between Winfield and St. Louis, Through tickets for sale at coupon offices to all points East and baggage checked through.

S. C. GIBBS., General Passenger Agent.

F. D. BLACKMAN, Local Agent.

L. D. LATHAM, Superintendent.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 24, 1885.

The Railroad Muddle. For the past ten days the all-absorbing railroad topic has held the attention of our citizens. You could see them gathered in crowds on the street corners discussing the prospect of having a branch extended west three miles north of us. We all realized that such a branch would be detrimental to Arkansas City, and have been very much excited over the project. We naturally would as it effects our home. Anyone possessing the slightest patriotism at all would enter a hearty protest against the junction being made north of us only three miles.

The excitement was cooled down considerably by promises made by our townsman and a prominent member of the K. C. & S. W., Jas. Hill, that no such a branch would be constructed. He informed our citizens at the council chamber last Monday evening that should the K. C. & S. W. Railway extend its line west at all, the junction would be formed at or south of Arkansas City just across the Arkansas. The reason he assigned for this was that if the branch was made to Geuda north of Arkansas City that about ten miles of road would have to be constructed without any aid from the people, and that a bridge across the Arkansas at Geuda, costing about $35,000, would have to be erected and maintained. As the construction of railroads cost about $20,000 per mile, it will be readily seen that if that branch was ever built, it would cause a large outlay of money, which would be useless if the company came to Arkansas City and then went west. He also stated that the reason propositions had been submitted in Sumner County on this branch was to head off the Ft. Smith & Wellington road. The K. C. & S. W. was desirous of going west and they submitted their proposition for the purpose of holding that territory in order that they might receive aid when they were ready to build their projected western line.

He further stated that Mr. Asp had submitted the propositions without any orders from President Towle, Jas. Young, or himself.

Jas. Young, one of the most influential spirits of the K. C. & S. W. company, came down from Winfield Tuesday to meet our citizens and have a talk with them about the matter. The meeting was held in Judge Pyburn's office, the Judge presiding over the assembly by an unanimous vote. Mr. Young stated to us that he and the company had no intentions of building the branch west; that they were not ready to do so, and that he had informed delegates from Caldwell and Geuda Springs on Monday that all propositions along the projected line had better be withdrawn; that in his judgment the junction should be formed at Arkansas City or just south across the river if the line was ever extended west; that while Mr. Asp was acting in good faith, he was doing so without instructions from the company. Mr. Young further stated that by withdrawing the K. C. & S. W. proposition in Sumner County, it would be a detriment to the company as the matter had gone so far. That he was going to St. Louis immediately to consult with Pres. Towle on the matter of calling in the propositions and that he would telegraph the citizens of Arkansas City immediately the action taken.

Mr. Young also said that Arkansas City and Omnia Township had stood by the K. C. & S. W. company and that their interests should not be forgotten.

This is the action up to our going to press. We have concealed nothing and told nothing but the bare facts, which have been laid before us in the last few days.

Our readers can draw their own conclusions. Winfield citizens forced the K. C. & S. W. track on the west side of their town, in order that the road might be forced to run as far west in Beaver Township as possible. They had in view the building of the branch to Geuda three miles north of Arkansas City and have "boomed" it. They are now probably laughing in their sleeves at our discomfiture. But the true old saying of "He who laughs last, laughs loudest and longest," should be remembered. They laugh now, but perhaps Arkansas City will turn the tables soon. We won't forget Winfield's contemptible action in this matter nor the men who originated and propelled the scheme to injure our town. The time may come again when they will want to join hands with Arkansas City in order to secure an enterprise, but our eyes are open now, and no more will we affiliate with them.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 29, 1885.

Mr. W. J. Wash left Tuesday for Beaumont, from where he goes to Wichita and there meets a party of gentlemen who are going to Clark and Meade counties to locate claims. Mr. Wash has been one of the bridge contractors on the K. C. & S. W. railroad and is a pleasant gentleman. We wish the party unlimited success in their western venture.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 29, 1885.

About four hundred of our best citizens repaired to the K. C. & S. W. depot at 8:30 Saturday morning, where a long train was waiting in readiness to take the party of excursionists over this beautiful line of road to Beaumont, a distance of about 48 miles, where this neat little town of about 300 inhabitants is at the junction of the K. C. & S. W. and "Frisco" roads. Everyone started for a good time, prepared with baskets of every kind of culinary delicacies, the most necessary thing to insure a pleasant trip. THE COURIER scribe as usual, rushed off without once thinking of our lunch basket, but on landing at Beaumont, and, when searching in vain for some hotel that had not already been eaten out of house and home, the eye of W. H. Shearer fell upon us, and, supposing from the expression of our face and the leanness of our form, that a square meal would be the most essential thing to insure comfort, hailed us and invited us to follow him, which we did, to a large hall where we found a table spread with all manner of delicacies, presided over by Mrs. Col. Whiting, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Fred Whiting, and Mrs. W. H. Shearer, who invited us to a seat with them, which we accepted, and when everyone had refreshed the inner man to a satisfactory extent, the town was taken in until four o'clock, when the train started for Winfield, over as beautiful country as the eye could wish to gaze upon, stopping at Latham, a pretty little town only two months old and with about 250 inhabitants and grand prospects for a city of much importance in the near future, to gather up some of the excursionists who had stopped off, as we went up, on a prospecting visit. The next station at which we stopped was the beautiful town of Atlanta, about the same age as Latham, but some larger and with much more flattering prospects. Atlanta is situated about 22 miles northeast of Winfield, in the most fertile part of the state, surrounded by a thickly populated section of country and every advantage necessary to make a glowing city, and it already shows evidence of business and enterprise in the many fine business and residence buildings now nearing completion. Wilmot, our next stopping place, is also a thriving little place with a splendid foundation for a city equal to any in southern Kansas. The town of Floral has taken a boom since the railroad has settled on her fair soil and new buildings are shooting up like mushrooms. This was our last stop until we pulled up at the depot at Winfield at half past seven in the midst of the watery elements. Everybody pronounced the road first-class, and await the earliest opportunity for another excursion.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 5, 1885.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. The Kansas City & Southwestern R. R. and the St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. have established a through line for passenger traffic, running daily express trains, with a through coach, between Winfield and St. Louis via Beaumont and all intermediate points, making connection at all Junction points on the Frisco Line, and at St. Louis in the Union Depot, for all points East, Northeast, and South. Remember no change of cars between St. Louis and Winfield. Baggage checked through to destination. This forms a direct route to St. Louis and cities east and south, and to the celebrated Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The route passes through the best portion of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. Passengers will do well to bear this in mind when traveling or shipping between the east and west. Rates as low as via any other route, and first-class accommodations guaranteed.

D. WISHART, Gen. Pass. Agt., St. L. & S. F. R. R.

S. C. GIBBS, Gen. Pass. Agt., K. C. & S. W. R. R.

Arkansas City Republican, November 7, 1885.

