Railroads in Lyon County
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Q How did the coming of the railroads affect Lyon County?
A Having a railroad run through town was a great boon to growth in the settlement of early Kansas. All town promoters realized that easy transportation of products and people encouraged new settlers to consider coming to their town. Lyon County towns jumped on this bandwagon early as they competed for importance in the state. The three most important railroads with a lasting effect on Lyon County were the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad (now known as the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe), the Missouri, Kansas and Texas and the Missouri Pacific. The BNSF and the Katy both ran through Emporia, and the Missouri Pacific ran through north Lyon County.
Any look at a map of the United States will show that the trip west would probably cross Kansas. Therefore, early businessmen in the state began planning for the building of railroads. The Civil War stalled early building, but legislators enacted bills that would provide for a great surge in construction when the war was over.
A convention in Topeka on Oct. 17, 1860, supported a request to Congress to grant public lands to aid in the construction of railroads. On July 1, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act that would aid in constructing a railway from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean. This legislation granted a land bonus of 10 square miles of land for each mile built by the railroad company. In 1863, Kansas granted 3,000,000 acres to Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe if it would build a continuous line to the western border of Kansas by March 1, 1873.
Much maneuvering took place as cities vied to have a railroad come through their town. Col. Sam Wood was both vice-president and a director of the Santa Fe Railroad as it plotted its course across Kansas. He guided the selection of Emporia and thus Cottonwood Falls as depots rather than Council Grove.
Because the railroad was generally following the route of the old Santa Fe Trail, this was a blow to Council Grove, the traditional “last chance” town on the trail, and a boon to Emporia and Cottonwood Falls. On Oct. 30, 1868, construction began at Topeka. By Sept. 14, 1870, the first Santa Fe train reached Emporia, where a great celebration was held. By July 1871, the track had reached Newton, but there were fewer than two years to go to reach the western border. Track-layers worked at breakneck speed, finally reaching the Colorado state line on Dec. 18, 1872.
After the track reached the border, the company had no remaining money, but it received its land grant which amounted to half the land on a strip 40 miles wide from Emporia to Kinsley, and from that point half of a 20-mile wide strip on to the state line. This huge amount of land could then be sold to settlers, providing income for the railroad company.
It was now prime land because it was near a railroad. Settlers who bought this land could bring all of their household goods at the company’s expense, especially if they were moving here from overseas. Others were given very low freight rates. Settlers by the thousands moved to Lyon County to buy railroad land.
The large Santa Fe depot in Emporia was located on the north side of the tracks between Neosho and Rural streets in Emporia. It was constructed in 1882, remodeled in 1926 and again in 1957. Further west on the south side of the tracks, the railroad yards were located complete with roundhouse and turntable for turning engines to go back the direction they had come.
The roundhouse was torn down in 1983, and Las Casitas Park occupies space west of where the roundhouse was located. On Aug. 9, 1999, Emporia lost more of its railroading history when the depot was gutted by fire and torn down.
The Katy
Another important route, the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, which came to be known as the Katy, went southeast from Junction City through the Neosho River valley to the southern border of Kansas. This important trade route would then continue through Indian Territory in Oklahoma and on down to the Gulf where goods could be shipped all over the world.
The Katy’s route went at an angle through Lyon County from Council Grove, through Dunlap, Americus, Emporia, Neosho Rapids and Hartford. The Katy passenger depot in Emporia was located west of the Bunge elevator near Sixth Avenue. At one time this depot was the boarding place for passengers who wished to ride the doodlebug, a small two-car passenger and mail train, to nearby towns. The freight depot was north of Sixth Avenue near Seventh Avenue and east of East Street. A large vacant area is all that can be seen there now.
The Katy itself was born in Emporia in the law offices of Preston Plumb and Judge Robert M. Ruggles in 1865. With the news that the Osage Indians had relinquished title to their immense reservation in southeast Kansas and were moving to Oklahoma, every investor and promoter who had heard the news wanted to ensure that he could be in on the excitement of this new railroad. A railroad would turn the vast acres of the Neosho Valley into valuable farmland, townsites and speculative property.
