The Bridges of Cowley County, Part B. (2024)

COWLEY COUNTY BRIDGES.

[Note: As this file has grown and grown, I decided it would be bestto split it into two segments. The first (CowleyCountyBridges_A) will coverfor the most part the bridges in Arkansas City crossing the Walnut Riverand Arkansas River. The second file (CowleyCountyBridges_B) will cover forthe most part the bridges in Winfield crossing the creek north of Winfield,which was called by some Dutch Creek and by others Timber Creek, and thebridges that crossed the Walnut River south of Winfield and west of Winfield.I will mention other bridges under file "A" in an attempt to keepthe Winfield bridges separate. The articles on bridges are not very satisfactorypertaining to the early years. I was confronted with the gap in coverageby early newspapers up to the period of 1876 when they were microfilmed.MAW Oct. 2000]

An article in 1880 claims that the following was the first bridgein Cowley County...

[OLDEST BRIDGE IN COUNTY, BUILT IN 1872 - FELL!]

Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.

Last Friday afternoon the old bridge near Wood, Jettinger & Co.’smill, fell in. It has been condemned for over a year as unsafe, and personswho used it were notified that they did it at their own risk. This was thefirst bridge built in the county, and has stood there since 1872. One ofAl. Requa’s teams had crossed the bridge only a few moments beforeit fell.

Part B.

[Concentrates on Bridges at Winfield.]

1872

WINFIELD BRIDGES.

Winfield Messenger, March 15, 1872.

The prospects of Winfield at this time are, indeed, flattering. An electionwill soon be called in the township for voting bonds to build two bridgesover the Walnut; and a bridge will be constructed over Timber Creek withoutbonds. The bonds will be voted, and the bridges will be built.

Winfield Messenger, March 15, 1872.

THE NEW BRIDGES.

Two new bridges across the Walnut will be built the coming spring atthis place. The people in this Township will all vote for the bonds andthey all recognize that we must have these bridges, for they will not onlybenefit the town but will benefit all who live in the township and tradeat Winfield.

Winfield Messenger, June 28, 1872.

Twenty teams are continually passing through town loaded with rock forthe new mill foundations and the bridge piers.

Winfield Messenger, Friday. July 12, 1872. [Editorial.]

"WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?"

One pretended objection to the courthouse and jail bonds is, that thecounty seat might be removed. This is simply ridiculous. The Walnut Valleywill always be the center of population, east and west, in Cowley County.In the Walnut Valley will be flourishing stations (for a railroad will sooncertainly be built down the valley), and towns along the Walnut River inthis county will be built, of which, of course, Winfield and Arkansas Citywill be chief. And while the Grouse is an excellent valley and will sustaintwo good towns, the Arkansas Valley is much broader, and will contain theheaviest population.

What object then, outside of the immediate locality of an aspirant forcounty seat, and outside of enmities founded upon envy and malice, couldthe people have in changing the county seat? What would be the consequencein so doing? We will tell you. Winfield, alone, will pay for one fourthof the taxes of the whole county the coming year. The faster she grows,the more she lightens the county of taxation. Would it be wise now to killthe goose that lays the golden egg? Why try to cripple and stop the growthof the best town in the county, and one of the best (and soon will be thebest), in southern Kansas? What is Winfield doing for the county? She isbuilding bridges for the county, which justly belonged to the county tobuild, and which the county has the benefit of, which will cost her notless than $13,000. Has Winfield no claim upon the good will of the county?Where can the farmer find a better market in which to buy and sell?

Winfield Messenger, July 19, 1872.

Twenty men are employed on the bridges.

Winfield Messenger, July 19, 1872.

The Township Board estimated the amount of work done on the bridge piersup to July 5th, at $725.

Winfield Messenger, July 19, 1872.

The main pier for the bridge at Knowle’s ford is completed and theabutments are going up. The bridge will be 30 feet above low water mark.

Winfield Messenger, July 19, 1872.

ENTERPRISING. Augusta voted against bridge bonds on the 6th inst. Well,thank the Lord, Winfield voted for bridge bonds, and is building them too.Our bridges will enable us during high water, to cross and go up on thedivide. No thanks to Augusta.

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.

The piers and abutments of the bridge at Knowles’ ford are finished,and the upper structure is being rapidly put on.

Winfield Messenger, August 30, 1872.

The time is drawing near for the completion of the bridge. By the nexttime the river rises, the people living on the other side can come to townwithout waiting for low water.

Winfield Messenger, October 4, 1872.

COMPLETED. The bridge at Knowles’ ford is completed and the WalnutRiver is being crossed on the best bridge in southern Kansas. This is thefirst and only bridge built over the Walnut River and speaks well for thepeople of Winfield, and vicinity. The bridge south of town is progressingvery fast.

Winfield Messenger, October 18, 1872.

A bridge should be built across Timber Creek, at the crossing north oftown, immediately. The dam backs the water a considerable distance abovethe crossing now, and when the dam is full the water at the crossing willbe five or six feet deep. Action should be taken in this matter at once.

Excerpts from editorial...

Winfield Messenger, October 25, 1872.

We clip the following from the Leavenworth Commercial. We wouldlike to publish the whole article, but our space forbids; so we publishthe portion relating to our young city. That "Wanderer’s"opinion of Winfield is correct, no one will deny, and we hope to see himhere again—and in fact, many more such "wanderers" if theirvisits will only end with like results.

A fine bridge spans the Walnut at this point, and another is in processof erection about a mile south of town.

Winfield Messenger, November 1, 1872.

The bridge south of town is nearly completed. This makes two bridgesacross the Walnut at this point.

1873

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

Bridge Contract. The severe weather of the past month has prevented theContractor from making the fills at the approaches to the bridge south oftown. When the cold season moderates, the bridge will be put in order andour rural friends can then visit us, regardless of high water.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, February 1, 1873.

We clip the following interesting items from the Arkansas City Travelerof the 29th.

"Parties going to Winfield can cross the Walnut on the bridge, onthe west side of town."

Winfield Courier, Saturday, February 1, 1873.

There has been some trouble about the interest on the bridge bonds ofthis township. Trustee Short informs us that the bonds were not issued soonenough to have any interest come due this year. Not being registered bythe State Auditor, they could not be certified up to the County Clerk, whomakes the tax levy to meet the coupons.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1873.

Public Notice.

[Trustees Office, Winfield, Feb. 14, 1873.]

The undersigned has erected on the Bridge, Signs, cautioning personsagainst riding or driving over the same faster than a walk. Those partieswho have been in the habit of running horses over the West Bridge, are herebyinformed that the law against the same will be strictly enforced. J. P.SHORT, Trustee.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 27, 1873.

For the information of your readers I would state that travel acrossthe bridge south of town has been stopped. It was found that the north abutmentwas not sufficiently strong to hold the fill, and Maj. Hobson, the contractor,has several men at work putting it in shape. The bridge will probably beready for crossing early next week.

On behalf of the Township Board I would state that as yet neither bridgehas been accepted, nor will they, or the balance of the money be paid, untilboth are put in shape to conform to the contract. The contractor realizesthe fact and is acting accordingly.

J. P. SHORT, Trustee.

Winfield, March 26, 1873.

Excerpts...

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 8, 1873.

[From the Atchison Champion.]

WINFIELD, KAS., April 24, 1873.

Two very fine bridges of Baker’s patent have been built by Hobson,of Wichita, across the Walnut, one a quarter of a mile west of town, andthe other three-quarters south.

R. A. H.

Bridge Over Dutch or Timber Creek North of Winfield.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 24, 1873.

A Petition, signed by 91 citizens, voters of Winfield, has been presentedto the Township Board, petitioning them to call an election for the purposeof voting $2,500 for erecting a bridge over Timber Creek just north of town.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 7, 1873.

Recap: Election Tuesday, August 26, 1873, to vote for or against theissuing of bonds of said township in the amount of $2,500 for the purposeof building a bridge across Dutch or Timber Creek at the point where thecounty road petitioned for by A. S. Williams and others crosses said creekin the southwest quarter of Section Twenty-One in Township Thirty-Two Southof Range Four East in said Township. Said bonds to be issued in sums of$500 each with interest payable semi-annually at 10% with coupons attached;bonds to mature in not less than 12 nor more than 20 years....Ballots: "Forthe Bridge and Bonds" or "Against the Bridge and Bonds."J. P. SHORT, Trustee. D. A. MILLINGTON, Clerk.

Winfield, July 29th, 1873.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 28, 1873.

