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The Truman Area Community Network
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Heavy Rails
Frisco Track Laying North of Harrisonville
The crew of about 100 men who are laying the 80 pound steel rails on the St. Louis & Sabn Francisco railroad from Latour to Grandview, are now working north of Harrisonville. The heavy rails were laid between Clinton and Latour last winter and were at that time in use over the stretch from Grandview to Kansas City.
The men lay from one-fourth of a mile to two miles of rail a day and the work, it is estimated, will be completed about the latter part of August.
The rails that are now being laid were originally on the Frisco main line below Springfield and are but slightly worn. The worn side is turned to the outside of the track where there is practically no wear at all. A gasoline engine especially constructed for the purpose is used in laying the rails. A huge crane lifts them from the car and places them in the proper position. The laborers follow the wake of the car and fasten the rails securely to the ties with bolts and plates. The steel gang is followed by a surfacing crew which is surfacing the roads with chat.
The Flood
Crest of Wave Passes Friday Night
The crest of the flood passed by Friday night.
Swollen by torrential rains of Wednesday but one of Clinton's three railroads was operating Friday and Saturday. Trains were running only on the M., K. & T., and there were fears that this would be stopped by the water which rose to the track level through the Grand River bottoms.
The rains which produced this condition were three in as many days totalling six inches. But north of here in Johnson county, the last rain of the series must have been a water spout for it is related that seven inches of rain felt in fourteen hours, measured by a government gauge. Much of this water flowed into Grand river either directly or by the way of Big Creek and rendered the flood conditions acute around this city.
From every point along Grand river bottoms come stories of flood damage and hardship. Hogs have been drowned, cattle lost and fears entertained for their safety, and while no lives have been lost, many families have been rescued in boats from their perilous situation.
Both Kansas City lines were abandoned as far as trains were concerned and those whose business was imperative made the trip to the city by way of the M., K. & T. to Sedalia and thence by the Missouri Pacific which managed to keep an open track although experiencing flood troubles in Johnson county. At Clinton a train which reached here Thursday on the Frisco, and was unable to proceed left fifteen or twenty passengers from other points stranded. Recognizing the company's duties in the premises, Agent Claiborne escorted the marooned passengers to a local hotel and provided for their comfort at company expense. The same day, the afternoon train from Kansas City was stopped by high water at East Lynne and laid there several hours. Among the passengers were Mrs. Peckinpaugh and daughter, en route home from California. W. L. Poynter, Paul Tyler, Ed Kent, W. L. Gurner, Clarence Brown and manv other Clintonians, who were disappointed beyond measure when after seeing that it might be days before the track was opened, the authorities order the train to return to Kansas City. From thence they took the Sedalia route home reaching here after annoying delays.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas track south of Clinton, always a source of alarm in flood times, was in serious danger all day Friday, the water rising steadily, and the extensive bottoms above the track being inland sea of swirling torrent. Slowly at first and then rapidly the water crept up the sides of the dump, the water-ways being entirely insufficient to take care of the flood. Friday afternoon the level of the ties was reached, and then the movement was slower but the rise continued until midnight, the water flowing over the track in three places. Below the track the water was two feet lower than it was, showing very clearly the effect of the railroad in aggravating the flood condition. A gang of track walkers was kept busy watching for weak places all through the night and protecting them with bags of sand. Shortly after midnight, the water became stationery and toward morning a slight recession was observed lending hope that the crest of the flood had passed.
The loss to Henry county in bridges is very great and it will be a long time before all the bridges are replaced. Up until Saturday morning it was reported to County Highway Engineer H. C. Allen that now less than twenty three bridges were out of commission and of these eleven were entirely washed out.
Residents along Grand River below the M., K. & T. track report the highest water they have ever experienced. The Frisco track is submerged for miles between here and Brownington. On Friday, water was seven feet over the rails at Levy switch, and Saturday's report that it was no less than thirteen feet deep, box cars standing on the siding being completely submerged. A long culvert or trestle on the Deepwater wagon road is reported out, and as a result the road will be impassible for several days at least.
New Service
Clinton Line to Run Trains South
The DEMOCRAT is in receipt of the following letter from Superintendent E. J. Perry of the K. C. C. & S. railroad in regards to the new train service to be established on that road Sunday:
SRINGFIELD, MO., July 13, 1915.
Dear Mr. Whitaker:
Following up conversation at the very pleasant meeting at the Elk's Club to which I was invited on my last visit to Clinton, please be advised that effective Sunday, July 18th, we will inaugarate steam train service as follows:
Between Clinton and Kansas City on three days heretofore covered by motor car service, and on the other four days of the week, viz. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between Clinton and Springfield and return, to leave Clinton at 6:30 a.m., reach Ash Grove 9:40 a.m., connecting with Frisco train 102 west bound, arrive at Springfield 10:25 a.m. Returning leave Springfield 5:25 p.m., connect with Frisco train 101 from the west at Ash Grove at 6:10 p.m., reaching Clinton at 9:25 p.m..