By July 1866, Congress had passed a bill that allowed the Katy 10 square miles for every mile of track built. By December 1869, track was laid to Emporia, but also that month, a number of eastern investors engineered a takeover of the executive committee.
Plumb, T.S. Huffaker of Council Grove and other Kansans resigned. From that moment, local control of the Katy was a thing of the past. The financial giants from back east who underwrote the Katy were heavily invested in western expansion.
The story of building the Katy on through southern Kansas and then through Cherokee Neutral Lands in land that would become the state of Oklahoma was a story of raids on competing railroads in the rush to meet the Gulf. Burnings of ties and trestles and tearing up of rail by well-organized armed bands may have been allowed or even promoted by the new investors. The Katy tracklayers reached the southern Kansas border on July 6, 1870, and the Texas border in 1875. A northeastern route from Sedalia, Missouri, to Chicago completed another part of the Katy system. Mismanagement by railroad owners sent the Katy through hard times in the 1880s, but in 1888 Emporian H.C. Cross and co-receiver George Eddy took over the Katy and returned it to prosperous operations. By 1893 the Katy tracks reached Houston and connected with lines to the Gulf. Finally the Katy had recovered and achieved its original goal to be a major transportation route south.
Katy depots in Emporia and other towns in Lyon County were closed in 1952. Passenger service ended in October 1952, and all freight service ended on the Katy in 1957. Only the depot in Council Grove survives.
Missouri Pacific
Across the northern part of Lyon County stretched the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In 1886, Osage City approved spending $22,000 to aid in construction of the Council Grove, Osage City and Ottawa Railroad, a branch of the Missouri Pacific. Each of the towns in north Lyon County developed with the railroad. Miller became a shipping point for cattle and sheep off of the huge Miller Ranch. Admire boasted of a handsome depot, a long sidetrack, and large stockyards.
Because the railroad planned for only two stations in northern Lyon County at Admire and Bushong, the people in the vicinity of Allen raised a protest. They had large shipments of cattle, too, and wanted a halfway station in the county. The railroad would not swing north from its proposed route so the people of Allen built a siding, the Allen Town Co. was formed, and the town moved from 142 Mile Creek on the Santa Fe Trail southwest 3 1/2 miles to its present location. The new depot was built in Allen in 1887. It was a long narrow framed building, roofed with steel shingles and painted cream with brown trim.
Because the Missouri Pacific railroad had an interest in the townsite, Bushong was built to supply the railroad steam engines with water as they pulled their trains over the hills to Council Grove. A large tank pond was built one mile east of town and three tracks ran through town. Cattle pens were constructed to hold the cattle for shipping from the large pastures in the area.
The railroad also bought a valuable stone quarry south of Bushong and shipped quarried rock to Kansas City. The name of Bushong was chosen in honor of Al “Doc” Bushong who was a baseball player for the St. Louis Browns.
Southeast of Council Grove, the Missouri Pacific tracks made a turn from their westerly track to angle northwest paralleling the Katy on its route into Council Grove before proceeding on west. After many years, the Missouri Pacific rails, too, were pulled up when their service was discontinued in north Lyon County.
All three of these influential railroad lines served Lyon County well, but with the advent of increased trucking, dependence on railroads decreased over time. As is often the case, shippers now wonder whether tearing up the tracks was a wise decision. Heavy highway truck traffic has contributed to the deterioration of roads and increased congestion.
Perhaps railroad hauling of goods to markets is a good idea; indeed, Burlington Northern Santa Fe runs at capacity most of the time. And passenger travel is also being reconsidered for our central part of the country with proposals for passenger service connecting Kansas City, Topeka, Emporia, Strong City, Newton, Wichita and Wellington with cities in Oklahoma and Texas.
Comments
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dbk8023 (anonymous) says...
Very well written and researched article. Thanks
March 6, 2010 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slimbolen99 (anonymous) says...
Very interesting article. We need more of this type of, reporting, if you will.
March 6, 2010 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (anonymous) says...
The railroad story is the future economic gem of Kansas. BNSF Railway Company has made application for Stimulus Funds to improve the State's freight mobility and economy. The 50 Million dollar TIGER grant to help launch the construction of a new intermodle facility near Kansas City will have a huge impact on the economy of Kansas and Emporia.