Wednesday morning, bright and early, information reached our citizens that some of the propositions to be submitted by the Geuda Springs and Caldwell road in different townships in Sumner County asking aid, read to the effect that the road was to leave the K. C. & S. W. between Arkansas City and Winfield. In Walton TownshipGeudathe proposition read to go west from Arkansas City. By this it would seem that someone was determined to hurt the interests of Arkansas City. Our citizens were once more aroused to action, and when James Hill, L. D. Latham, and H. E. Asp made their appearance upon the streets in the afternoon they were besieged on every side by inquiries in regard to the matter. We were told by these gentlemen that we had been informed correctly. Immediately the citizen's committee marshaled its forces and called a meeting, requesting the railroad company to be present. The meeting was held in Judge Pyburn's office, that gentleman presiding. Some very plain and sensible talk was indulged in by our citizens and the company. The latter was informed that if any such propositions reading that the road would be extended west between here and Winfield, were submitted in Sumner County, no right of way through the city would be granted and the company's interests would be fought by our citizens on every hand. This stirred the gentlemen up somewhat and after a conference among themselves they decided to comply once more with the requests of Arkansas City. It was agreed that all propositions to be submitted in Sumner County should be sanctioned by our citizen's committee before submission. A copy of each petition calling the elections will be forwarded to the citizen's committee for perusal in order that no more "monkeying," as Jim Hill expresses it, may be indulged in. We are glad to announce to the public that it has been decided by the company to build its road west from Arkansas City via Geuda to Caldwell within the next 16 months and petitions calling elections in the several townships will be submitted to that effect in a few days. This is as it should be.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 18, 1885.

Take Notice. L. D. Latham & Co., will not be responsible for any orders, discharge, or time checks issued by their employees, until countersigned by Wm. D. Carey, paymaster.

L. D. LATHAM & CO., Contractors K. C. & S. W. R. R.

[KANSAS CITY & SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD REACHES ARKANSAS CITY.]

Arkansas City Traveler, November 18, 1885.

CITY COUNCIL.

Lot Owners on Thirteenth Street Petition For Themselves [?]

[NOTE: COULD NOT READ LAST WORD IN ABOVE CAPTION.].

The city council held a field day on Monday, their chamber being crowded with eager listeners before the hour for the regular address of that body had arrived. [STRING OF WORDS BLANKED OUT...VERY LIGHT PRINTING...VERY HARD TO READ] At 7 o'clock the roll was called by the clerk, the mayor and all the council being present to answer to their names. The first business introduced was a petition from the lot owners on Thirteenth Street, which sets forth as follows.

Memorial to the Mayor and City Council of Arkansas City, Kansas.

The undersigned, inhabitants of Arkansas City, and resident property owners on Thirteenth Street, having heard that your honorable body has under consideration a municipal franchise, granting the right of way to the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company, along the street, above named, beg to protest against the passage and publication of the same, because of the serious injury it will work to the property abutting on that street. A railroad track passing within a few feet of a dwelling house renders it unfit for occupation by a family, and those of your petitioners who have families will be compelled to abandon their homes, and the property will be unsuitable to rent to others.

In conforming with the established grade, heavy cuts will have to be made; in front of W. P. Wolfe's house there will be an excavation of [?] feet, and Mr. Alex. Wilson's house will be isolated by a cutting 8 feet deep. Your honorable body can understand how seriously detrimental this will be for the homes and possessions of your petitioners, and for this reason they respectfully protest against the publication and enforcement of Ordinance No. 25.

W. P. Wolfe, D. R. Cooper, Daniel J. Kennedy, Charlotte Faberiz, Thomas Croft, A. H. Johnson, Eli Warren, Thomas Watts, J. F. Henderson, I. H. Bonsall, Isaac Eldridge, C. F. Snyder, Alex Wilson, G. W. Herbert, Geo. W. Whit, Edward Nail, C. Cooper, J. B. Crew, J. Logan, H. G. Bailey, J. T. Shepard, John Hand, Geo. W. Beane, D. P. Marshall, And Others. November 15th, 1885.

[NOTE: TRIED MY BEST TO READ NAMES CORRECTLY....VERY FAINT!]

Mr. Bailey called upon Mr. Hill to explain how the petitioners were to be indemnified for the damage they were likely to sustain.

Mr. Hill said the present was an inexpedient time to determine the amount of damage that would be inflicted on the petitioners by the building of a railroad along their street. After the cutting and filling were done, the company would grade the street, on a gradient of one foot in 15, and the cross streets would be drained and leveled up to the rail. When this work was done, the appraisers would be able more accurately to assess damages. At the present time it was impossible to tell what would be the actual detriment to the street. At the proper time every lot owner will have a hearing and as the railroad company has covenanted and agreed to keep the city harmless, what damages are allowed must come from the funds of the company.

Judge Sumner, in behalf of the petitioners, said beside the actual damages to the street, there were the noise of the whistles, the smoke of the engines, and the continual danger to the lives of citizens. The track running along the center of the street was a hindrance to vehicles, wagons could not turn in front of a man's door. The law provides in such cases that a railroad company shall appoint a commission to estimate the amount of damage done, and the benefits resulting are also to be taken into account. The balance is struck, and the award of damages made on that calculation. The speaker could not see the force of Mr. Hill's argument. Before a road could be built, a profile must be made, and upon this the appraisers could estimate damages.

The petitioners appealed to the council to arrest the work now and see that they are properly indemnified for the damage done to their property. The city generally may be greatly benefitted by this road, but the residents on Thirteenth Street will be seriously injured. The spokesman for the petitioners, Judge Sumner, asked the council not to grant a franchise to this company, not to allow them to occupy this street, until the petitioners are secured against loss. What bondwhat security do you hold that this party will pay when called upon? The recourse of these people is to the city, and if the city is not reimbursed by the railway company, then the loss falls upon taxpayers. An arrangement of the matter now would be likely to prevent costly and vexatious litigation. The only way the city can grant a franchise is by ordinance, duly signed and published. Ordinance No. 25 is not yet signed by the mayor, it has not acquired vitality. Judge Sumner recommended that the steps necessary to make it valid be not taken until the claims of these petitioners are adequately provided for.

[COUNCILMAN HILL RESPONDS TO JUDGE SUMNER.]

Mr. Hill, in reply to this argument, said there was not a man in the directory of the railway company but was willing to satisfy every just claim for damage. But he begged his fellow councilmen and those citizens present in the chamber to have regard to what they were doing. "The bringing of the Kansas City & Southwestern railroad to this city was the result of two or three years of anxious labor. It is now at our doors, and we all believed we had acquired a good thing. Is this the time to interpose difficulties and stir up a hostile feeling? What time is there for delay? The company is required to have its road laid, its depot built, and trains running into the city within two weeks, or it forfeits its rights. Are the people of Arkansas City willing to see this useful enterprise thus foiled? It should be in the memory of all that during the last two or three weeks a complication arose which threatened the diversion of the road from our city boundaries, and it requires but a slight display of antagonism to resuscitate this same scheme. Winfield is watching the building of this road into our city with jealous eyes and not one of its population but would jump with delight if a state of things could be brought about whereby this city should be deprived of direct connection by means of this road."

"You may take a prosperous and progressive city," said the councilman, "that has been a century in attaining its proper growth. It represents the accumulated labors, and enterprise, and hopeful ambitions of three generations of men. Yet one man with so trifling an implement as a lucifer match can set fire to it, and in a few hours wipe out of existence the labor and the achievement of a hundred years."

Mr. Hill continued, "The gentleman, Judge Somer (the councilman persisted in calling the attorney by that name) is employed by his clients to speak in their behalf as he has done." Mr. Hill had no fault to find with that. "He is a lawyer, and it is his business to argue on either side. But the question is what weight shall this body attach to his sayings. The gentleman has no real property in this city, he is not bound to its destiny as some of us are. Citizens who are most deeply identified with this community have shown the most interest in getting this road, and surely their judgment is entitled to greater weight."

Mr. Hill closed an able and impressive speech by saying, "The damage which is so magnified in our ears is largely imaginary. There will be ample room for vehicles to turn in front of every door, and there will be a continuous crossing." Mr. Hill mentioned a number of cities in New York and other eastern states where a railroad track traverses the principal streets, yet business is not injured thereby, property is not depreciated.

