Bits of railroad history

by Betty Jane Wilson, society president

A search through the Valley Falls Historical Society files brought to light a compilation of railroad tales — quotes and excerpts by society member Lorene Catron in 1981.

Excerpts from the compilation include "It was 1859 before the railroad systems reached this area, which was St. Joseph, Mo. A great advancement for the railroads was the use of windmills which were introduced by the railroads. Union Pacific had 70 large windmills they used for pumping water for use on the locomotives. One of the largest towers was 72 feet high with a wheel 25 feet across. . . . The railroads were not welcomed by the boat people, especially in the South. They fought them all, going so far as to sabatage the bridges across the river ways.

"Besides the boat and bridge shippers, rival railroad crews would sabotage each other in order to hold its territory. Americans were enchanted with the 'iron horse.' In 10 years railroad promoters got 33 million acres across the people's land. In fact additional grants came to 155 million acres or one-ninth of what was the entire nation's land area.

"In planning the railroads, Indian rights were ignored, and 31 million buffalo were slaughtered in Kansas alone.

"In 1863 the State of Kansas got the odd numbered sections of land for ten miles each side of a projected railroad and the railroad got the other.

"The railroad, west and south, intercepted thousands of cattle grazing grounds. For twenty years herds of cattle were driven to Newton, Wichita, Dodge City, Kinsley, etc., to be loaded.

"Even with free land it took capital to build a railroad. Counties voted money, towns voted land and cash for terminals, and individuals invested $400 or $500 apiece to start grading.

"A village of 100 people would float a bond for $50,000 to get a railroad--a train or two would go over it and soon there would be 1000 people. Business would boom, real estate prices soared--farms started and everybody won.

"The Santa Fe was late in getting started, but in 1871 work started from both ends, that is from Topeka to Atchison. It was completed in 1872.

"At that time, trains ran by smoke and headlights. The crews kept Winchester rifles handy. Besides drunken cowboys shooting up the headlights and raiding lonely depots, Indians and prairie fires plagued the new railroads.

"The trains had no vestibules on their passenger cars. Conductors and brakemen leaped from one car to the next car. There were no lavatories. Coal stoves heated the cars in winter. Before 1873 you brought your own lunch.

"There were no track fences. It was cheaper to pay half the value of the livestock hit, than to build fences.

"The fabulous part the Santa Fe and other railroads played in the settling of this country is almost forgotten.

"Before the railroads moved in, only a few thousand people were in the territory.

"In a few short weeks, with a railroad--the population doubled and trebled.

"The men who built the first railroads were young New Englanders. They spent $50,000,000 with no money misspent. The 'Work Train' which laid out the railroads was a 'Town on Wheels.'

"Laying of the rails was like a military operation: First there were: Surveyors—locators—graders—bridge builders, next an army of men placing ties—laying track—spiking down the rails—ballasting—completing the road.

"Along the line just completed came a train of long boxcars, a town on wheels. Next came loads of ties--rails—spikes, which were thrown off the side.

"A light horse-drawn wagon or cart, was loaded up and went forward, one on each side of the tracks. They laid four rails to a minute; goal was one mile a day.

"Each camp looked like a town.

"Another camp would be established 140 miles or so west. In a new camp would come, knocked down, buildings, tents, wooden sidings and entire roofs.

"These were 'Hell on Wheels' for the vilest of men and women, gamblers and desperadoes made up these settlements."

Come see us at the bazaar!

The Valley Falls Historical Society will be represented at the Fall Community Bazaar Saturday, Nov. 9, in the Valley Falls High School gymnasium.

The society's booth will offer for sale its 2014 historical society calendars and other memorabilia and application forms for engraved memorial bricks.

The museum downtown will be open from 10 a.m. to noon only that day except by advance arrangements.