At the election of Tuesday, for the purpose of deciding whether the townshipshould give bonds to the amount of $2,500 for the purpose of building abridge across Dutch Creek at the point where the road crosses said creeknorth of Winfield, there were polled, in all, 177 votes, and the bonds carriedby a majority of 45.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.

NOTICE. Owing to the impossibility of negotiating bonds of any kind atpresent, the Township Board have decided to let the building of the bridgeacross Timber Creek rest for the present. J. P. SHORT, Trustee.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873. Last Page.

The Walnut River is spanned by two bridges near Winfield.

1874

Winfield Courier, January 2, 1874.

Bridges of magnificent proportions span all main streams on the roadsleading to town.

Winfield Courier, February 13, 1874.

The stage from Wichita has been taking a rest up at Augusta, becausethe lazy denizens of that place are too stingy to bridge their streams.

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1874.

The bridge across the Walnut below town is reported in an unsafe condition.

Bridge Across Timber or Dutch Creek.

Winfield Courier, August 7, 1874.

Bridge Notice.

Sealed proposals will be received at the office of the Township Clerkof Winfield Township, in Cowley County, Kansas (The District Clerk’soffice), up to Tuesday, the 1st day of September, 1871, at 1 o’clock,p.m., for the building of a bridge across Timber or Dutch Creek at or nearthe point where the road, known as the A. S. Williams county road, crossessaid creek in the S W 1/4 of sec. 21, T P 32, Range 4 east. Beginning ata stake on the left bank of said creek and bearing across said creek N 35degrees W 3.57 chains passing a blazed walnut tree about six inches in diameterat 2.37 chains. Said bridge to have a roadway as high as the highest pointon the left bank of the creek at said point.

Proposal for the building of said bridge must be accompanied with completeplan and specification of the same; the price to be charged therefor inthe bonds of said Township at par value, together with a bond with goodand sufficient security in double the amount of the proposed costs thereof,conditioned for the faithful execution of the work proposed, and the carryinginto effect any contract made in reference thereto. The right to rejectany and all proposals reserved. H. S. SILVER, Trustee.

E. S. BEDILION, Tp. Clerk.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1874.

The contract to build a bridge across Dutch Creek was let to E. P. Kinne,Esq., of Arkansas City, for $2,500 dollars. It is to be what is known asthe Fake Truss. The bridge is, we believe, to be completed in sixty days.

Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874.

We would suggest to our Township Trustee that a good coating of coaltar well laid on would help to preserve our bridges. Unless something isdone to preserve them, they will be rotted down in a very few years.

Winfield Courier, October 9, 1874.

Notice of Issuing Bonds.

NOTICE is hereby given that the bridge bonds voted for on the 26th dayof August 1873 will be issued by the undersigned on the 24th day of October1874.

Attest H. S. SILVER, Tp. Trustee,

E. S. BEDILION, Tp. Clerk.

O. F. BOYLE, Tp. Treasurer.

Winfield Courier, November 12, 1874.

The bridge across Timber Creek progresses finely under the supervisionof E. P. Kinne.

Winfield Courier, December 31, 1874.

The new bridge across Timber Creek at the north of town is completedand accepted. It looks like a good job. Mr. E. P. Kinne of Arkansas Cityhad the contract and has done himself credit in the enterprise.

1875

Winfield Courier, February 11, 1875.

The Winfield Board of Trade.

We are informed that several of our influential citizens have organizedan organization to be known as the Winfield City Board of Trade. The purposeof the organization is the welfare of the city and county. We have beenpresented with the following resolutions for publication as having beenpassed at their first meeting.

Resolved: That the interests of Winfield are not promoted by thepublication of three papers therein.

Resolved: That the spirit of strife manifested among our peoplebodes no good to the welfare of the place.

Resolved: That the Winfield city organization is an expensiveand useless humbug.

Resolved: That our city schools should be closed by the middleof March and that a three months term should immediately be commenced thereafterwith female teachers at lower wages as an economical measure.

Resolved: That it is the duty of every citizen of Winfield toaid by word and deed the husbandmen of the county who must soon preparefor seed time.

Resolved: That it is the duty of the Winfield Township authoritiesto rebuild the bridge across the Walnut south of town.

Resolved: That in the opinion of this board the money collectedfor liquor licenses in Winfield Township, before the organization of thecity, is sufficient to repair said bridge if the funds could be reached.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

99 men, women, and children were watching the dam, mill, and bridge westof town Monday—More rain—A drouth did you say?—And stillanother rain!

Winfield Courier, August 19, 1875.

The approaches to the Timber Creek Bridge, just north of town, are ina terrible condition. It is unsafe to attempt to drive over this bridgeas it is now. The Road Supervisor should attend to it at once, and whilehe is at it, he might go and fix up the one west of town, as it is but littlebetter.

Winfield Courier, November 11, 1875.

The bridge south of town is attempting to conform to the advice of thenoble Horace G. It’s "going West," and unless something isdone to it soon, it will go South via the Walnut River. Immediate stepsshould be taken to save it. Twelve hundred dollars will put it in good shape.If not attended to at once, the township will lose six thousand dollarsand the use of the bridge.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, December 16, 1875.

The Walnut River is spanned by two bridges near Winfield.

1876

The first summation of early bridges in Cowley County was given in1876.

CENTENNIAL ISSUE.

WINFIELD COURIER, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1876.

BRIDGES.

There are five bridges in the county, all wood structures. Two span theWalnut near Winfield, built in 1872, at a cost of $6,000 each; one crossesTimber Creek north of Winfield, costing $2,500, built in 1873; one crossesthe Arkansas River south of Arkansas City, at an expense of $15,000, builtin 1872; the fifth crosses the Walnut River east of Arkansas City, at acost of $5,000, erected in 1873.

[COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS.]

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1876.

J. S. Hunt, trustee of Winfield Township, appeared and asked the boardto repair a bridge built by Winfield Township across the Walnut River southof Winfield. The board, after being fully advised in the matter, agreedto lay the matter over for the present.

JANUARY 11, 1876.

Board met as per adjournment. All present.

In the matter of the Winfield Township bridge, the board have on thisday agreed not to repair said bridge for the reason that the county didnot appropriate money in the construction thereof; and hence the countyhas nothing to do with said bridge.

Winfield Courier, January 20, 1876.

FOR THAT BRIDGE!

Now that the County Commissioners have resolved that they won’trepair the bridge south of town, Winfield Township must do it. The townshipboard should at once make an examination of the structure and, if necessary,call some practical bridge builder to their aid and decide at once whatis necessary and then go to work. The township had better spend twelve hundreddollars if necessary than lose the bridge.

Winfield Courier, February 17, 1876.

The lower bridge is not repaired yet.

Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.

Thanks to the ingenuity and industry of Capt. Hunt, the bridge acrossthe Walnut below town is in using order. The repairs were made two weeksago, but so quietly and unostentatiously did the Capt. do the work thatwe failed to learn of it until recently. He put the bridge in shape forless than forty dollars, whereas his predecessor and others had estimatedthat it would cost several hundred dollars to save the bridge.

THE FLOOD IN MAY 1876.

Destruction of Winfield Bridges.

Winfield Courier, April 6, 1876.

From Oxford.

OXFORD, KAN., April 1, 1876.

Rain! Rain!! Rain!!!

Arkansas River up high.

Creeks up, carrying away bridges, fences, and otherwise putting on cityriver airs.

[LOCAL/STATE NEWS.]

Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876.

A general cry is now made for the County to put up and sustain bridgesacross the Walnut, Dutch, and Grouse Creeks.

Winfield Courier, May 11, 1876. Editorial Page.

UNPRECEDENTED FLOOD IN THE WALNUT VALLEY.

WATER SIX FEET HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE KNOWN.

WINFIELD SURROUNDED BY WATER.

Families Driven From Houses.

BRIDGES GONE.

STOCK DROWNED.

$100,000 Damage.

Last Friday night the rain descended in floods in this region of country.Nearly all night and for some hours during Saturday morning the clouds poureda deluge of water upon the face of the earth. During the night light showersof hail accompanied the rain. The ravines and creeks were soon full. Thenthe larger streams began rising with unparalleled rapidity.

At noon of Saturday the stream north of town, known as Timber Creek,was over its banks and surging against the bridge. About noon the bridgeleft its moorings.

By this time the water was spreading over the farms in the bottoms. Houses,families, crops, and stock were in peril. The real danger now broke uponthe minds of the people. The water had passed all its former limits andwas still rising. There was "hurrying to and fro." The bridgesand mills adjoining town on the Walnut were the objects of solicitude next.Bliss & Co. carried all the wheat and flour into the upper story oftheir mill. Ropes and axes were used to keep flood wood away from the upperbridge. Communication with the lower bridge was cut off before the bridgewas in great peril itself.