Judge Sumner replied at some length.

The mayor explained why ordinance No. 25 was not now operative. He would take the blame upon himself for the delay. Movements were in progress at the time when the council re-adopted the ordinance which had a sinister aspect, and he thought it well to hold the advantage he had in his hands. The belief was fixed deeply in his mind that no grip could be too strong when one is grappling with a railroad company. But his apprehensions were now removed, and he was ready to approve the ordinance, provided the council at its present session should not revoke it.

The question was debated at some length by the council, and Alexander Wilson was heard on behalf of the petitioners. He said he and his fellow property owners had no objection to the road being built, if proper compensation was guaranteed. But they wanted a guaranty. With many others he had had personal experience with railroad companies and he knew whenever they got the upper hand, they held on to it with a tenacious grip. It was a folly for anybody to tell them their property would not be injured. The street was already damaged, and when the track was laid, the injury would be permanent.

The mayor asked the council what it would do with the memorial. On motion it was placed on file.

[KANSAS CITY & SOUTHWESTERN TEMPORARY DEPOT: ARKANSAS CITY.]

Arkansas City Traveler, November 18, 1885.

Kansas City & Southwestern Depot. The mayor said when he was in Winfield last week he had been asked leave by Messrs. Hill and Young on behalf of the railroad company to put up a temporary depot in the city until a permanent structure could be erected. Thirty days were allowed.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, November 18, 1885.

ORDINANCE NO. 25.

Entitled an ordinance granting the right of way to the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company upon and across certain streets, avenues, and alleys in the city of Arkansas City in Cowley County, Kansas, and Repealing Ordinance No. 24.

Be it ordained by the mayor and city council of the city of Arkansas City, Kansas.

SECTION 1. There is hereby granted to the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company the right of way to construct, operate, and maintain, the main line of its railroad, and all necessary side tracks, along and upon Thirteenth street in said city of Arkansas City, and across the following avenues in said city, to-wit: Thirteenth avenue, Twelfth avenue, Eleventh avenue, Tenth avenue, Ninth avenue, Eighth avenue, Seventh avenue, Central avenue, Fifth avenue, Fourth avenue, Third avenue, Second avenue, and First avenue; with a right to diverge from said Thirteenth street at or near Central avenue, and across Central avenue, Fifth Avenue, Fourteenth street, Fourth avenue, and Fifteenth street in said city, and the right to construct either its main line or a switch diverging from said Thirteenth street along and upon the east bank of the canal and across Fifth avenue, Fourth avenue, Eleventh street, Third avenue, Second avenue, Tenth street, and First avenue in said city and across any and all alleys on either of said lines.

SECTION 2. Said Railroad Company shall construct and maintain at its own cost suitable crossings over its track for the passage of vehicles and teams and for the ordinary use as a street or alley where the same crosses any of the avenues, streets, or alleys mentioned in this ordinance; said crossings to be the full width of such avenue, street, or alley; and shall construct and maintain in like manner proper culverts and waterways where the same shall be needed, which shall be done under the direction of the city engineer of said city of Arkansas City.

SECTION 3. That said railroad company shall save the city of Arkansas City harmless from all costs, damages, and expenses, for the payment of which the said city may become liable to any person, or persons, or corporation, by reason of the granting of said right of way to said railroad company; or by reason of the construction or operation of said railroad, or by reason of said railroad company failing to construct suitable and proper crossings, culverts, and waterways, and maintaining and keeping the same in repairs as herein provided, or by reason of said company failing to perform or comply with any other of the provisions or requirements of this ordinance.

SECTION 4. Said railroad company shall accept the provisions of this ordinance in writing within twenty days from the date of its publication, and said right of way and use of streets, avenues, and alleys, shall be and remain, and vest in railroad company as long as the same shall be used for railroad purposes; and this ordinance, when accepted by said railroad company, shall operate and be binding as a contract between said city of Arkansas City, and said railroad company as accepted.

SECTION 5. That Ordinance No. 24, of the ordinances of said city, entitled an ordinance granting the right of way to the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Co. upon and across certain streets and alleys in the city of Arkansas City, be, and the same is hereby repealed.

SECTION 6. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER, and its acceptance by said railroad company.

Approved November 16, 1885. F. P. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.

Attest: JAS. BENEDICT, Clerk.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 18, 1885.

We learn from D. P. Marshall, secretary of the Farmers' Co-operative Milling Exchange, that a site has been purchased for the erection of their mill, and assessments will be collected to go to work this fall. The spot selected is west of Speers' mill, and the mill, when completed, will be connected with the K. C. & S. W. Railroad by a branch. The purchase of the ground we are informed has been delayed until the railroad depot was located, as facility of transportation was a main consideration. This enterprise has long been talked of, but it seems now in a fair way to crystallize, and we hope to see it carried through successfully.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 21, 1885.

The following charter was filed with the secretary of State last Tuesday. "The Geuda Springs, Caldwell, Harper & Northwestern Railroad Company." Place of business, Winfield, Cowley County. Route: from Geuda Springs, Sumner County, in a northwest course to Denver, Colorado. Estimated length of road 700 miles. Capital stock, $5,000,000. Directors for the first year: A. Stevens and J. N. Young, of Chicago, Illinois; H. E. Asp and J. D. Dantham [?], of Winfield, and J. Munger and W. S. Torrey, of Harper, Kansas.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, November 25, 1885.

THE SORROWS OF WINFIELD. There is a heavy washing of dirty linen being done in Winfield. The jealousy of the people there is aroused at the advantages likely to accrue to this city from the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad being built through our boundaries and then carried to the state line.

The Courier, in an article over a column long, charges hostility to the enterprise on a number of the city council, who were solicitous for the safety of their backyards, and this solicitude also cropped out from the doings and sayings of several private citizens whose property was likely to be invaded. The Courier thus states the treatment visited on the railway managers.

"The council had got it into their heads that the proper place for the road was out by Bliss & Wood's mill and up a canyon, despite the protest of the chief engineer that such a route was impracticable. Then the road tried to get the council's consent to buy their way through the east part. This was refused. Then they asked permission to climb the hill and cross Ninth Avenue 4 miles east of Main Street. The councilmen were taken in carriages to view the route and agreed verbally to let the road go there. A special meeting was called that evening only to result in their going back on what they had agreed to in the morning. Then the road asked that they might follow the Santa Fe around the town, and get out in decent order. But another councilman's backyard was endangered and even this was refused. The company was dismayed. Instead of finding Winfield friendly to the road, they found her council ready to throttle it, to disembowel it, to scatter its fragments over the whole surrounding territory, rather than that the `beauty of the east part of town' should be forever marred by the presence of a railroad track."

It has been frequently talked on our streets that Winfield gave the K. C. & S. W. company $20,000 to go there, and charged it $25,000 to get out. But the Courier makes a still worse showing. After dwelling on the impracticable character of the route pursued, and bewailing the ruin wrought to the fair ground, the injury to the park, and the divergence of the track from the only road over which the people of Vernon, Beaver, and part of Pleasant Valley can get into Winfield, the writer sums up the adventitious cost of the road at "$46,000 more than it receives from Winfield in aid." With this further disadvantage, that it leaves the company "one of the most dangerous and expensive pieces of road to maintain (and operate forever) that there is in Kansas, outside of the flint hills."

With such unfair and inhospitable treatment, we can understand that the railroad company has not the kindest feeling toward that city, and must feel that such help as was bestowed on them costs more than it comes to.

But all this talk is apart from the real question. When the city and county bonds to aid in the construction of the K. C. & S. W. road were voted in this city, it was with the distinct understanding that its track was to be laid directly here and carried hence to the state line. Our people were informed that the road was to be built through into Texas, and the halt would be made on the border of the territory only until the right of way through the Indian country should be granted. The bonds were voted with that understanding and the faithful performance of the undertaking looked to. Our cotem, in strong antithesis, contrasts the conduct of this city toward the railway company with that of Winfield.

Here is how he puts it.

"She (Arkansas City) wanted the road. She was willing that Winfield might have two roads to her one, and voted solidly for the D. M. & A., redeeming her pledges faithfully. She also wanted the Caldwell branch. She asked the company to simply notify her of what it thought necessary to be done and they would do it. The company suggested that they give the road a street, free of cost, from limit to limit of their city. The suggestion was embodied in an ordinance and passed unanimously, leaving the company its option to select which street it wanted, and even holding the company harmless for any damages that might arise from its occupancy."

This is in striking contrast with the conduct of Winfield toward the railroad company (as detailed by our sprightly cotemporary), but it moved no feeling of gratitude. Ever since the ordinance was passed by our city council, granting the road its choice of the right of way, there have been schemes proposed and combinations entered into, to deprive this city of the benefit of the road, and put us off on a stub. But these sharp tricks were defeated by the prompt, and energetic, action of our businessmen. On two occasions, when they learned that the road was to be diverted from its proposed course and good faith violated, they summoned Messrs. Young, Latham, Asp, and other managers of the road, and informed those gentlemen that if the engagement with this city was not honestly fulfilled, no bonds would issue.

This was argumentum ad hominem. It has been forcibly said: "The man who carries the bag has many forces at his back; an empty sack will not stand upright." This threat to cut off supplies brought the road managers to terms, and the track was graded to our city without further flouncing.

What threat may be contained in the significant passage with which the Courier editor winds up his arraignment, we do not clearly comprehend. He says: "We may yet secure some of the advantages which seem to have drifted away from us, but the fight has to be made over again. The Winfield members of the company will work for Winfield to the extent of their ability and means, but the measure of their success will depend on the attitude of Winfield and her council and men of influence." If this means that when the bonds of this city are issued and hypothecated, an effort will be made by "the Winfield members" to have the track removed from this city, it is clear that an act of perfidy is contemplated which will bring confusion on the heads of its promoters. But we borrow no trouble over this intangible avowal. The road will be completed to this city in a few days, and the necessary depot buildings started upon, and possession is nine points of the law. Good faith has been observed by the railway company in spite of the machinations of "the Winfield members;" and as they have lost their opportunity to divert the road, they will now find it a fruitless task to attempt to undo a work that has already been accomplished.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 25, 1885.

Hight & Dawson have the contract to build the temporary passenger station for the K. C. & S. W. Railroad. The city council has granted the company an extension of 30 days to put up their permanent structure.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 25, 1885.

The publication of the TRAVELER is delayed a day in order to report the excursion of our citizens over the K. C. & S. W. Railroad on Tuesday. The arrival of a new road will be considered by our readers as sufficient justification for delaying the issue one day.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 25, 1885.

THE RAILROAD AT HAND.

Excursions Over the New Line from Arkansas City to Beaumont.

Steel Rails and Oak Ties, and a Finely Equipped Road.

On Monday Mr. Henry E. Asp, on behalf of the managers of the Kansas City and Southwestern Kansas railroad, then within a few miles of Arkansas City, tendered Mayor Schiffbauer and the city council an excursion over the line to Beaumont and return. The mayor said he should like the invitation extended so as to include our principal businessmen. Mr. Asp said a general excursion to our citizens would be given as soon as the road was completed to the city, and arrangements could be made for the entertainment of a large number of guests, but at the present time not more than a score of excursionists could be provided for. This being the case, Mayor Schiffbauer invited the city council, authorizing each member to take a friend along, and also included in the invitation the railroad committee of the board of trade. This filled out the allotted number.

The following gentlemen composed the excursion party.

Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen Thompson, Bailey, Dunn, Dean, Davis, and Hight. (Councilman A. D. Prescott was unable to take part, through business engagements, and Councilman Hill was found superintending the construction of the road.)

The friends they invited and who were present for duty, were mine host Perry, J. Frank Smith, J. H. Hilliard, Frank Thompson, and City Clerk Benedict.

The railroad committee consisted of A. A. Newman, N. T. Snyder, Major Sleeth, G. W. Cunningham, W. D. Mowry, and T. H. McLaughlin. These with the present writer (nineteen in all) formed the invited party, Henry E. Asp accompanying them as host and guide.

At 7:30 on Tuesday morning, omnibuses were in waiting at the Leland Hotel to carry the excursionists to the end of the track, and the party being seated, a brisk drive of three miles carried them to an animated scene. The day's labors had begun, upwards of 100 workmen being employed. A construction train of ten or a dozen cars was on hand, loaded with implements and material: ties, rails, fish-plates, bolts, spikes, shovels, and so on. The ties were of well seasoned oak brought from Arkansas, which were being unloaded by lusty arms, and thrown onto tracks, which was distributed along the grade. The train was standing on the foremost rails that were spiked, and in advance of this was a rail truck drawn by two mules, which recovered the iron from the flat car, and carried it forward over the loose rails, a force of men standing by the truck and laying the rail as fast as the ties were in place.

Track laying, in these days of railroad building, is reduced to an exact science. The ties are laid along the road bed under the direction of a foreman; another crew extends the nails, which is followed up by the spike-drivers. A sufficient force can lay two miles of track a day without extraordinary effort, and the onlooker has to maintain a steady sauntering pace to keep up with the workmen.

Some delay was caused on Tuesday morning by a disagreement between two foremen, which resulted in a fisticuff encounter. The aggressor in the unpleasantness was discharged, and his crew, numbering about thirty men, refused to work under another boss. They were all sent to Winfield to receive their pay, and a fresh force brought from there to take their place. This delayed the work about an hour and a half.

At 8:30 a.m. the whistle of the excursion train sounded about one-fourth of a mile along the track, and our party of pleasure seekers made good time walking in the direction of the cars. T. H. McLaughlin stumped along, with his one live leg, as agile as the best of them; but Councilman Davis, another mutilated war veteran, jumped into a vehicle to save a fatiguing walk. The track to Winfield is not yet ballasted, and the running time to that city was slow. The bridge over the Walnut is a substantial piece of work, being raised on trestles 45 feet above the stream, and the approaches being supported on solid masonry. The two miles of road south of Winfield cost $65,000.

At Winfield a brief stay was made to take on passengers, and here Mr. Latham joined the party, who was heartily greeted by his Arkansas City guests, and who spent the day in their company. From Winfield a good rate of speed was put on, the road being well ballasted and running as smoothly as a bowling green. The first station reached was Floral, nine miles from Winfield. This is a thrifty place, which has sprung into existence since the road was built, is well situated, and surrounded by a good country. Wilmot is 8½ miles distant, and Atlanta, 7 miles along. Latham is in Butler County, also a railroad town, built on a broad creek, and already containing 400 or 500 inhabitants. Commodious stone stores are in process of erection, an extensive lumber yard is well stocked, and other business lines are well represented. At Wingate (between the two places last named) there is a flag station. Beaumont was reached about 11:30, the distance from Latham being 13 miles. Here the K. C. & S. W. Road forms a junction with the St. Louis & San Francisco road, and here the journey terminated. Several miles of the Flint hills were traversed in reaching here, a surface formation of brecciated and abraded rock, which proves that at some time in the geological periods this whole region was overflown. Dinner was ready for the excursionists when they stepped off at the station, their dining hall being a commodious room on the upper floor of that building, under charge of Noah Herring and his very excellent and capable wife. Two tables furnished room for the score of hungry guests, and a good dinner, promptly served, was in waiting to allay their hunger.

