Coquille Valley
Sentinel, Coquille, Oregon, May 23, 1924
C. E. Aber Back Home
C. E. Aber returned from Kansas
and Oklahoma April 2nd. He went to Clay county in the former state about a year ago to take care of his wife's
father, G. A. Peterson, who died there Feb. 16th, at the age of nearly ninety-one years. The old man settled there
fourty years ago, and had
only 25 cents left after proving up on his homestead; but had since accumulated a comfortable competence in money
and lands. After his death Mr. Aber visited with a brother-in-law in Oklahoma. The latter with his two sons and
sons-in-law raised 900 acres of wheat last year, which kept them busy about six months of the time, plowing, sowing,
harvesting and marketing. They had 18 inches of show there March 20th, which insures a good wheat crop again this
year.
transcribed by Robyn Greenlund
RAILWAY CONVENTION AT CLAY CENTRE
The Rev. Winfield Scott and Captain Geo. T. Anthony,
who are just in from Clay county, report the people of that county and counties surrounding, full of enthusiasm,
and actively alive to the importance of the Kansas Central Narrow Gauge Railway. Some weeks ago meetings were held
in every precinct of the county, and delegates appointed to attend a mass convention to consider a railway situation
of Clay.
Notwithstanding the fact that two propositions had been placed before the people and the convention; in advance
of the Kansas Central proposition, the convention unanimously declared that the true interests of Clay county were
with the narrow gauge. Clay county, then through its representatives, pledged $200,000 to the Kansas Central, and
gave the other railway projects only a passing notice.
The Junction City folks were at the convention
to defeat the narrow gauge and advocate another enterprise, but the Leavenworth men completely upset their nicely
fixed-up plans. We have information from trustworthy sources that Clay County will aid the Kansas Central to the
extent of $250,000 if a branch to Salina can be secured to connect with the Kansas Pacific.
Advices from Salina represent the people of that
city as ready and willing to contribute liberally to the branch from Clay Centre.
There was also a proposition before the convention
from a company which proposes to construct a line from Irving southward, passing through Clay Centre, but the claims
of the Central likewise overshadowed the Irving proposition.
All along the line the people are confident and
enthusiastic. They recognize in Leavenworth the metropolis of Kansas, and the chief commercial and manufacturing
city of the West, and are willing to expend their money and influence to unite their destinies with the destines
of the metropolis. (The Leavenworth Bulletin, July 23, 1871, page 4, transcribed & submitted by Peggy Thompson)