March 6, 2010 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (anonymous) says...
Go to Gardner Intermodel Freight Hub......15,000 workers on a 1000 Acre Site.
March 6, 2010 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...
I am a big fan of this sort of information and the Gazette would serve itself and it's readership well by publishing more of this ilk.
March 6, 2010 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
If I am not mistaken, what is now Bunge is located on and still uses part of the old Katy rail line as a spur serving Bunge. In fact when you go East on Seventh Ave and go over the large hump just East of East street, you will be going over what used to be what is left of the old Katy right-of-way that headed south out of Emporia and crossed the Santa Fe main line tracks at what was part of the East Emporia Railroad Junction . I remember when the Katy was a thriving little, what was then called a short-line railroad. I don' t know whether anything remains of the old Katy R.R. bridge and trestle South East of Emporia or not !
March 6, 2010 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
I was truly interested in this article, especailly concerning the "Katy"railroad. Their "train tracks" run the width at the end of my property. We knew this before purchasing the land and had never heard of the "Katy" until then. I have a dear friend that is 88 and can remember riding the train from Americus to Emporia as a young girl and across my field. History is WONDERFUL!!!! Must admit, I'm glad now that I'm not awoken from the sound of a train!!!! We had thought of using the stones from the track bed when we were building our home but was not cost affective.
March 6, 2010 at 8:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Here is a little more info on the " Katy " R.R. .
Neosho Division
Kansas
Geary (Davis) County
Junction City Junction (1868),
Morris County
Skiddy (Camden), White City (Swedeland), Parkerville, Kelso, Council Grove, Dunlap,
Lyon County
Americus, Emporia, Neosho Rapids/Wyckoff Bottoms, Hartford (1869),
Coffey County
Strawn, Rock-a-By, Burlington, Leroy Junction (junction Missouri Pacific Railway--Kansas and Arizona Division,
Woodson County
Neosho Falls, Piqua (crosses the Fort Scott, Wichita and Western R.R.),
Allen County
Humboldt,
Neosho County
Chanute (Alliance), Urbana, Galesburg, Ladore,
Labette County
Parsons Junction,
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There were several roads competing for a route to the Indian Territory. Their promoters were ambitious to extend their lines to the Gulf, to Mexico, or to the Pacific.
Colonel Robert Smith Stevens and Judge Levi Parsons, New York promoters of the road that later became the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, called the "Katy." Levi Parsons had visions of a great empire for the Katy, especially if he could get generous land grants by beating James F. Joy, promoter of the Border Tier Road ("Joy Road") to the Indian Territory.
Originally chartered as the Union Pacific Railway - Southern Branch (Katy), his road started construction (diagonally from northwest to southeast) from Junction City to Chetopa in 1868.
Stevens and Parsons selected the site for a town that they would control. Parsons was named for Judge Levi Parsons, promoter and president of the Katy Railroad. The Hugh shop there is still in operation.
The building of the road was a battle for time in competition with the "Joy Men." To win, F. C. White was instructed to "Bull- whack" the builders of the road. White City was named for F. C. White, superintendent of the Neosho Division of the Katy Railroad. F. C. White was responsible for the construction of the road from Parsons to Fort Scott.
On June 6, 1870, the M. K. and T. Railway won a three-way construction race to the Indian Territory border. It earned the sole right to build south through the lands of the Five Civilized Nations to the storied Red River and Texas.
March 6, 2010 at 9:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
The above info comes from, Railroads in Kansas
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The Katy Railroad
M. K. T. Railroad (Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway)
Union Pacific, Southern Branch
Missouri Pacific Railway
http://kansasheritage.org/research/rr...
March 6, 2010 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Hungry for more Emporia, Lyon County R.R. history.