Here four hours was afforded to take in the town, and enjoy the fine scenery that surrounded it. A party of the most robust pedestrians, under conduct of Henry Asp, took a breezy walk over the hills into Greenwood County; where a fine panorama of scenic beauty lay spread before their gaze, with Eureka, in the distance, nestling in the valley, like a sylvan deity. Those less enterprising visited the post office, made acquaintance with store keepers, talked with the oldest inhabitant, and then played the games of billiards, pigeon-hole, and quoits. Major Schiffbauer, at the first named game, made some extraordinary shots in missing the balls he aimed at. At quoits G. W. Cunningham did great execution, bombarding with his rings an extensive region of country around the pin he professed to aim at.

Our narrative of this very enjoyable trip must be brought to a close, as space fails. At 4:30 the train started on return. Mr. Young, of Young, Latham & Co., the builders of the road, who came in on the Frisco train, joined the party. Winfield was reached at 7:30, where our friends belonging to that city, left us, and Ed Gray came on board, escorting W. H. Nelson (of Meigs & Nelson), who had been spending a day in the county clerk's office, making a transcript from the tax list. Towards the close of the journey a vote of thanks to the officers of the road was proposed by Mayor Schiffbauer for their hospitality to the excursionists, and polite attention to them as guests of the day. This was heartily responded to by the party. The day's labors of the track layers brought them 1¼ miles nearer the city. Omnibuses were in waiting to convey the tired travelers to the city, and by 9 o'clock they were deposited at the Leland Hotel, all clamorous for supper, but unanimous in declaring they had spent a delightful day.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 26, 1885.

Tell W. Walton, of the Caldwell Journal, Goes Over the K. C. & S. W.

The editor of the Caldwell Journal, Tell W. Walton, writes thusly of our new railroad.

"Last week while the local railroad committee was in Winfield, by special invitation of Superintendent Latham, Attorney Asp, and Vice President Young, they took a run over the above named road from Winfield to Beaumont, the junction with the Frisco. Messrs. William Corzine, A. M. Colson, and the writer availed themselves of the invitation and accompanied by Messrs. Latham and Asp, boarded the passenger train at 7 a.m. and pulled out for the north. On the route we passed the booming little cities of Atlanta and Latham besides several smaller villages in embryo. The writer had not been in that part of Cowley County since 1878, and many were the changes he noticed. Most of them, however, had been made since the building of the road through there last summer. Any description of the new road that we could give by the single trip over it would not do it justice, but such observations as we made will be given.

"The road up the Timber Creek valley is well built and no grade on it to the summit of flint hills at Beaumont is over 60 feet to the mile and no curve more than six degrees. The Southern Kansas road to get over the flint hills has many grades of over 90 ft. to the mile and curve as high as ten degrees. The ties are all either oak or cedar, the rails steel, and the bridges combination wood and iron set upon solid stone piers and abutments. The culverts are all stone and built in a substantial manner. The grading is well done and is sufficiently smooth now so that riding over the road at a thirty mile gait is attended with no more jostling than is on the Santa Fe and Southern Kansas. The coaches run on the passenger train are one combination coach and baggage, and a regular day coach, such as are run on all first-class roads. The day coach runs from Winfield direct to St. Louis, while the combination coach is used for local travel. A regular freight on the Frisco, from Wichita to St. Louis and from St. Louis to Wichita. The passenger train connects with the regular through passenger train on the Frisco from and to St. Louis. In conversation with men along the line of the road, we found none but the best words spoken of the management of the road and their honorable treatment of all with whom they have had dealings. The Kansas City and South Western is a good railroad and one that will revolutionize the freight rates of this part of the valley when completed to Caldwell, as it has already done at Winfield and will do at Arkansas City on December first, at which date it will be completed there. Our people are at work now circulating petitions to aid in the construction of the main line of this road, but under a different name from Arkansas City to this point."

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 28, 1885.

BOOMING BEAUMONT VISITED BY SOME OF OUR CITIZENS TUESDAY.

An Excursion Over the K. C. & S. W., that Long Fought For Railroad.

Beaumont Found to be a Booming Metropolis (?),

Fast Growing in Opulence upon the Flint Hills of Butler County.

Early on last Tuesday morning, two omnibuses drew up to the Leland Hotel and took on board the following gentlemen, who had been invited by the managers of the K. C. & S. W., to take a pleasure trip over that road to the famous and booming Beaumont: Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen Hight, Davis, Thompson, Bailey, Dean, and Dunn, and their friends whom they invited, H. H. Perry, J. Frank Smith, J. H. Hilliard, Frank Thompson, and City Clerk Benedict; also, the railroad committee, consisting of A. A. Newman, N. T. Snyder, Major Sleeth, G. W. Cunningham, W. D. Mowry, and T. H. McLaughlin. Bro. Lockley, too, was among the honored ones, and was to chronicle the thrilling incidents of the trip, furnish intellectual food for the party, and report the impressive appearance, the "sights" and widely spread influence, of flourishing Beaumont. After a drive of about three miles, the gleeful party reached the end of the track, where over 200 railroad hands were busy at work, rapidly advancing the "iron bands" towards Arkansas City.

It was after 8 o'clock before they heard the distant whistling of the excursion train, towards which they at once started, and which they reached after a brisk walk of nearly a mile. Had it not been for Councilman Davis, who has only one natural leg to work with, they probably would have continued their journey on foot, and thus economized time. As it was, Mr. Davis was conveyed to the cars in a carriage to avoid the fatigue of walking. All having gotten on board, the train moved slowly up the track. They had a jolly, rollicking time.

Having arrived at Winfield, the passengers allowed the engine to rest a little, although it caused them much weariness to be delayed in a village of such few attractions when vivid pictures of enterprising Beaumont occupied their excited minds. Mr. Latham joined the party at Winfield, and when the train pulled out, the officers of the road suspended from the rear end of the last car a banner, bearing the inscription, "The town we left behind us." From that railroad station onto the end of the journey, the train swept over the track at a rapid rate, passing through Floral, Wilmot, Atlanta, and Latham. Beaumont (a French word meaning "the fashionable world") was reached at 11:30 a.m., and the party evacuated the cars and proceeded at once to the central part of the city. On either side, as they walked up main street, tall and magnificent buildings met their view, and the hearts of the rustic excursionists almost ceased to beat on account of the grandeur they beheld. Councilman Dunn had purchased a bran new hat that morning, and in trying to pass in under one of the lofty awnings, it was completely crushed. [N.B. This incident occurred before the drugstore was visited.] They found that the city consists of fourteen houses, which have been standing for 14 years, and the inhabitants number about 75. This is conclusive evidence that the town is still booming. When one of the natives was asked why he did not move to a better locality, he proudly pointed to the barren flint hills, and, with Kansas enthusiasm, maintained that Beaumont was the garden-spot of the world. After dinner, which was served in the spacious dining hall of Noah Herring, some of the party, for amusement, played at billiards and pigeon-hole. Bro. Lockley and Geo. Cunningham leveled down the flint hills and bombarded the town pitching horseshoes. Some of them went into one of the two drugstores in the place and consulted the "holy record" in order to procure some remedy for their ailments. The druggist showed them a full "soda pop" barrel, the greater portion of whose contents they consumed.

While in the drug store they made the following invoice of the stock it contained.

1 small stove: $2.00; 1 old keg: $0.00; 1 old box: $0.00; 1 counter: $10.00; 10 boxes of candy: $10.00; 1 pail of tobacco: $4.00; 2 boxes of nuts: $.50; 1 barrel of whiskey: $8.00.

TOTAL: $34.50.

The excursionists returned to Arkansas City at about 9 o'clock p.m., full of joy and "soda water." There will be another excursion over this road soon and everybody here will then have a chance to see Beaumont.

Arkansas City Republican, November 28, 1885.

The first passenger train came in on the new road yesterday morning bright and early. Next week, beginning on Monday, trains will be run on schedule time. The first train left Arkansas City yesterday morning at 8 o'clock for St. Louis. At Beaumont close connection is made with the Frisco, both ways. The trains will return to Arkansas City at about 7:30 in the evening. It will be some three weeks before the mail is carried on this new road. No agent has yet been appointed, but one will be here next week.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 2, 1885.

Our irrepressible friend of the Republican considered it writ down in his line of duty to describe the incidents of that excursion trip to Beaumont, after the story had been twice told. To give novelty to his narrative, he dived into philology, and informed an unenlightened world that Beaumont is "a French word meaning fashionable world." The only wonder is how so young a head can know so much. Le Beau Monde is an illustrated ladies' magazine, which can be translated as our ambitious friend informed us. But mont is an abbreviation of montague, and is used for mountain. Beaumont means a fine mountain (the flint hills, for instance); and our erudite cotem, would do well to rub up his French before he attempts to play the role of translator.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 2, 1885.

Young, Latham & Co., the contractors of the K. C. & S. W. Railroad, entertained about 170 of their men with a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving day. Ninety were fed at the Leland Hotel, Grubbs provided for about fifty more, and the remainder ate at the Central Avenue Hotel. The excellent behavior of these railroad builders is spoken of in high terms by all their entertainers.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 2, 1885.

Railroad Items. Archie Dunn says there is as much passenger travel over the new road as is carried over the Santa Fe.

Henry E. Asp, yesterday, showed us the ground plan and elevation of the new K. C. & S. W. Depot to be erected in this city. Its dimensions are 88 feet by 20; 53 feet being given up to the freight room; 14 feet to the office, and the rest to the passenger waiting room. The design is very tasteful and was prepared by Mr. Wingate, engineer of the road.

The K. C. & S. W. Passenger trains leave this city at 8:15 a.m. and arrive at 6:50 p.m.

The road is being extended southward to the state line, and pile drivers are at work on the canal sinking supports for a bridge.

Gabe is the euphonious name of the station to be established five miles south of this city, and at the temporary terminal of the railway. [Gabe??? Could this have been "Cale?"]

Arkansas City Traveler, December 2, 1885.

The Mechanics' band serenaded Councilman Hill, on Saturday evening, in recognition of his useful services to the city in fighting down all obstacles and bringing the K. C. & S. W. Railway within our corporate limits. After several pieces had been played, Mr. Hill appeared and thanked the musicians and the crowd of citizens in attendance for the compliment paid. He told of the advantages that would result to our citizens from the operation of a competing line, and predicted that the price of coal would be reduced at least one-third. His speech was heartily applauded. Judge McIntire and H. T. Sumner were called upon, and made appropriate and felicitous addresses.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

A BANQUET Tendered the Hon. James Hill Thursday Evening By The Businessmen of Arkansas City. He Was Also Watched.

Last Thursday evening between the hours of 7 and 8 o'clock, the businessmen began to assemble at the Leland Hotel. When a fair representation had congregated, the crowd repaired to the Leland parlors, where everyone was treated to cigars. By the time the smokers had reduced their Havanas to ashes and indulged in a sociable and animated conversation, the feast was announced ready for devourment. At this moment 47 businessmen of Arkansas City showed an inclination to move towards the spacious dining halls of the Leland. The march was commenced, and when we entered, ye gods! What a sight was presented to the vision of 47 hungry businessmen of Arkansas City. A long table, the entire length of the dining room, was loaded to its uttermost capacity with refreshments for the inner man. Mine Host Perry undoubtedly acquired great fame as a caterer on this occasion. The invited guests filled the long rows of chairs on either side of the table, with Maj. W. M. Sleeth presiding and Jas. Hill occupying a seat at the opposite end of the table. Henry E. Asp and Contractor Moore were present and enjoyed the hospitality of the sturdy businessmen. It was an interesting study to the writer to note the faces present. Here and there among the assembly we recognized faces of the old land-marks. There were thirteen who came to the city on the sand hill in 1870fifteen years ago. What a mammoth municipality has been constructed upon that small foundation which was laid fifteen years ago. All honor to that noble thirteen who were then present, for the many able efforts they have set forth to build up Arkansas City within the last fifteen years. We will call them the corner stones of the municipality. Then, again, in other places there were faces that have appeared upon the scene later, and by untiring zeal and hard work have aided very materially in the advancement of Arkansas City. They were here when the sunflower was rank in the streets, and the stalks grew so large that they were used for hitching posts, and the festival raccoon climbed up them and hid his carcass in the branches. They came later on, having heard of the many natural advantages here for making a city. From far-off climes they came, and they came to stay. Behold, what a city has grown! But to return to the banquet. In the language of the immortal poet, "The big, the small, the lean, the tall, ate a half ton each and all." And yet the half of it remains to be told. When the "task" of feasting was over, Maj. Sleeth arose and, in one of the most able and touching addresses we have ever heard, handed to Hon. James Hill a handsome gold watch and chain. It was a gift from those there assembled as a token of appreciation for the efforts Mr. Hill put forth in bringing the K. C. & S. W. Railroad here, and also, in behalf of what he has done for the prosperity of Arkansas City. Mr. Hill responded in a very neat speech. Henry E. Asp, being called for, arose and made an excellent little speech. He was followed by Judge A. J. Pyburn, who toasted in behalf of Arkansas City; and kind readers, let it suffice for us to say that the Judge did his subject justice. Judge McIntire, also, made a few interesting and telling remarks very suitable to the occasion. By motion it was unanimously declared that it was the will of those present to adjourn to the parlors once more and "schmoke."

As we have stated above, the banquet was given in honor of Hon. James Hill. Mr. Hill has done much for Arkansas City. We will not attempt to enumerate what he has done, for our readers have known the honorable gentleman many years more than the writer. But we believe he is deserving of the honor conferred upon him last Thursday evening. Long may he live to do good to our thriving little city.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

M. C. Copple had a smash-up Saturday evening as he was coming in from the K. C. & S. W. Depot. In the morning he had crossed 13th street in safety, but during that time and evening the graders had been at work and made a large cut at the intersection of an avenue. No danger signal or light was out to warn travelers of the change to the street and the driver of Mr. Copple's cab drove right into the cut. The front springs and door were broken. Fortunately, the team was going in a walk but even as it was, the driver was thrown from his seat several feet. M. C., who was in the cab, was unceremoniously pitched out of the door. The team was kept from running away by the driver having the presence of mind to hang on to the lines. The railroad company foots the bill.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

The first shipment over the K. C. & S. W. Railroad from Arkansas City occurred last Saturday night. It was made by the Arkansas City Roller Mill Co. The cargo was a load of flour and its destination was Latham.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