Up, up, came the water. All the north part of town was overflowed. Familieswere rescued by boat and team. The brick yard was three feet under water.A heavy current flowed from Timber Creek on the north through town on Loomisstreet and across Col. Loomis’ farm to the Walnut on the south. Theeast and west part of town each "stood upon a shining shore, whileJordan rolled between."

Along the creeks birds took to the air, rabbits to stumps, and serpentsto the trees. On the bosom of the mad Walnut, during the afternoon of Saturday,several head of cattle and swine were swept past the bridge. In their strugglesfor life they cast imploring looks upon the throng above that could butsympathize with them.

By 6 p.m., of Saturday, the water reached the highest point: at leastsix feet higher than ever before within the knowledge of the oldest settler.About five o’clock the bridge across the Walnut south of town yieldedto the torrent. The water was flowing over the floor of the bridge aboutone feet deep at the time. It lacked one foot of reaching the upper bridgeat any time. One vast expanse of water covered all the bottom lands alongthe river and Timber Creek in this vicinity. The wheat and other growingcrops were out of sight and considered lost.

By 7 p.m. it became apparent that the mad element had spent its force.The water began slowly, about one inch in an hour, to recede. It had risenabout twenty feet in twelve hours.

At the time of the flood grave apprehensions were entertained as to theextent of the damage likely to ensue. But as reports came in

THE RESULTS

of the unpopular uprising are not so serious as expected. C. A. Bliss& Co. were damaged to the amount of $500; Fin Graham lost sixteen headof cattle, some wheat and corn in bin and grain in field, about $500. McBride& Green, in brick yard, about $200. These are the heaviest individuallosses.

The two bridges swept off are a loss to Winfield Township of about $4,000.The bridge across the Walnut at Arkansas City was swept off, damage $5,000.

A great many small losses were experienced in this vicinity and throughoutthe county. A large amount of planted corn, with the soil and hedges, werewashed away.

Along the valleys of Timber, Silver, and Grouse, the bottoms were overflowed.

The total damage throughout the county must approximate $100,000. Themost of the water came from Timber Creek. The Walnut above this point roseto the highest water mark, but did not get out of its banks.

Winfield Courier, May 11, 1876.

Let us have an iron bridge across the Walnut south of town.

Winfield Courier, May 11, 1876.

Our Oxford correspondent, writing on the 8th, says: "Friday nightand Saturday morning the big rain fell. It was between six and eight incheson the level. Usually quiet little ravines arose to a depth of fifteen feetin a few hours and swept away bridges, culverts, and roads. Lightning killedtwo horses for Mr. Houser, two miles south of town. Two mules standing inthe stable at the same time escaped unhurt. The stable, with fifteen bushelsof wheat, also plows, harrows, and other farming implements, were consumedby the fire. Mr. Kelly, living two miles northwest of town, had a mule killedby lightning. The wheat is not injured to any extent. Corn will be latein consequence of the heavy rain."

Bridge at Bliss’ Mill in Winfield.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 17, 1876.

The bridge at Bliss’ mill is said to be in a bad condition. Theabutments on both sides of the river are cracked.

Winfield Courier, May 18, 1876.

FRED KROPP has completed his excursion boat, launched her above the bridge,and is now ready to accommodate all webb-footed pleasure seekers. For 25cents he will carry you up the river to Island No. 10 and swim you backfor nothing. The boat will carry eight persons. It is propelled by an Archimedeslever. Oars are dispensed with.

Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.

It is time something was being done about replacing the bridges acrossthe Walnut River and Timber Creek.

Winfield Courier, June 15, 1876.

Something should be done to replace the bridges near Winfield. Our friendssouth of town are becoming very uneasy.

[ITEM FROM THE TELEGRAM.]

Arkansas City Traveler, July 12, 1876.

A petition, asking the Commissioners to repair the Dutch Creek bridge,above town, is being circulated and extensively signed.

Winfield Courier, August 24, 1876.

The recent rains put the Walnut past fording this week. How about thatbridge below town?

Winfield Courier, December 28, 1876.

Bridge Meeting.

Pursuant to call several of our citizens living in the north end of WinfieldTownship met to take action in reference to the relocation of the bridgeacross Timber Creek, which was washed away last spring.

N. E. Newell was elected chairman and Geo. Mentch, Secretary. On motiona committee of three was appointed to solicit subscriptions for the purposeof rebuilding said bridge.

Robert Weekly, Peter Paugh, and Geo. Mentch were then selected as suchcommittee.

On motion the meeting adjourned to Saturday night, next.

1877

Winfield Courier, January 4, 1877.

From Bethel.

EDITOR OF COURIER: The citizens of Dist. No. 37 met at the schoolhouseto hear a report from the committee appointed to take subscriptions forbuilding a bridge across Timber Creek. The report was highly satisfactory.A committee was then appointed to advertise for bids and let the contract,which committee consisted of Robert Weekly, H. L. Barker, G. W. Mentch,Peter Paugh, and the writer hereof. This enterprise illustrates the proverb,"Where there is a will, there is a way."

In conclusion, I would say to our friends in Winfield, who desire a railroad,lay aside all jealousy and bickering, lay your shoulder to the wheel, makea long, strong pull, and a pull together, and you can count on the heartycooperation of Dist. No. 37. Bring on your railroad project! Hurrah fora bridge and railroad! S. E. B.

Winfield Courier, January 4, 1877.

Notice to Contractors.

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received until Saturday,January 24th, 1877, for repairing the superstructure of the bridge acrossTimber Creek. Contractor to use all the material of the old bridge thatis suitable. For plan and specifications, call on or address, S. E. BURGER,Secretary of Committee.

Winfield Courier, January 18, 1877.

The Timber Creek Bridge is going ahead.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1877.

County Road.

A petition signed by S. C. Smith, and others, of Winfield Township, askingfor a view and a survey for the purpose of locating a certain County road,commencing at or near the north end of a bridge, across the Walnut River,west of the city of Winfield, thence running southwesterly along the highbank of said river to the middle line of the northwest quarter of section29, township 32, south of range 4 east, thence west on said line to thewestern boundary of said quarter section, thence northwesterly about 50rods across a ravine, thence north to the south line of the southeast quarterof section 19, township 32, range 4 east, thence west on said line to thesoutheast corner of the southwest quarter of section 19, township 32, range4 east, and for the discontinuance of that part of the road known as theS. C. Smith road, from last mentioned point to the intersection with theWinfield and Nennescah State road, was presented and granted, and that SamuelW. Phenix, H. Harbaugh, and Calvin Coon, viewers, and the County surveyor,will meet on the 10th day of March, A. D. 1877, at 10 o’clock a.m.,of said day, and proceed to view and survey said road.

Winfield Courier, February 1, 1877.

The timber for the new bridge across Dutch Creek, north of town, passedthrough the city one day last week.

Winfield Courier, February 8, 1877.

GIBBS & HYDE were the lowest bidders for putting the bridge acrossTimber Creek, north of town. Work will commence soon. It ought to be completedbefore the spring rains.

[BRIDGE ACROSS DUTCH CREEK—COWLEY COUNTY.]

Arkansas City Traveler, March 7, 1877. Front Page.

The Township board will be petitioned to appropriate a sum of money notexceeding $360.00 to be used in repairing of the bridge across Dutch Creek,just above town. It is now proposed to raise the piers and put in an ironbridge—which can be done at the cost of something over $800.00—thegentlemen proposing to erect it agreeing to take the subscriptions alreadyraised for pay as far as they go. Telegram.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1877.

J. A. Bullene, brother of our Winfield Bullene, is here as the agentof the Missouri Valley Bridge Manufacturing Co., of Leavenworth, and assuch has contracted to put an iron bridge across Timber Creek, north oftown.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1877.

The final letting of a contract to build an iron bridge across TimberCreek shows what a few determined men may accomplish. A half dozen farmersin the north part of Winfield Township began working that project up a fewweeks since and now success crowns their efforts.

Winfield Courier, May 17, 1877.

The iron for the Timber Creek bridge is arriving. Several wagon loadsare on the ground. The bridge will withstand the next flood, sure.

Winfield Courier, June 7, 1877.

The new bridge across Dutch Creek, north of town, is rapidly nearingcompletion. We understand that it will be ready for use Saturday.

Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.