Emporia, Kan. (means "a place to trade -- market place") -- Alt. 1,138; pop. 13,726. County seat of Lyons County. Near junction of Cottonwood and Neosho rivers. Important Santa Fe mainline division point with operating facilities including: roundhouse and shops; sheep feeding barns, with capacity 50,000 sheep; electic sheep-shearing plant; and stock feeding yards. Education center -- Kansas State Teachers College, College of Emporia, and Presbyterian institution, all located here. Rich farming and livestock raising country; corn, wheat, and alfalfa are principal crops. Large blue stem pastures in this area. Home of the late William Allen White, author and editor. Junction point for mainline via Topeka and via Ottawa Jct. and for branch lines to Chanute, Moline, and Superior, Neb. Also on M. K. T. R. R.
http://www.titchenal.com/atsf/ayw1946...
March 6, 2010 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Here is a little of the beginning history of the AT&SF R.R.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
[edit] Startup and initial growth
The railroad's charter, written single-handedly by Cyrus K. Holliday in January 1859, was approved by the state's governor on February 11 of that year as the Atchison and Topeka Railroad Company for the purpose of building a rail line from Topeka, Kansas, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then on to the Gulf of Mexico. On May 3, 1863, two years after Kansas gained statehood, the railroad changed names to more closely match the aspirations of its founder to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The railroad broke ground in Topeka on October 30, 1868 and started building westward where one of the first construction tasks was to cross the Kaw River. The first section of track opened on April 26, 1869 (less than a month prior to completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad) with special trains between Topeka and Pauline. The distance was only 6 miles (10 km), but the Wakarusa Creek Picnic Special train took passengers over the route for celebration in Pauline.
I am sure you are tired of History by now, so will post no further History !
March 6, 2010 at 9:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I am sorry for getting carried away, but railroading is kind of in my blood . A big part of my family were " railroaders " and it is a little hard to get the railroad " steam, oil, grease, soot, dirt, the railroad storys/ tales and sounds out of your blood, after having been part of life for such a long time.
March 6, 2010 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
If the government would allow rail to compete, long haul trucking would go extinct.
March 6, 2010 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
Maybe it was not in the context of this article, but it should be noted the ATSF also had a branch line running south of Emporia. I think it was called the Howard Branch and it went to Moline, KS. It also went through Olpe, Madison (I think) and I forget the other towns. Maybe someone could provide more info about it. I believe it was torn out in the late 1970's or early 1980's.
March 6, 2010 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steamer (anonymous) says...
Many thanks to the writer, Jan Huston, and all of the rest who submitted valuable information in their comments! Researching early day railroading history is one of my interests. I did research on railroading in Chase County some years back and walked a portion of the old road bed that linked Strong City with Gladstone. This line was in service before the "Ellinor Cutoff" was constructed. Evidence of the old Cottonwood Branch are still visible, but like most things regarding the past, this is slowly disappearing.
I can recall crew changes taking place with employees of the M.P. in Council Grove and riding aboard a locomotive while taking a turn on the A.T.&S.F. turntable at the roundhouse in Emporia.
March 7, 2010 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
The Gardner Intermodal is one of the biggest things to happen to Kansas since Boeing in Wichita. Unfortunately, Emporia will feel little direct benefit.
March 7, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
Meth, Thanks so much for the added info, I truly appreciated. Also, going to call a widow friend in Parsons for you say there is still a "shop" there and see if she can get me a minature of the "Katy". I have a plate concerning the "Katy" that I bought at a garage sale in the late '70's, a train would make the small collection "nice". Again, Thank you and also, Jan.
March 7, 2010 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
koalemos (anonymous) says...
I love sitting in the Union Station in St Louis. The architecture is awesome and is a real tribute to American ingenuity. Here are some pics: http://www.stlouisunionstation.com/in...
March 7, 2010 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
koalemos, the pictures were simply beautiful. I also enjoy going to Union Station in Kanas City, Oh! so much history. I can remember as a child going to the one in Cincinnati, then I thought it was HUGH and so very beautiful. One time I was with a foreign exchange daughter and we went to LA, also Union Station, very beautiful and they were filming a "Disney" film, we stood and watched for a half hour or so, she was so very excited and so was I. They still use the one in LA, and also some traffic in KC.
March 7, 2010 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
^^^ is a history geek. Thanks for a really interesting article! Now if we can just get a passenger train back!
March 7, 2010 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )