Argentine, Kan. -- This is a Santa Fe division point and important operating terminal. In addition to large track yards, passengers will note extensive locomotive and car repair shops, and one of the largest inland grain elevators in America.
Morris, Kan. (named after Morris Packing Co.) Alt. 766; pop. 50. Large Santa Fe stock-feeding yards.
Holliday, Kan. (named after Col. C. K. Holliday founder and first president of the Santa Fe) -- Alt. 760, pop. 163. Junction point where mainline splits. One line running via Topeka, the other via Ottawa Junction. CTC system (Centralized Traffic Control) governs traffic on 13 miles of track between Holliday and Olathe.
Wilder, Kan. (named for D. W. Wilder, author of "Annals of Kansas.") -- Alt. 722, pop. 70. Farming; moulding sand; potato shipments. Junction Santa Fe branch to Levenworth.
Eudora, Kan. (means "beautiful") -- Alt. 811, pop. 701. Named after Eudora Fish, daughter of Shawnee Indian chief from whom townsite was purchased in early days; Quantrill and his band of guerillas passed just south of Eudora on their way to destroy Lawrence, during Civil War. Wakarusa River empties into Kaw River here.
Lawrence, Kan. (named for Amos Lawrence, Boston merchant) -- Alt. 813, pop. 15,356. Located on Kansas River. County seat of Douglas County. Lawrence is interesting historically and is called "Athens of Kansas." It was founded by New England Emigrant Aid Society. From 1854 to 1860 it was headquarters of Free State party, against which Pro-slavery party was strongly arrayed. City was entered by hostile Missourians, numbering 2,800, in 1856, but violence was averted by arrival of United States troops sent by Territorial Governor J. W. Geary; Quantrill, a border marauder, murdered 256 citizens adn burned the city on August 21, 1863. University of Kansas, located on Mt. Oread, with 26 buildings valued at $5,200,000, an enrollment of 5,150 students and faculty of 300. Haskell institute (government Indian school), with 1,000 students and 70 buildings, maintained by U.S. government at annual cost $200,000. Has $80,000 court house, $70,000 government building, $75,000 opera house, $65,000 masonic temple, $30,000 Carnegie library, a memorial hospital and new $500,000 high school. Industries include flour mills, grain elevators, paper mill and box factory, horse collar, pipe organ, tile and canning factories; wholesale groceries; planing mill; largest nursery and seed houses in state. Dam across river provides water power. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Ottawa. Also on Union Pacific R. R.
Lecompton, Kan. (named after S. D. Lecompte, Chief Justice, Kansas Territory). Was territorial capital from 1855 to 1861, and headquarters of Pro-Slavery party in Kansas; the "Lecompton Constitution" was framed here in 1857. View of Kansas and Deleware rivers from bluffs. Foundation of territorial capital now occupied by High School.
Topeka, Kan. (Indian word means "a grand place to dig potatoes") -- Alt. 945; pop. 80,000. County seat of Shawnee County. Capital of Kansas, and state's third largest city. Topeka was founded in 1854 at the site of Papan's Ferry where a branch of the Oregon trail crossed the Kansas river as early as 1842. Anti-Slavery leaders framed the Topeka Constitution, 1855, in the first attempt to organize a state government. The next year their legislature was dispersed by U. S. dragoons under orders from President Franklin Pierce. Topeka became the capital in 1861 when Kansas was admitted to the Union adn the slavery conflict flamed into rebellion. After the war, in 1868, the Santa Fe railroad, promoted by C. K. Holliday, a city founder, first started building from Topeka. This was the birthplace, in 1860, of Vice President Charles Curtis, part Kaw Indian, the only "native American" to reach so high an office. Topeka is generally considered home of the Santa Fe Railway, with more than 3,000 employees and important general offices, shops and hospital located here. The shops alone cover 36 acres under roof, in tract of 293 acres, the buildings number 202; the shop employees number 2,242; average monthly repairs comprise 32 locomotives, 80 passenger coaches, and 2,500 freight cars. The Santa Fe general store house at Topeka controls distribution of 80,000 different items on 725,000 requistions a year, or $175 a minute for supplies. State asylum for the insane; state industrial school for boys; Washburn Municipal University; Kansas Vocational College (colored), all located here. Meat packing and allied products, printing, publishing and flourmilling are principal industries. 23 public parks and many fine residences; 100 churches; 32 public schools. Junction point Santa Fe branch to St. Joseph. Also on Mo. Pac., R. I., and U. P. Rys.