The new bridge across Dutch Creek, north of town, was accepted by thetownship officers last Saturday morning. It is built mostly of iron, andis much more substantial than the one washed out last spring, and is aboutthree feet higher. Many citizens visited and crossed it in carriages andbuggies last Saturday.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 11, 1877.

WINFIELD votes on a proposition to erect a bridge across the Walnut atthe brewery, and to repair the bridge south of that place, on the 17th inst.

[ITEM FROM THE TELEGRAM.]

Arkansas City Traveler, July 25, 1877.

The bridge bonds were carried by a majority of 24. (3-5 vote) and nowwe will have bridges "till you can’t rest."

[WINFIELD BRIDGES.]

Arkansas City Traveler, August 22, 1877.

L. Lippmann has the contract for furnishing 24,000 feet of native lumberfor the two Winfield bridges. They are to be completed in sixty or ninetydays.

Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.

It will pay our businessmen to volunteer funds to pay for labor to repairthe road from the north bridge across the Walnut west to the rise of thebluff, and to grade the approaches to the Timber Creek bridge. The workshould be done at once. Who will attend to it?

Winfield Courier, November 29, 1877.

The road to Douglass is in excellent condition. The approaches to theTimber Creek bridge are well graded, the gulch at Grow’s is smootheddown, and the rocky hill this side of Douglass is as smooth as a floor.

Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.

BRIDGE BOND ELECTION NOTICE.

To the voters of the municipal township of Winfield, in the county ofCowley, State of Kansas.

WHEREAS, on the eleventh day of June, A. D. 1877, a petition signed bymore than two fifths of the qualified electors of said township, was presentedto the Trustee, Clerk, and Treasurer thereof, praying that an election becalled in said township for the purpose of submitting the following question,to-wit: Shall the municipal township of Winfield, in the county of Cowley,State of Kansas, issue its bonds to the amount of three thousand dollars,for the purpose of building a bridge across the Walnut river in said township,on the C. S. Smith county road, at the most practicable point within thedistance of one hundred yards of where the north line of the south halfof the southwest quarter of section twenty-nine, in township thirty-two,south, of range four east, crosses said river.

And "Shall the municipal township of Winfield, in the county ofCowley, State of Kansas, issue its bonds to the amount of two thousand fivehundred dollars, for the purpose of building a bridge across the Walnutriver in said township at the site of the W. S. Voris county road."

Said bonds to be issued in denominations of five hundred dollars each,payable within ten years of the date thereof and bearing interest at therate of ten percent per annum, payable semi-annually.

Therefore be it known: That on Tuesday, the 17th day of July,A. D. 1877, an election will be held at the usual place of voting in saidtownship, between the hour of eight o’clock a.m., and six o’clockp.m.; for the purpose of determining whether the bonds said township shallbe issued for the purpose aforesaid; and at said election all those votingin favor of the proposed bridges and bonds, shall have written or printedon their ballots the words: "For the Bridges and Bonds;" and allthose voting against the proposed bridges and bonds, shall have writtenor printed on their ballots the words: "Against the Bridges and Bonds."

In witness whereof we have hereto set our hands this 12th day of June,A. D. 1877.

JAMES S. HUNT, Township Trustee.

E. S. BEDILION, Township Clerk.

Winfield Courier, June 28, 1877.

A barrel of tar has arrived for use upon the Winfield Township bridges.

Winfield Courier, June 28, 1877.

Upon the "sober second thought," the proposition to vote WinfieldTownship bonds to build two bridges across the Walnut River does not growin popular favor. Aid would readily be given for a bridge south of town,but the necessity for one west does not seem as pressing at present. Thisis the way the farmers of Winfield Township talk to us.

Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877.

The election on the bridge bond proposition will be held next Tuesdayin this township.

Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877. Editorial Page.

The Bridge Question.

We, the undersigned, agree to pay the amounts set opposite our namesfor the purpose of completing an iron bridge across the Walnut, Cowley County,Kansas, and votes aid therefor in the sum of three thousand dollars ($3,000)at an election to be held July 17th, 1877. Said sums of money to be dueand payable in consideration of the erection of said bridge, to the orderof the party to whom the officers of the said township let the contractfor the erection of the said bridge.

WINFIELD, KAN., June 25th, 1877.

John Himelspaugh $60.00. E. S. Sheridan $50.00. John R. Davis and Son$50.00. M. B. Rupp $50.00. C. S. Smith $50.00. L. D. Randall $25.00. Thos.Randall $35.00. C. P. Ward $40.00. Wm. Carter $25.00. A. T. Shenneman $50.00.A. B. Graham $25.00. J. R. Taylor $25.00. J. F. Brooks $20.00. Jesse Chatfield$20.00. P. M. Waite $100.00. M. L. Read’s Bank $200.00. Calvin Kimble$10.00. C. W. Donkin $10.00. B. Alexander $10.00. C. G. Bradbury $10.00.J. C. Poor $5.00. Wesley Bowers $20.00. J. W. Randall $20.00. O. F. Boyle$50.00. Joseph Likowski $20.00. R. Ehret $10.00. Winfield Tunnel Mills $50.00.George Easterly $10.00. Phillip Stump $10.00.

Six hundred dollars ($600.00) has been assured in subscriptions for thecompletion of the bridge south of town on the W. S. Voris county road. Theparties having the matter in charge are confident that the subscriptionto the two bridges will amount to $2,000 or upward. It now remains for thecitizens and voters of Winfield township to say by their ballots whetherthey will avail themselves of the very liberal subscription or repel thetrade seeking admission to our thriving city.

Winfield Courier, July 19, 1877.

The proposition for $5,500 in Winfield Township bonds to be used in constructingtwo bridges across the Walnut River at this place was carried last Tuesday.

Winfield Courier, August 9, 1877.

Township Board’s Notice for Proposals for Bridge Building.

To all whom it may concern:

Notice is hereby given that sealed proposals will be received by theTownship Board of the township of Winfield, in the county of Cowley, Stateof Kansas, until the hour of 10 o’clock a.m., on Friday, the 17th dayof August, A. D. 1877, for the construction of two bridges across the WalnutRiver, in said township at the following points, to-wit: One on the C. S.Smith county road, and one at the site of the old bridge on the W. S. Voriscounty road. Proposals for the building of such bridges must be accompaniedwith complete plans and specifications of the same (including the kind andquality of materials to be used in the construction of each material partthereof) and must state the price to be charged therefore in the bonds ofsaid township at par value, and the difference, if any, between this andthe price which would be charged therefor in cash.

Each and all of such proposals must be filed in the office of the clerkof said township in the city of Winfield, and be accompanied by a bond inan amount equal to double the proposed cost of such bridge with suretiesto the approval of said board, conditioned for the faithful execution ofthe proposed work and the carrying into effect by the bidder, of any andall contracts entered into by him with said township, in reference to thebuilding of such bridge or bridges.

The board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. J. S. HUNT,Trustee.

E. S. BEDILION, Township Clerk.

Excerpts...

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.

The convention of County Attorneys at their late meeting at Topeka havegiven the following answers to legal questions which were propounded tothem.

"In case a bridge is to be built which is to cost more than $1,000and the county agrees to appropriate $1,000, the delinquent road tax collected,belonging to the township in which said bridge is to be built, cannot beused by said township in completing such bridge.

"Where the cost of the bridge exceeds $1,000, but the excess israised by private or other means, the County Commissioners can appropriate$1,000 to complete the bridge."

Walnut River Bridges South and West of Winfield.

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.

Messrs. Simpson and Stewart have the contract to build the piers andabutments of the new iron bridges.

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877. Editorial Page.

The Bridges.

The township board of Winfield township have let the contract to buildthe bridges across the Walnut River to the King Bridge Co. for the sum of$7,000.

Several styles of bridges were presented in the bids and specificationsand the board selected therefrom King’s best and strongest style ofpatent tubular wrought iron bridges.

The cost is $600 more than it would have been had one of the lighterstyles been selected, but the board have done well in selecting the best.

The South bridge is to be of one span of 150 feet, and the abutmentsare to be taken down 13 feet, rebuilt, and raised 6 feet higher than before,and is to be completed ready for travel on or before the 27th of next October.

The West bridge is to have a main span 120 feet, an east approach span60 feet, a west approach span 30 feet, two stone piers 30 feet above lowwater, and one stone abutment, the whole to be completed by the 17th ofNovember next.

The bridges are to be paid for with the bonds authorized by our lateelection so far as they go and the balance by private subscriptions, ofwhich nearly the necessary amount is already pledged.

The specifications on file are very voluminous and minute, leaving noloophole, so far as we can see, for a misunderstanding with the contractorsor for slighting the work. Everything necessary to a perfect and substantialjob seems to have been specified.

We opposed the bonds at the election because we did not believe we wereable to build both bridges, and feeling that the South bridge was most importantwe desired that it alone should be undertaken. It now looks as though wewere mistaken and that both will be built in a short time, and we are preparedto give those who have labored so effectually to this end due credit forall the success that shall be achieved.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.

An immense amount of material has been collected at the south bridge.The derrick is up and the abutments will soon be built. The iron will behere about Oct. 10th.

Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.

SIMPSON & STEWART have finished the abutments of the south bridgeand have moved their derrick to the west bridge.

Winfield Courier, November 1, 1877.

The contract is let to grade the approaches to the south bridge, to becompleted by the 15th inst. The superstructures will be raised immediately.

Winfield Courier, December 20, 1877.

The bridge iron has arrived and the contractor is at work putting upthe superstructure of the south bridge.

Winfield Courier, December 27, 1877.

Bond Notice.

Notice is hereby given that the board of Winfield Township, in the countyof Cowley, state of Kansas, will, on the 21st day of January, 1878, at theoffice of the township clerk, in the city of Winfield, issue the bonds ofsaid township to the amount of five thousand five hundred ($5,500.00) dollars,in payment for the construction of two bridges across the Walnut River insaid township, the one at a point on the W. S. Voris county road, the otherat a point on the C. S. Smith county road. C. C. PIERCE, Trustee.

Attest: E. S. Bedilion, Township Clerk.

1878

Winfield Courier, January 10, 1878.

The south bridge is rapidly approaching completion. It will be readyfor use in a few days.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.

An agent of King’s Bridge Company has been here estimating the costof building a bridge across the Arkansas river south and west of town. Theyhave completed the bridge across the Walnut south of Winfield.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878. [Editors: D. A. Millingtonand A. B. Lemmon.]

The south bridge across the Walnut River is completed, accepted, andin operation, and now we swing our hat and give the three times three anda tiger with the best of them. It is ready for operation just in time, forthe river has recently come up booming again, nearly ten feet above theordinary stage. The bridge is one of the most beautiful iron structureswe ever saw, and appears to be in every way strong and substantial. It is150 feet span, 33 feet above low water, on substantial stone abutments,and the approaches are splendidly graded. When the proposition was submittedto vote $2,500 bonds to this bridge and $3,000 to the west bridge, we opposedthe proposition because we did not believe we could build both, and votingso small a sum as $2,500 for the south bridge would ensure its failure.But the bonds were carried and the splendid management of the township boardwith the contributions and active aid of other citizens has proved us tohave been mistaken. But while great credit is due to the board and others,we are mainly indebted to the efficient and persistent efforts of M. L.Robinson that this project has been worked up and carried though to completesuccess at so little cost to the township.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

The south bridge is up. Bring on your wood.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

The first load that passed over the new south bridge was Col. McMullen’ssafe, headed by six yoke of heavy oxen. The weight of the team and loadwas not less than twenty thousand pounds.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

Ed. Bedilion rode a good horse down to examine the south bridge, butwhile making his inspection, the horse played a joke on him by returningalone. Ed. did not say any cuss words as he waded back through the mud,but don’t say anything to him about it for he may forget himself yet.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 30, 1878.

The bridge across the Walnut south of Winfield, on the old piers fromwhich the Baker bridge was washed away a year and a half ago, is completedand is said to be a good one.

Winfield Courier, February 7, 1878.

There was a full force of men working on the west bridge all day Sunday.

Winfield Courier, February 14, 1878.

The new iron bridge spanning the Walnut River southwest of town is completed.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, February 14, 1878.

BEAVER ITEMS.

R. S. Tannehill has completed a new bridge across Beaver Creek, whichconnects his farm to his timber and pasture lands. Mr. Tannehill will deallargely in stock for which he has every advantage. LINKS AND PINS.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878.

FROM MAPLE CITY.

ED. COURIER: We are seriously thinking, if this kind of weather continues,of having "Grouse" bridged, so that our communication with Winfieldwill not be interrupted so often.

SUBSCRIBER.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878.

MILLINGTON & LEMMON, PUBLISHERS.

[From the Kansas City Journal of Commerce.]

CENTRAL HOTEL, WINFIELD, KANSAS, February 13, 1878.

Two handsome iron bridges have also spanned the Walnut River since myvisit last fall, making three bridges across the river within a mile oftown. JOE FLUFFER.

Excerpt from very long article...

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 21, 1878. Front Page.

MILLINGTON & LEMMON, PUBLISHERS.

COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS.

BRIDGES.

There are four fine bridges within one mile of Winfield. One crossingTimber Creek, just north of the city, is an arched iron bridge of 100 feetspan and 30 feet high stone abutments. The next is a wooden truss bridgeacross the Walnut River just northwest of the city 200 feet long on stonepier and abutments 35 feet high. The third is an arched iron bridge acrossWalnut River just southwest of the city one hundred and eighty feet longand thirty-five feet high on stone pier and abutments. The fourth is aniron bridge with a single span 155 feet long on 35 feet high abutments,across Walnut River just south of the city. The total cost of these bridgesis about $25,000. Other good bridges are found in various other parts ofthe county.

Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.

THE GREAT STORM.

Unprecedented Fall of Rain.

High Water — Great Damages.

Winfield and vicinity was visited yesterday morning by one of the greateststorms ever known to this vicinity. It commenced raining about fifteen minutesafter 12 o’clock a.m., and continued until about 4 o’clock—nearlyfour hours. The amount of water which fell during that time is unprecedented.Every vessel standing right side up out of doors which was not more thantwo feet deep filled with water. Several barrels standing alone receiveda depth of over 24 inches of water each. The total fall of water could nothave been less than 25 inches. The wind blew very strongly from severaldifferent directions during the storm. Four small houses in this city weremoved from their foundations and turned partly around, and many outbuildingswere blown down. The rain seemed to come down in sheets, and the whole countyaround seemed one vast sheet of water.

Lightning struck the house of J. E. Allen, in the south part of town,splitting open his chimney and stove pipe and stunning his wife. It alsostruck another house in the north part of town, doing very little damage.The rain was forced through roofs and every crack and cranny of the buildings;and there is scarcely a house in town in which the contents escaped alldamage from wet. Many cellars received considerable water. In that of Lynn& Gillelen, stored with merchandise, the damage will be at least $100.Baird Bros. suffered from water and kerosene damage in their cellar of atleast $800. Others are damaged lightly.

As we write, 10 o’clock a.m., Wednesday, the whole bottom northof town on both sides of Timber Creek is one vast lake extending into thecity limits. This sheet of water is the overflow of Timber Creek.

An immense quantity of wheat sheaves are floating down the Walnut River,having been swept out of the Timber Creek Valley. Many farmers have losttheir entire crop. J. F. Graham not only lost his wheat, but thinks 24 hogshave gone down the river. It is probable that much other damage is donein this valley; but we are now unable to learn the extent.

The water in Timber Creek is slowly subsiding; but in the Walnut it isstill rising. At Bliss’s mill it is up to within 16 inches of the bridgeand as high as ever known before. The rise at this point is already 28 feet.Bliss had a large quantity of flour in sacks in his mill, and the handsset to work moving it into the upper story; but the rise was so rapid thatabout 10,000 pounds of flour was caught on the main floor, and is of coursea loss.

We just learn that the rise of Beaver Creek, in Beaver Township, surroundedthe house of David W. Frew, who carried his wife to dry land; and whilereturning for his two children, the house was carried away with the children,who are probably drowned. Dr. Holland’s house is surrounded by waterup to the windows; but at this writing, no one had reached the house.

It is impossible at present to learn the extent of the storm and of thedamage. It is evident that both are immense.

In town a new stable was blown down; Terrill lost a lot of valuable pictures,the churches were damaged to some extent, a large lot of plastering felland enveloped one of our druggists, Mr. Giles; many trees were broken downand much fruit shaken off.

Black Crook, two miles east of town, rose 20 feet, carrying off a stonewall and Dunn’s crop of wheat.

LATER. The water is subsiding in the Walnut.

[RAIN AND FLOOD: TWO CHILDREN AND ONE MAN DROWNED.]