The first shipment over the K. C. & S. W. Railroad from Arkansas City occurred last Saturday night. It was made by the Arkansas City Roller Mill Co. The cargo was a load of flour and its destination was Latham.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

Last Saturday evening the Mechanics Cornet band, accompanied by Judge McIntire and Judge Sumner, went down to serenade Jas. Hill. The band furnished the music and the judges went along to make the speeches. Mr. Hill thanked the visitors for the honor they did him, and presented them with a box of choice cigars.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

Thursday of last week the K. C. & S. W. Railroad claimed their bonds$50,000and obtained them. $30,000 was county bonds and $20,000 city.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

Arkansas City is now more deserving of the title of Terminus than ever. She is at the end of two roads as well as being the division for both.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

W. H. Upton and wife arrived in the city Saturday evening from Murphysborough, Illinois. Mr. Upton is the new agent of the K. C. & S. W., and is an experienced railroad man. As soon as the telegraph line is up to here, an operator will be employed also.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

K. C. & S. W. Jottings. L. H. Northey was in town the first of the week in the interest of the K. C. & S. W. R. R., and also showing W. H. Upton, the new agent, around. Mr. Northey is now an employee of the K. C. & S. W. From him we learn that work has been commenced on the telegraph line. It will be the Western Union. The Adams express company commenced operations on the road Tuesday. The passenger leaves here at 8:15 in the morning and returns at 6:50 p.m. The freight goes out at 7:30 p.m., and returns at 5:30 a.m. We are informed that the travel to the city is almost double what it was, since the advent of the K. C. & S. W. You can visit the county seat now at 8:30, return at 12:15 via the Santa Fe; or come down on the 6:50 train on the K. C. & S. W., or the Santa Fe accommodation.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

Mowry & Sollitt have received the appointment of express agents for the Adams Express Company on the K. C. & S. W.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

Ora Gould, son of A. C. Gould, has secured the position of passenger brakeman on the K. C. & S. W. His run is from here to Beaumont and return.

Arkansas City Republican, December 5, 1885.

The K. C. & S. W. Railway company have purchased 10 acres of land of John Love over adjoining the Jack Oaks. The consideration was $1,300. The company will locate their depot and roundhouse on the land. The depot will be erected at the foot of Fifth Avenue. Pipes and specifications have been drawn for a five stall roundhouse. The depot will be two stories high, the first floor being used to transact the local business of the company and the second floor as the general offices. The grading is completed almost to the river. About one half of the piling for the large trestle work has been driven and the grading is almost ready to receive the iron from the 13th street depot south to their lately purchased depot grounds. The citizens of Arkansas City raised the money out of their own pockets and purchased the grounds, giving them to the company.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 9, 1885.

We learn from Mr. L. H. Northey, auditor to the K. C. & S. W. Railroad company, that through freight trains are now running regularly over the road, the first train having arrived with merchandise on Friday evening. Several shipments of stock have been made eastward. The track from this city to Winfield is being adjusted and ballasted by a surfacing gang numbering 58 men, and the construction of the road to the territory is being prosecuted by a force of 140 workmen. Material for the bridge across the Arkansas is being brought in, and it is expected that the work will be finished within 60 days.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 10, 1885.

Hon. Alonzo Stevens, wife and little daughter, are here from Chicago, the guests of James N. Young. Mr. Stevens is president of the K. C. & S. W., and is here to look over the road and its prospects, which he finds very flattering.

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

Swept By Fire. Kansas never saw a whole day to equal Friday in general "cussedness." Real estate sailed around in the air communing with angels and turkey buzzards. Down here on earth the wind played the "Dickens," with an illuminated D. All over Cowley damage is reported. The biggest damage was done in northeast Cowley. At eight o'clock in the morning a prairie fire broke out this side of Beaumont, caused by some flying engine spark, it is thought. With such a terrific gale to fan it on, it swept south with appalling destruction. Nothing impeded its awful gaitover roads, hedges, everywhere where the least combustible matter could be caught. Many farmers had their all swept away. W. H. Hill, near Box City, had two thousand bushels of corn, all his hay, his stable, and his horses burnedall but his house. In fighting the fire his face and hands were horribly burned, his eyes so badly that recovery of sight is doubtful. Other farmers whose places were rather new, without much firebreak, suffered the same fate. Those who saw the flames of this fire say it was a thrilling sight. No horse could keep pace with it. When in heavy grass the flames rolled twenty feet in the air, and the sparks flew wildly, continually setting the prairie distances before the main fire.

This same section has been recently invaded by the hog cholera, many farmers losing every hog. R. F. Burden lost 120 head, and others in proportion. It leaves northeast Cowley in bad shape to start into the winterno pork, no hay, and some no corn or anything else on which to winter their stock. All swept away by a cruel fire. Winfield Courier.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 12, 1885.

The contract for building the new K. C. & S. W. Depot has been let to Jacob Hight. It will be 20 x 78 feet surrounded by 250 feet of platform. The waiting room will be 20 x 24 feet, and the remainder of the depot will be utilized for freight, baggage, and an office. The building will be the best one on the line between here and Beaumont. It will contain dormer- windows and the waiting room bay windows. The company was so well pleased with Mr. Hight's other depot job that they awarded him the contract of putting up the new one. By the way, Jake is obtaining quite an enviable reputation as a carpenter and joiner.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 12, 1885.

The site for the K. C. & S. W. Depot has been located at the foot of 3rd Avenue across the canal. Site for the building of the roundhouse has also been selected nearby. Surveyors were busy Thursday laying off the ground for switches.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 12, 1885.

More Truth than Taffy. Dick Howard, the smiling young editor of the Arkansas City REPUBLICAN, illuminated our sanctum Monday. Dick felt very uncomfortable in the Queen City. He is accustomed to plenty of rooma rural street aspect. Here he was constantly bumped and knocked around by the surging crowds. He didn't stay long. Dazed with wonder at the gigantic boom and general life of Cowley's metropolis, he returned to his village home at 11:51. Dick, we will parenthetically remark, is one of the brightest young journalists in the state and is making a big success of his paper. As a boomer of Arkansas City's interests, he is immense. Come often, Richard. We are always glad to view your happy phiz. You must come frequently to be able to recognize our cityit's getting bigger and bigger, and a common villager is very liable to get lost. Winfield Courier.

The beloved Courier is correct when it says we visited their sanctum Monday; and we do not deny that during our brief stay, in the county seat, we were somewhat uncomfortable. We will tell you why, Mr. Courier. We longed to get back to the metropolis of the Arkansas Valley, where there is business going on, you know. We wanted to get back to the city at the head of navigation on the Arkansas. We were pining for that familiar toot of the foggy steamboat whistle. We wanted to hurry home and see the five Santa Fe engines and the five

K. C. & S. W. engines run into their roundhouses. We wanted to return and take a breath of the air arising from the "ragin" canaland hear the low swift murmuring of its waters as it flowed onward to furnish the power for making 1,000 barrels of flour per day. We wanted to get back and see what progress had been made on the 12 new brick and stone blocks in course of erection. We can't get along without the twang of the mason's trowel, the buzz of the rip saw, the clash of the hammer, and the cry for more mortar and brick. We wanted to get back and see caravan after caravan of Indians returning to their home in the Territory with almost train loads of our merchants' produce. We wanted to get back to the Kansas City of Kansas, for fear our "claim" would be jumped during our absence and above all we desired once more to return to good society. These are only a few of the wants that made us uncomfortable, and when you have illustrated these, we will publish more. True, we were dumped around considerable, but the surging crowd which bumped us consisted of the individuals who went down main street, locked arm style, on billowy legs. Of all the sights presented in Winfield, there was only one in anywise reminding us of a city. It was the one at the Courier printing office. This print shop has lately added new machinery, type, etc., and in getting out the daily, employs about 12 printers. Their most valuable acquisition is their new gas engine, which furnishes the motor for the presses. (We do not allude to Frank Greer.) The other scenes presented in Winfield are familiar on the streets of Dexter. Thanks, neighbor, we can't come often, but when we want to drown our sorrows in quietude, we will visit Winfield. And, as for the "hub" ever growing beyond recognition, it would be an impossibility. We painted the town red. We took precaution to mark it for fear a new stable might be erected. We procured a piece of red flannel, which we obtained from that portion of our underwear that we usually sit upon, and tied it around the city. There she will stand, never expanding or increasing; but always the same little way station of Winfield at the cross roads.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 12, 1885.