These trains will each handle baggage and express, and we believe will suit the conveniences of the public generally.
Thanking you for your courtesies extended, I am,
Very truly yours,
E.J. PERRY
While there have been no official orders received yet it is a well defined rumor that the Frisco road will run their motor service north on four days as is being done at present, and on the other three days will run the train south to Springfield.
To Springfield
The Katy System May Get a Frisco Line
For years the rumor has been started at intervals that the M. K. & T. railroad was negotiating for an entrance into Springfield by way of one of the two Frisco lines out of Springfield. This plan has assumed a more tangible shape, judging from the following article which we reproduce from Thursday's Springfield Leader:
"The announcement that high officials of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad are to visit Springfield tomorrow has given rise to renewed speculation concerning reports that were current years ago that the Katy intended building a line through Springfield to connect with its main line at Sedlia and Joplin. It is known that the Katy is interested in taking over either the Frisco Line to Kansas City by way of Clintono or the K. C. C. & S. Ry. line, which practically parallels the Frisco."
"Whether the Katy officials propose to take over one of the north lines to Kansas City by purchase or by a working agreement with the Frisco or Clinton line has not been intimated."
"The re-organisation of the Frisco lines during the receivership has contemplated the lopping off of a number of lines which were regarded as unprofitable. The Katy has considered for years a plan to build a road from Jefferson City to Springfield. This, if they owned the Springfield- Kansas City line, would give them direct connections between here and two points, Kansas City and St. Louis."
"E. D. Levy, general manager of the Frisco, left St. Louis yesterday to attend the meeting of the chief officials of the road which is held in connection with the proposed re-organization of the system. The Katy officials will return with him in a special train."
"The main line of the Katy runs from St. Louis westward along the north banks of the Missouri river until it reaches Boonville, when it crosses and veers off in a southwesterly direction, going to Sedalia, Clinton, Nevada, Fort Scott and thence into Oklahoma and Texas.
"With the High-fine of the Frisco in their posession. the Katy would have a direct tine between Springfield and Kansas City, and another to St. Louis from Springfield by wav of Clinton."
"The party of officials who will visit Springfield tomorrow are C. N. Whitehead, vice-president; Frank Johnson, treasurer, and W. W. Miller, general freight agent, all of St. Louis and officials of the' M. K. & T. railroad and M. Rice, of St. Louis."
"Extensive plans for the entertainment of the visitors while here include a crawfish spread, which has been planned by General Manager Levy." . .
Mines at Lewis
The new coal company at Lewis Station owned and managed by Messrs. Miller and Fitzgibbons of Kansas, who have sunk a shaft within 150 yards of the depot, will as soon as the Katy railroad builds them a switch track, commence operations and shipments. They have located a fine vein of coal about three feet thick, their shaft being within about 50 yards of the mines that the Bowen Brothers abandoned years ago.
The management has already installed some electric machinery and will install more in the near future having purchased the latest and most efficient machinery for mining coal that is made. At first it is not their intention to do any retail business at all, just selling to railroad companies, etc. This will again place Lewis on the map as a mining town and no doubt bring families there to live.
Clinton Made Terminal for South Locals.
Effective Wednesday, September 1st, there will be an important change in the M., K. & T. local freight service over this division. Clinton will be made the terminal for the south local from Parsons, Kansas, the train staying here over night and returning the next morning. The north local from Sedalia will come down in the morning, do the Clinton switching then return to Sedalia that afternoon. If this change remains permanent, this will more that likely necessitate some railroad men to move to Clinton.
The south local will arrive in Clinton from Parsons at 3:10 o'clock in the afternoon, remain here over night and return to Parsons the next morning leaving here at 6:45.
The north local will arrive from Sedalia at 9 o'clock in the morning, do all the switching here and depart for Sedalia at 12:10 the same afternoon.
This is an important change in the service as far as Clinton ia concerned and might lead eventually in making Clinton a terminal for more that just local freight trains.
Clinton Line Will Increase its Facilities in Clinton
The Clinton line is assembling material in the yards here for new buildings which will largely augment its roster of employees here and transfer all repair work of cars, engines and motor vehicles now done at Springfield to this city.
The cement and chat for the foundations of the new buildings have already been unloaded, and lumber is in transit. The round house will be enlarged and machinery installed for the ordinary overhauling of locomotives.
Three new buildings will be erected near the crossings at Rogers Avenue. One of these will be for car repair work and will be large enough to accommodate the car undergoing repairs. Another building will be devoted to the repair and overhauling of motor vehicles. This work will be under the supervision of George Graham.
A number of new employees are already on the job and as the work increase the number will be increased as required. This work has largely been done at Springfield, but the new rule by which Ash Grove is the southern end of the line, prompted the officials to decide on the location of sufficient repair shops at Clinton. They have long recognized that Clinton is the logical place for such shops.