Wakarusa, Kan. (means "heap deap") -- Alt. 947; pop. 108. Wakarusa River; Summer resort, "Kozy Kamp" Park.
Carbondale, Kan. (named for Carbon Coal Co.) -- Alt. 1,066; pop. 415. Bituminous coal mines. Merrill Springs resort, 1 1/2 miles north. For many years the coal fields estending from Carbondale to Osage City was principal source of fuel supply for the Santa Fe.
Burlingame, Kan. (town named for Hon. Anson Burlingame, formerly U. S. minister to China.) -- Alt. 1,044, pop. 1,127. The main street of Burlingame was a part of the old Santa Fe trail, location of old trail bridge indicated by granite bolder, erected by D. A. R. In October, 1862, ehwn every able-bodied man within a radius of 20 miles of Burlingame was in the Army, Quantrill's band of guerillas planned to raid the town. The old men and boys hauled rock at night with ox teams and built a small fort in center of town; fort was held three weeks by women and children. Mrs. G. W. Hoover, known as "Aunt Fanny," was in command. Rocks from fort were used years afterward as foundation for church. Farming, stock raising and coal mining. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Alma, in cattle raising region.
Osage City, Kan. (named for Osage Indians) -- Alt. 1,077, pop. 2,085. Farming, live stock, and coal mining. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
Barklay, Kan. -- Alt. 1,171; pop. of twp. 75. General farming. Early white settlers mostly Quakers; Osage Indian tribe made this region their home in early days.
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.
Zarah, Kan. -- Alt. 796, pop. 72. Shawnee Heights Golf and Country club, 200 acres, located two miles east, on Little Mill creek; Starwood pleasure park one mile east.
Olathe, Kan. (means "beautiful") -- Alt. 1,023, pop. 3,984. County seat of Johnson County. This was first stagecoach overnight stop on the old Santa Fe Trail southwest of Westport Landing (now Kansas City). State school for education of the deaf; a beautiful residence town. CTC system (Centralized Traffic Control) governs traffic on 13 miles of track between Olathe and Holliday. Also on Frisco Lines.
Gardner, Kan. -- Alt. 1,065, pop. 511. Old Santa Fe Trail passes through town; several skirmishes were fought here in early days of Civil War.
Wellsville, Kan. -- Alt. 1,033, pop. 641. A thriving town in oil and gas belt. Has $27,000 high school with accredited vocational agricultural dept., and $9,000 community hall.
Ottawa Junction, Kan. -- Alt. 915. Junction point where line from Tulsa and southern Kansas joins transcontinental main line. About one mile south of the city of Ottawa.
Pomnona, Kan. (means "land of fruit") -- Alt. 923, pop. 600. On Marais des Cygnes River. Hay, cattle and hog raising. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
Quenemo, Kan. (name of an Ottawa Indian Chieftan) -- Alt. 941, pop. 561. On Marais des Cygnes River. Rich farming community; fine high school.
Melvern, Kan. -- Alt. 993, pop. 445. On Old Santa Fe Trail "cut-off."
Lebo, Kan. (named for early resident) -- Alt. 1,154, pop. 590. Coal mining and stock feeding.
Neosho Rapids, Kan. (Indian name, meaning "clear and cold water") -- Alt. 1,092, pop. 252. On Neosho River. Farming and dairying country.
Plymouth, Kan. -- Alt. 1,132, pop. 113. Alfalfa and stock raising. Two miles south, overlooking Cottonwood River is a large ranch once operated by Fred Harvey.
Strong City, Kan. (named for W. B. Strong, ex president of Santa Fe Railway) -- Alt. 1,173, pop. 800. Farming and stock raising. Santa Fe passes through Cottonwood valley, Emporia to Florence. Cottonwood Falls is 1 1/2 miles south.
Elmdale, Kan. -- Alt. 1,194, pop. 247. Alfalfa and stock raising section. Natural gas found in this area; 3 miles west is "Clover Cliff" ranch of 5,478 acres; both sides of track. State Y. M. C. A. camp 1 1/2 miles south.