Arkansas City Traveler, June 19, 1878.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday a very heavy rain fell, swelling the streamsto an impassable extent, and carrying off saw logs, wood, wheat, and growingcorn along their banks. The abutment of the bridge across the Walnut, southof Winfield, is said to be so badly washed that the bridge will fall, andwater surrounded the approach of the bridge at Newman’s mill for morethan a day. Mr. Bell, the owner of some sheep, near Park’s schoolhouse,was drowned in Badger Creek while attempting to cross, and the house ofMr. Frew, on Beaver Creek, was washed away and two children drowned, whilehe was making every effort to save his wife. Dr. Holland’s house wassurrounded by water, and the occupants compelled to remain in it twenty-fourhours before they were rescued. The Arkansas River rose four feet abovethe bridge pilings at this place, and carried hundreds of bushels of wheat,in the shock, down the stream. From all parts of the county we learn ofits destruction to men, beasts, and the grain in the fields. In PleasantValley Township a horse belonging to Mr. Lucas was struck dead by lightning,and hundreds of hogs, young chickens, and ducks drowned. The damage to thecounty will be severely felt.

The Great Storm.

Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.

The storm of last week, Wednesday morning, came from the W.N.W. acrossthe north part of Sumner County down the Ninnescah River, where it did aconsiderable damage. The center of the storm passed over Vernon, Winfield,Tisdale, Dexter, and Otter Townships in Cowley County in a general directionof E.S.E., and left the county in the vicinity of Cedarvale. It could nothave been more than about fifteen miles wide and the track of the heaviestrainfall was scarcely more than half of that width. From all the circ*mstancestaken together we conclude, it was a cyclone or rotary storm, of about sevenor eight miles in diameter; that the rotation was not extremely rapid, andthat the progress of the storm was very slow.

Our statement last week of the amount of waterfall was, we now think,exaggerated, and that twenty inches would be the extent.

DIED. But three lives were lost, namely: the two children of Mr. Frewat Beaver Creek and Mr. Bell at Badger Creek. The circ*mstances of the lossof the two children is thus described by Horatius in a communication ofthat day.

"This community was startled this morning by the news that two childrenof Mr. David M. Frew, aged respectively two months and three years, wereswept away by the flood. Mr. Frew and family had retired for the night;and though conscious that a large amount of water was falling, he did notanticipate danger until his house moved. He immediately with his wife andtwo children attempted to escape from the floating building. In his exertionshe slipped and fell in the water, losing his hold on the children, who wereimmediately swept away from him, and darkness prevailing, he was utterlyunable to recover or find them. He barely succeeded in saving himself andwife. The grief-stricken parents have the heartfelt sympathies of the peoplein this vicinity."

The bodies of the drowned children have since been recovered. In thevicinity of Mr. Frew’s was the residence of DR. C. G. Holland, whichstood on a knoll, surrounded by lower land. The water rose to the windowsand the house moved partly from its foundations; but the doctor led a heavyhorse and a cow into the house, which so weighted it down that it did notfloat away. The water subsided and the apprehensions of his neighbors wererelieved.

The drowning of Mr. Bell is related in another place. There were twoother men, whose names we did not get, who were camped near Mr. Bell atChaffee’s ford, on Badger. They were swept into the current; but heldto the branches or brush until morning light, when they were relieved. Severalanimals were killed by lightning, including a valuable bull belonging toS. S. Holloway; a mare belonging to Mr. Bryson, and another belonging toMr. Glass, of Dexter Township; and a horse belonging to Mr. Lucas, of PleasantValley.

All the streams and small creeks along the track of the storm were swollensuddenly and excessively, rising from twenty to thirty feet. Beaver, Walnut,Timber, Black Crook, Badger, Silver, Turkey, Plum, Grouse, and Crab Creeksoverflowed their banks and swept away large quantities of wheat in the shock,and many hogs. Much damage was done by washing out corn and other crops.Potatoes and onions were washed out of the ground. Stone fences and stonecorrals were swept away. We have succeeded in gathering the names of someof the

LOSERS BY THE STORM.

On Walnut: John Ireton lost 20 hogs and 30 acres of wheat; Mr.Craig and Mr. Clark lost each 30 acres of wheat; F. W. Schwantes lost hisstone corral; M. Gessler lost 5 hogs.

On Timber: Thos. Youle lost 100 acres of wheat; Geo. Youle 10acres; Daniel Knox 12 acres; Mrs. Rutherford 12 acres; J. F. Graham andM. V. Phillips 50 acres; Washburne 28 acres; Mentch 40 acres; Mrs. Cochran30 acres; G. W. Yount 40 acres; John Parks 60 acres; S. A. Burger 14 acres;W. Cowan 40 acres. J. F. Graham lost 10 hogs; G. W. Yount 19 hogs; JohnRhodes 1 horse and 10 acres of wheat; W. W. Limbocker 8 acres; J. W. Orr20 acres; Mr. Keesey 10 acres; Bryant 10 acres.

On Black Crook: W. Dunn lost 60 acres of wheat; Joe Mack 20; otherslost a considerable.

On Badger: J. H. Mounts lost 12 acres of wheat; S. W. Chase 20acres; Robert Gardener 60 acres; McCullom 20 acres; A. B. Gardener 40 acres;W. Hill 40 acres; Eckles 10 acres. Much corn was washed out.

In Pleasant Valley: Jeffers had the roof of his house blown off.

The losses on Silver, Turkey, Plum, Grouse, and Crab Creeks have notbeen specially reported to us except as stated by the following from ourDEXTER CORRESPONDENT.

"There has been a great flood in this vicinity, which has washedaway a large amount of the wheat along Plum and Turkey Creeks and othertributaries of the Grouse. Mr. Clay, on Turkey Creek, lost 22 acres of wheat.Several others suffered severe losses of grain. Plum Creek did not sufferas much. Grouse Creek rose 16 feet at the Winfield crossing. Several headof hogs washed away. Mr. Axley lost his entire crop of wheat, and it isfeared the damage to wheat will be great."

To sum up, we conclude that about 50,000 bushels of wheat have been washedaway, and that the total damage to the county will reach at least $100,000.To many, their losses are of a serious character, being their sole dependence,and will occasion much distress.

Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.

The south bridge was nearly carried away by the recent rise in the Walnut.The north pier was almost entirely washed out. All that is left standingof it is a small column of rock under the northeast corner of the bridgeand the west side of the pier under the northwest corner, the center havingbeen washed out. That the bridge stood at all upon such a foundation issurprising. Thursday props of large timbers were placed under the northend and no further damage or loss is expected. The loss of this bridge wouldhave been a serious one to the town and surrounding country, and the timelysituation paid by many of the citizens of Winfield to secure it from furtherdamages deserves notice.

Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.

To Mr. Charles Cole, a painter in this city who came here with the menwho put up our iron bridges, Winfield Township is largely indebted for savingthe south bridge. He went into the rough and dangerous part of the work,risking his life; and by his skill, energy, and good judgment, was the leadingfactor in the work. Winfield will remember his services.

Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.

Notice for Stone Work.

Bids will be received by the Township Board of Winfield Township, atthe Township Clerk’s office, in Winfield, up to July 9th, 1878, forrebuilding pier under the bridge on W. S. Voris’ county road. The Boardreserving the right to reject, any and all bids. See specifications at Clerk’soffice. E. S. BEDILION, Township Clerk.

Winfield Courier, July 25, 1878.

J. G. Bullene of Winfield, has the supervision of putting up the bridgesacross the Arkansas River near Arkansas City. The contract is let to thePillsbury Bridge Co. They have put up the second span and will completethe work in about three weeks. It is a combination bridge, wood upper chordsand iron lower chords. It is raised four and a half feet higher than theold bridge.

Winfield Courier, August 8, 1878. Editorial Columns.

THE NEW MAIL ARRANGEMENT.

It has been understood that a new arrangement was to be effected by whichwe at Winfield would be more promptly supplied with our mails. The ideawas that the eastern and northern mails would come and go by way of El Doradoand make close connection with the trains on the railroad; but the changehas taken place on a far different basis, one which will not improve ourmail facilities in any respect while it will frequently disrupt and delayour mails for days at a time.

Under the new arrangement mails are to leave El Dorado at 8 o’clocka.m., and arrive at Winfield by 7 o’clock p.m., which, at best, isno improvement on the former delivery by way of Wichita, and as there arefrequently times when some of the streams between here and El Dorado cannotbe crossed for days together on account of high water, the change will greatlydamage our mail facilities and is an outrage.

It is true that we are promised the early completion of bridges acrossthe Walnut near Augusta and the Little Walnut between Walnut City and Douglass,but there remain Rock and Muddy Creeks unbridged and frequently impassable.

On the Wichita route are no streams of consequence except the Walnut,which has three good bridges, and the probability of interruption of themails by heavy rains is slight in comparison with the certainty of frequentinterruptions on the El Dorado route.