The contract for building the new K. C. & S. W. Depot has been let to Jacob Hight. It will be 20 x 78 feet surrounded by 250 feet of platform. The waiting room will be 20 x 24 feet, and the remainder of the depot will be utilized for freight, baggage, and an office. The building will be the best one on the line between here and Beaumont. It will contain dormer- windows and the waiting room bay windows. The company was so well pleased with Mr. Hight's other depot job that they awarded him the contract of putting up the new one. By the way, Jake is obtaining quite an enviable reputation as a carpenter and joiner.

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

Chas. Schiffbauer came home from St. Louis on the new railroad in 24 hours, a distance of more than 500 miles.

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

The first large shipment of freight over the K. C. & S. W., came in Tuesday morning. It was six car-loads of lumber from Chicago for A. V. Alexander & Co., and $787 was the price paid to have the lumber brought here.

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

The Walnut River contains an immense gravel bed. The gravel is being removed and shipped to other towns for street purposes and is also being largely utilized by railroads in ballasting. The Arkansas City gravel pit has brought thousands of dollars, nay millions, into our city. This is one of Arkansas City's industries bestowed upon her by nature. In the Arkansas River there are oceans of fine building sand; and since the advent of the K. C. & S. W. Railroad, parties are making arrangements to operate a sand pit, shipping the sand to interior towns, which are so unfortunate as not to possess that building requisite. And it is thus we boom.

Next item re "Geuda Springs, Caldwell, Harper, and Northwestern Railroad" Noted that Alonzo Stevens was elected President. Was this a conflict with the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad????

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

The directors of Geuda Springs, Caldwell, Harper, and Northwestern railroad met in their office at Winfield, Kansas, and organized by electing Alonzo Stevens, of Chicago, President; Jos. Munger, of Harper, Vice-President; J. L. Huey, of Arkansas City, Treasurer; W. M. [?] Forney, of Harper, Secretary; and Henry E. Asp, of Winfield, Attorney. Immediate steps will be taken to procure the right of way from Harper to Caldwell and vote the aid along the line necessary to secure the building of the road. The directors expect and desire the hearty co- operation of the people of Harper and the people along the line. Harper Graphic.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

Work on the new railroad depot is begun, and its completion is promised by New Year's. Jacob Hight has the contract, and he intends to make his mark by getting up a creditable building. Materials for the work are at hand.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

W. H. Upton, the new station agent of the K. C. & S. W. Railroad, favored us with a call this week. The gentleman came from Murfreesboro, Illinois, to accept the position, and has had long railroad experience to fit him for his duties. We predict he will become popular with our citizens.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

At the Kansas City and Southwestern depot, passengers can obtain tickets to all eastern and southeastern points. Excursion tickets to the New Orleans Exposition and return good for 45 days, can also be procured, price $29.65.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

The K. C. & S. W. Railway is doing a heavy freight business. One day last week William Ward, the transfer agent, collected of our businessmen $817 for freight brought in that day, leaving two cars untouched through lack of facilities to handle the goods.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

Railroad Time Tables.

K. C. & S. W. R. R. CO.

Time Table No. 3, in effect Nov. 20, 1885.

INCOMING N. E. STATIONS GOING S.W.

No. 1 No. 2

8:15 A.M. Leave Arkansas City Arrive 6:50 P.M.

9:05 A.M. Winfield Leave 6:05 P.M.

9:20 A.M. Floral 5:40 P.M.

9:40 A.M. Wilmot 5:36 P.M.

10:10 A.M. Atlanta 5:10 P.M.

10:15 A.M. Wingate 4:55 P.M.

10:30 A.M. Latham 4:40 P.M.

10:50 A.M. Burgess 4:20 P.M.

11:15 A.M. At Beaumont 4:00 P.M.

Trains connect at Beaumont with Frisco Line trains. A through coach is run between Arkansas City and St. Louis. Through tickets for sale to all points East, and baggage checked through. S. C. GIBBS, General Passenger Agent.

FRISCO LINE TRAINS.

GOING EAST STATIONS GOING WEST

No. 4 No. 2

8:20 A.M. Leave Halstead Arrive 6:45 P.M.

11:28 A.M. Leave Beaumont Leave 3:49 P.M.

2:40 A.M. Leave Cherryvale Leave 12:32 P.M.

6:45 A.M. Arrive St. Louis Leave 8:25 P.M.

All trains run daily and have Pullman palace sleeping cars to St. Louis without change.

D. WISHART, General Passenger Agent.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 16, 1885.

JAMES HILL BANQUETED.

A Newspaper Estimate of the Value of His Labors.

The sickness of part of our force last week caused delay in composition, and a portion of the copy prepared for insertion was not set up in type. Among the matter crowded out was a report of the banquet given by our businessmen to Mr. James Hill, councilman from the first ward; to whose faithful labors in behalf of the city we are mainly indebted for the defeat of the machinations of the Winfield syndicate to divert the route of the Kansas City and Southwestern road, and place Arkansas City at the end of a spur. This valuable service was deemed worthy of public recognition, and on the 4th inst., a dinner was given to our fellow- townsman at the Leland Hotel, and a valuable gold watch presented. Major Sleeth, who made the presentation in a speech that is commendable for its appropriateness, brevity, and terseness, declared that the offering was made as a token of the appreciation of himself and fellow-citizens of the mental, moral, and social qualities of the guest of the evening, but more especially on account of his business enterprise and executive ability. These are qualities of the highest importance in all great undertakings; they are eminently useful to the community in whose behalf they are exercised, and uniformly lead to success.

Henry E. Asp, who has been intimately associated with Mr. Hill, in procuring the means to build the road, and subsequently laying the track, also paid a warm tribute to his co- laborer's business astuteness, and his immense capacity for labor. He not only has the enterprise and the originality to form useful and progressive designs, but he is endowed with the physical endurance to carry them out, in spite of opposition and difficulty.

There is another eminent quality in our fellow-townsman, which was not touched on by his eulogists. We refer to his sound and discriminating judgment. He has the native instinct of a lawyer, or perhaps we might more correctly say, a statesman. Without the advantage of scholastic education, he has extraordinary clearness of perception. He spends much of his leisure in reading, and his reading is of a profitable nature. What he reads he assimilates, and all his intellectual equipment is stowed away in its proper receptacles, classified and endorsed, and ready to lay his hand on whenever wanted. We have carefully watched Mr. Hill on various occasions, when his railroad project was under discussion, and property rights, perhaps, were supposed to come in conflict with his franchise. Questions would be asked him involving points of law or public expediency, where a cautious man would refuse to commit himself, and an indiscreet man would tie himself up. But James Hill never shirked an answer, never got him