Clements, Kan. (named for H. C. Clements, Santa Fe Auditor) -- Alt. 1,222, pop. 184. Bruard's "monument" (built in early 60's by Bruard as a guide to travelers) on south side of tracks half-way between Clements and Cedar Point. Stock raising, alfalfa, wheat, corn. Ranks third among Kansas cattle-shipping points.
Florence, Kan. (named for Florence Crawford, daughter of former governor) -- Alt. 1,262, pop. 1,500. Stock raising and farming. Consolidated schools with $300,000 plant; ice plant, grain elevator; $90,000 theater. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Ellinwood. Beyond Florence the railway leaves Cottonwood valley and ascends Doyle Creek. Oil fields south and west.
Peabody, Kan. -- Alt. 1,350, pop. 1,368. Town named after F. H. Peabody, resident of Boston and Santa Fe director in early days; first public library in state at Peabody was presented by him. Agriculture and live stock; markets more fat cattle than any other station in state. Has municipal water plant and park of 25 acres. Also on C. R. I. & P. Ry.
Newton, Kan. (named for Newton, Massachusetts) -- Alt. 1,439, pop. 11,057. County seat Harvey County. Santa Fe division point and hub of important mainlines. At this point transcontinental lines separate -- one running via La Junta, the other via Amarilo. The main line from Texas joins transcontinental mainlines here. Extensive Santa Fe servicing shops and rail mill located here with approximately 1,000 employees on payroll. Fred Harvey interests include dining room and lunch counter, laundry, bottling works and farm. Second to the Santa Fe interests in Newton is the flour milling industry, with four mills. Other industries include ice plant, large creamery; feeds, seeds; ice cream and carbonated beverage plant. In September, 1874, Mennonites arrived from southern Russia and settled on 100,000 acres of land sold them by Santa Fe in Harvey, Marion and Reno counties. Between 1874 and 1883 about 15,000 Mennonites settle on Santa Fe lands in Kansas; by 1905 this immigration had increased to 60,000 persons. In 1893 they opened the first Mennonite college in U. S. which now offers full college course with enrollment of 475 students and faculty of 35. The first hard winter wheat was brought to the U. S. by resident of Newton, who later supplied farmers with the well known variety. Today Newton is surrounded by rich farming community and on account of good roads is noted for high yield of wheat, and fine live stock. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
Newton to Belen, via Amarillo and Clovis
Newton to Texas points
Halstead, Kan. (named for Murat Halstead, a noted journalist) -- Alt. 1,388, pop. 1,421. Wheat and corn district, and important shipping point for poultry and eggs; a 200,000 bushel elevator; north of track is Riverside park, on Little Arkansas River. Hertzler hospital is located here.
Burrton, Kan. -- Alt. 1,450, pop. 850. Named for I. T. Burr, former vice president of Santa Fe. Also on St. L. S. F. Ry.
Hutchinson, Kan. (named for C. C. Hutchinson, founder, Baptist minister, who arranged for townsite for Santa Fe Ry.) -- Alt. 1,530, pop. 35,000. County seat Reno County, and fourth largest city in Kansas. On Arkansas River and Cow Creek. This is the heart of the wheat belt. Kansas leads the nation in the nunber of bushels harvested and this county has been the state's leading wheat producer. Salt was discovered here in 1887 and the mining and refining of this product is one of Hutchinson's most important industries. Today, 4 mines in this area yield approximately 9,000 cars of salt yearly. Large primary grain market, -- Board of Trade; and Federal and State Grain Insurance Depts. 10 public storage grain elevators have capacity 14,170,000 bushels, including 2 largest private owned public elevators in Kansas. 4 flour mills here have daily capacity of 5,900 barrels. Home of Kansas State Fair and location of Kansas State Industrial Reformatory. A progressive city with fine schools, churches and active civic clubs. Junction for Santa Fe lines to Great Bend, and Ponca City. Also on C. R. I. & P. and Mo. Pac. Rys.