We should have accepted this change in route without grumbling had webeen given some advantage to compensate for this disadvantage. Had the arrangementincluded close connection with the trains we would have favored the change,for in that case we would get the mails on the next morning after theirarrival in El Dorado, whereas now we get them the following evening. Buteven in this we should suffer one disadvantage. There is no Sunday trainon the El Dorado branch while there is one on the Wichita branch, so thatwhile we have been getting on Monday evening the mails which come down therailroad on Sunday, we should not then get them until Tuesday morning.

Under the present arrangement, we do not get them until Tuesday night,which is an additional outrage. We propose to be very careful not to grumblewithout a cause, but here we have plenty of cause and we propose to followup this matter until we get relief "if it takes all summer." Wecan stand a moderate amount of abuse, but this is piling it on too thick.

We demand that the mails shall leave El Dorado on the arrival of thetrains and arrive here the next morning, Sundays included; or if that cannotbe done, that they come by way of Wichita as formerly, giving us one mailevery week 24 hours earlier than now and all regularly on time, which wouldbe impossible by the El Dorado route.

We do not know by what influence or what kind of sell out the presentarrangement was effected. If it is the invention of El Dorado men, theywill not make anything by it. It cannot do them any particular good to haveour mails lay over in their ambitious city for ten hours to two days; andif they are to be delayed for the purpose of keeping over a few passengersin their town of nights, we will see them in Halifax before we travel thatway, or patronize their town in any other way, and there are lots of peopleabout here that feel in the same way.

We are all friendly to El Dorado down here and would gladly trade withher if she wants our trade and will try to treat us well; but when she delaysour mails to get trade, it is too black a mail for us and won’t pay.

Winfield Courier, October 17, 1878.

The Township Board of Trustees has awarded the building of the new abutmentsof the South bridge to Mr. Kavanaugh. If he rushes them up as fast as hedid the new stone and brick building of Mr. Bahntge, we can soon have thatbridge to use again.

1879

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1879.

NORTHEAST NINNESCAH, Feb. 14, 1879

A bridge across the Walnut is talked of at that place. VERY SOFT.

[MISCELLANEOUS ITEM RE TAXES IN COWLEY COUNTY.]

Arkansas City Traveler, March 19, 1879.

The lowest rate of tax in Cowley County is 13 mills on the dollar; thehighest 45 mills; the average about 25 mills. The only localities wheretaxes are high, being Winfield and Arkansas City, where substantial improvementshave been built, such as bridge, schoolhouses, etc. Winfield has two ironand one combination bridge across Dutch creek, as well as a good courthouseand jail, each brick structures, and a large stone school house. ArkansasCity has a large combination bridge across the Arkansas River, erected ata cost of $13,000, and one across the Walnut River that cost $3,000; alsoa splendid brick schoolhouse which cost $10,000 and is the finest buildingin the county. The entire indebtedness of the county is but $31,500. Accordingto the last assessment our taxable property amounted to $2,020,000.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.

At the meeting of the commissioners on Monday some important changeswere made in the boundaries of the townships of Vernon, Rock, and PleasantValley, and a new township called Walnut was created, composed of the easternand northern portions of the old township of Winfield, and a slice off thesouthern portion of Rock. Pleasant Valley gets the south part of Winfieldtownship, including the south bridge and the Tunnel Mills, and Vernon getsthe western portion including both west bridges and Bliss’ mill. Thisleaves Winfield a municipality of itself. This new township of Walnut holdsan election for officers on the 23rd of this month.

[A BAD BUSINESS - CUTTING AND SLASHING UP TOWNSHIPS.]

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.

The foolish business of cutting and slashing up townships, which commencedin this place by making it a city of the second class, has been continued.While we were absent, the new township of Walnut was made and Winfield townshipwas whittled to pieces. We are disgusted with the whole business. Nothingbut harm will be the result. Winfield has lost much of the value of itsschools by weakening them, has assumed a much more expensive city government,and cut itself off from its best helpers and supporters. The change of townshiplines has done no one any good, while it has complicated everything andwill doubtless lead to much litigation and bad blood. If anyone expectsthat these changes will in any way release him from taxes on the bridgebonds, he will find himself mistaken.

[BRIDGE DOWN - ACROSS TIMBER CREEK.]

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.

The bridge across Timber creek, north of town, was broken down last Mondayby driving a large herd of Texas ponies on at one time. Six of the ponieswere killed outright and many were injured. The bridge was made partly ofiron and partly of the timber of the old bridge which was washed out someyears ago, but was not supposed to be insecure. The weight of a large herdof ponies, together with the springing and crowding, was enough to testthe strength of the strongest bridge. The herd belonged to a Mr. Seehorn,who came to town after the accident with the intention of suing the townshipfor damages, but has as yet taken no definite action in the matter. If atall, the damages should be the other way, as the gentleman should neverhave driven more than fifteen head on at one time. The loss of this bridgewill be a great inconvenience to the people in the north part of the county,as it cuts off all access to Winfield during high water. This will perhapsbe a lesson to our people in all future works of a public nature to buildthem right in the first place and do away with the necessity and extra expenseof rebuilding a bridge, only to be thrown down by a herd of Texas ponies.

[CARVING UP THE TOWNSHIP.]

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.

One of our friends, who was a mover in the matter of carving up the township,denies that the object was to escape liability on the bridge bonds, butadmits that the plan to cut up the township was worked up by a few secretly,and that they were careful to keep the project dark until it was consummated,for they knew if it got out, it would be defeated.

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.

Last Saturday Mr. Robert Hudson finished taking out the Timber Creekbridge which was thrown down last week. The bridge is very little damaged,there being only one rod and a wooden cross-beam broken. The opinion ofthe persons who took the bridge out is that it did not go down in the centeras at first supposed, but was thrown off of the abutment by the springingand crowding of the ponies. The irons and belts have all been taken outand are now at the foundry, and will only need to be straightened beforethey can be put back. It is estimated that three hundred dollars will putthe bridge back on the old abutments in as good shape as it was before.

[WALNUT TOWNSHIP AND THE BOND TAX.]

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.

We interviewed J. C. Roberts, the trustee of Walnut township, in relationto these matters. He admits that he was one of the workers in getting theWalnut township scheme, and that he circulated petitions by the "palelight of the moon," but denies that his acts or those of any othermen, who were active in the scheme, were the result of a desire to escapefrom the liability to pay their just proportion of the old Winfield townshipdebt. They desire to pay such proportion and no more.

He says they were compelled to this action in self defense by the actionthe city had taken; that so long as the city was a part of Winfield township,the township board could levy the tax to pay principal and interest of thebonds and incidental expenses on all the property of the township, but whenthe city by the acts of her citizens obtained an organization as a cityof the second class, the township board could no longer levy a tax on thepersonal property in the city, and the city could not levy a township taxso that the city would escape its just proportion unless the city authoritiesshould determine to levy the tax anyhow; that the bridge at Bliss’Mill needs a considerable expense to secure it from danger and destruction,and that the city authorities refused to assist in that matter, claimingthat they had no jurisdiction and showed a disposition to saddle the wholedebt upon those outside the city, as in fact they seemed to believe theyhad done; that lawyers advised him and his associates to that effect. Hesays that the men left in Winfield township had but one of two things todo: either to pay the whole bonded debt amounting to some $16,000 and interest,which the city men had voted upon the township, and the $5,721.74 of floatingdebt, which city men had contracted; or to put the balance of the townshipin a way that it could not be compelled to pay more than its just proportion.

He says they studied the matter carefully and determined upon the latter.They worked secretly because they knew they would otherwise probably bedefeated.

He says he made a demand of the county commissioners that they shouldlevy a tax on Walnut township sufficient to pay its proportion of the floatingdebt and the maturing bonded debt and interest; also, a small tax for incidentalexpenses, that he did not name; a two mill tax as we stated last week.

We shall have to admit that the foolish move of organizing the city assecond class evidently placed our Walnut friends in a bad predicament andthat they had a show of justification for the course they took to get outof it.

The more we learn of its effects, the more we see that the second classmove plunged us into a labyrinth of difficulties. There seems to us butone way out of this part of the scrape. The commissioners must make thetax levy on the whole property within the lines of the old Winfield township.We think it their duty and the only way to save our credit and cost of suits.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1879.

The bridge across the Walnut, at Bliss’ mill, has been "closedfor repairs." It is in rather a dilapidated condition.

[BRIDGE SHOULD BE FIXED.]

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.

On the east end of the west bridge, a plank has broken and left a largehole through the floor. At the west end there is a similar hole and a numberof loose boards. This should be fixed at once.