The Arkansas River heads in the Rockies of Colorado, near Leadville, and joins the Mississippi below Memphis. It breaks through the mountain wall above Canon City and its gently slopping floor is traversed by the Santa Fe main line from Hutchinson, Kan., to Pueblo, Colo., a distance of 401 miles. The waters of this snow-fed stream are used for irrigation, not only of the broad valley lands, but also of the wide upland areas on each side, supplementing natural rainfall. Ditches utilize the regular flow, while the underflow is raised to the surface by pumps. This fertile valley is called the "NIle of America." There thousands of cattle and sheep are fattened on alfalfa.
Between Garden City and Rocky Ford there is a large sugar-beet acreage; also many orchards of deciduous fruits. To better handle the sugar-beet crop, the Santa Fe has built a second line north of the river in Colorado, between Holly and Swink, known as the "sugar road." In a recent year, nearly 50,000 cars of freight were shipped from Santa Fe stations in the Colorado section of this valley; and the loading from the Kansas section was comparatively good.
Sylvia, Kan. (named for Mrs. Sylvia Robinson, wife of former Santa Fe vice-president) -- Alt. 1,734, pop. 610. Farming, stock-raising, fruit growing and dairying district. Wild duck and geese plentiful on salt marshes 12 miles northwest.
Stafford, Kan. (named for Capt. Lewis Stafford) -- Alt. 1,857, pop. 2,040. Near Ninnescah River; salt marshes few miles northeast. Wheat and stock raising; flour mill; ice plant; oil fields. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
St. John, Kan. (named for Gov. John. P. St. John, noted prohibition leader) -- Alt. 1,907, pop. 1,690. County seat Stafford County. Farming and stock-raising center.
Macksville, Kan. (named for George Mack, early settler) -- Alt. 2,024, pop. 930. On Rattlesnake Creek; important point in wheat belt. Surrounding country underlaid with sheet water, reached by driven wells.
Belpre, Kan. (means "Beautiful Praire") -- Alt. 2,082, pop. 290. Live stock, wheat and corn.
Kinsley, Kan. -- Alt. 2,163, pop. 2,140. County seat Edwards County. Western junction of mainline "cut-off" from Hutchinson. Grain elevators; carload egg and poultry shipping point. CTC system (Centralized Traffic Control) governs traffic on 34 miles of track between Kinsley and Dodge City.
Nickerson, Kan. -- Alt. 1,593, pop. 1,052. Named for Thomas Nickerson, former president of Santa Fe Railway. Farming and stock raising; Reno County high school.
Sterling, Kan. (named for Sterling Rosan, an early settler) -- Alt. 1,636, pop. 2,224. Location of Sterling College. Industries: one flour mill; five elevators. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
Ellinwood, Kan. (named for J. R. Ellinwood, former Santa Fe Civil Engineer) -- Alt. 1,781, pop. 2,050. Junction for Santa Fe branch to McPherson and Florence. One flour mill, 1,200 barrels daily.
Great Bend, Kan. (named from "great bend" of Arkansas River.) -- Alt. 1,846, pop. 9,237. County seat Barton County. Barton County produces several million bushels of wheat annually, and is oil producing center. Three flour mills, capacity 3,000 barrels daily; dairy center; $150,000 creamery and cold storage plant; wholesale grocery, produce and agricultural implements distributing point. Has meat packing plant. Mounted stone cannon marks site of old Fort Zarah (established by Gen. Curtis in 1864), 3 miles east of station. Old Santa Fe Trail passes through town and follows track on north side. The great bend of the Arkansas was the beginning of the province of Quivira, visited by Coronado in 1541. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Scott City. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.
Pawnee Rock, Kan. -- Alt. 1,940, pop. 399. Historic Pawnee Rock, scene of many fierce Indian battles in early days, is located one-quarter mile north of town in plot of ground set aside as State Park. Camping place on Old Santa Fe Trail.
Larned, Kan. (named for Col. B. F. Larned, Paymaster General at close of Civil War) -- Alt. 2,003, pop. 3,532. County seat of Pawnee County. Located on Pawnee and Arkansas rivers. City has $200,000 court house; new public library, 1 flour mill. 500 barrels daily; dairy center. Old Fort Larned, 6 miles west of city was most important Kansas post on Santa Fe Trail. General Hancock and Custer stated from here in 1867 on their unsuccessful campaign to subdue the Cheyennes and Sioux. Junction point Santa Fe branch to Jetmore. Also on Mo. Pac. Ry.