Winfield Courier, October 9, 1879.

While a lady was driving to town on the road past the depot Monday evening,her horse fell through the culvert opposite Lowry’s ice house, injuringhim severely and breaking the buggy in several places. The lady had drivenacross this bridge earlier in the evening, and noticed while crossing thatit was in rather a bad condition. When she returned she concluded to leadthe horse across, but when partly over it stepped on the end of a looseboard and went down. The cries of the lady brought several men to the spot,who tore away the timbers and released the animal. Someone should look afterthis matter or the township may have a heavy bill of damages to pay. Twenty-fivedollars spent in repairs might save five hundred for damages.

[BRIDGE BONDS.]

Winfield Courier, December 11, 1879.

WINFIELD, Dec. 9, 1879.

ED. COURIER: I have just been up to pay my taxes, and on comparing withlast year’s receipts find that they are about one-fourth less thanlast year. This was gratifying, but on a cross-examination I find that theBridge Bond township tax has disappeared although the bonds have not beenpaid off. It seems there was no levy made this year. Of course, they willhave to be paid, and probably next year we will have to pay two years’interest, with the addition of a good bill of United States court costs.

I could not get any light on the subject at the courthouse, and on thesupposition that an editor knows everything, or is generally supposed to,I ask you for light on the question. Who is to blame for the levy not beingmade: the county commissioners, county clerk, or attorney; or was it thebrilliant minds who destroyed Winfield township? Believing that the answeringof this question would be of interest to the general tax-payer, I respectfullyawait your reply.

CITIZEN

We have already expressed our opinion on this subject. It has beena case where "one was afraid and the other durst not." It allgrew out of the stupid work of those who were not willing to let well enoughalone, during the past year. The itching for a change has brought changes"with a vengeance." Winfield township was in first-rate conditionwhen it contained a city of the third class, but this "itching"raised this city to one of the second class, making it a township of itself.

This frightened some timid citizens of the balance of Winfield townshipwith the idea that the change in the city would saddle all the bonds onthe remainder of the township, who got up a secret petition, circulatingit in the night, to cut up Winfield township, annexing a part of it to Vernon,another part to Pleasant Valley, and erecting the balance into a new townshipcalled Walnut. This was acted upon by the commissioners before the projectwas advertised, or even known outside a small coterie of persons.

After this it was assumed that the levy to pay the interest on thesebonds could only be made by the trustee of Winfield township; and as therewas no Winfield township, the levy could not be made.

We contended that in case the levy was not otherwise made, the commissionersshould do it, disregarding legal technicalities which might arise.

We now claim that the authorities of Winfield City, of the townshipsof Walnut, Pleasant Valley, and Vernon, and of the County, have all beenremiss in their duties, in not seeing to it that this tax was levied.

If each board was afraid it had no right to do it, all should havemet together, and together should have made the levy. There was no questionthat somebody ought to make it. The only question was, who? Had all unitedto make it, we do not doubt that the tax would have been collected on allthe property included within the lines of old Winfield township. As it is,the amount must be paid by the same persons together with a probable additionalamount in costs.

[COMMUNICATION FROM "S. E. B." RE BRIDGE BONDS, ETC.]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 25, 1879. Front Page.

COMMUNICATED.

WALNUT TWP., DEC. 20, 1879.

EDITOR COURIER: In your issue of the 11th inst., under the head of "BridgeBonds," you say things that are liable to mislead, and with your permissionI will give all the facts in the case so far as I known them, and I wasconnected with the movement from first to last, and ought to know the motiveswhich actuated those whom you are pleased to call "timid citizens."

The reasons for our actions are as follows.

1. Winfield township had built four bridges, issuing bonds and scripto the amount of $25,000: $5,000 of which was scrip or township orders.(This is not claimed to be the exact amounts, but near enough to illustrate.)

2. Winfield City became a city of the second class, and by the law nonebut the real estate within the corporate limits of the city could be directlyheld for the indebtedness of Winfield township, thus leaving all that classof indebtedness known as scrip to be raised by the remainder of the township—sayabout $5,000—and assuming that the real estate in the township andthe real estate in the city were equal, then the taxpayer in the townshipwould have to pay in addition a tax on his personal property which wouldmake the taxes relatively about as follows.

A, being a citizen of the city, would pay on his real estate $1.00, andon his personal property, $0.00.

B, living in the township, would pay on his real estate $1.00, and onhis personal property, $1.00. In addition thereto, B would pay 25 or 50cents on his real property and 25 cents on his personal property for thepurpose of liquidating the $5,000 of township orders.

Thus, they would stand:

A. bond tax: $1.00

B. bond tax: $2.00

B. order tax: $.50

These sums are only approximately correct and would vary only as therelative ratio of the different classes of property within the two corporationsvaried at the time the proper authorities apportioned the debt to each.

3. There were four bridges to maintain at an annual cost, taking 1878as a criterion, of about $800, for the use of the whole county. It was uselessto think of trying the county for assistance; the township had lost halfor more of its taxable property, and was saddled with a heavy bonded debtand a large floating debt—what could we do but as we did? Here wasVernon township on the west, with a large area of the best agriculturalland in the state, and filled with an intelligent, go-ahead class of peoplethat were, per force of location, compelled to use two of these four bridgesall the year round. The same remarks are applicable to Pleasant Valley onthe south with reference to one of the bridges, except that Pleasant Valleyaccepted the present of a new bridge with the best possible grace, whileVernon did not seem to appreciate the munificence of the donors in allottingtwo and a large additional territory to her domain.

4. After having made up our minds, the "coterie" went to work,got up a petition in legal form, made copies, and gave them to friendsof the project. The petitions were duly circulated, and at the next meetingof the County Commissioners they were presented, and after laying the situationbefore that honorable body, they saw fit to grant the petition, and createda new township, giving two of the bridges to Vernon, which township by virtueof use ought to by right be compelled to maintain them, one to PleasantValley, and leaving one to the new township; thus dividing the cost of maintainingthe four bridges among the three townships most interested in their use.

And now, as this article is already too long, I will close with a wordas to the manner of circulating those petitions, as that seems to be a great"eye sore." Those who had charge of the project acted upon theprinciple that you only receive help from friends, and that enemies areat liberty to get all the information they can. This is a world in whichall work for their own interests as they understand them, and neither dothey publish all their projects broadcast, but having made up their mindsthat a certain action is just and would result in bettering their condition,they set about to accomplish it in a legal (if you please) way, and he whosays least does most. S. E. B.

1880

[CORRESPONDENT "VERNON" REPLIES TO S. E. B. COMMUNICATION.]

Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880.

VERNON TOWNSHIP, Dec. 27, 1879.

ED. COURIER: A communication signed S. E. B. in your issue of Dec. 25th,seems, under the circ*mstances, to require a few words of comment from someone.The writer sets out with the assertion that "in your issue of Dec.11th, under the head of "Bridge Bonds," you say things liableto mislead."

He may have proved this charge to his own satisfaction, but no one readinghis article would be able to perceive how. On the contrary, his statementof "facts" (already patent to everyone who has examined the subject),and the complications growing out of the action taken on these facts, morethan justify your editorial in every essential particular.

The argument he makes to justify the course pursued, amounts to simplythis: That himself, and a few others, becoming restive under a burden theyhad voluntarily assumed in the past, with full knowledge of the contingenciesthat might arise in the future, resolved to shift the same to other shoulders,by any means, fair or foul, so that it might be "legal," (if youplease.)" In doing this, he has but used the means that have done "Yeoman’sservice" in plastering over the acts, and soothing the conscience,of every wrong doer since the days of Cain. Selfish interest, caprice, andpassion are potent influences, and have swayed the minds and warped thejudgment of greater men than those engaged in the "Gift" concernof which we complain.

The light in which the people of Vernon regard this matter is about this:If Winfield city and township, first settled, and possessing superior advantages,think that it will best serve and advance their interests to vote bondsand build bridges, thus attracting trade and travel; well, it is their undoubtedright to do so, and displays commendable enterprise in their own behalfand public spirit as well.

And if the people of Vernon township, exercising their own judgment andfrom motives of prudence, prefer to suffer some inconvenience for a timerather than add to present embarrassments by building bridges, decline todo so, who shall say that it is not their undoubted right to so decide?

And if the people of Vernon object to accepting such responsibilities,on what rule of law or equity does S. E. B. base the right to "compel"such acceptance.

The people of Vernon township are not deficient in public spirit, nordo they lack enterprise, governed by prudence; but the remarks of S. E.B. on that point must be slightly ironical. There is a manifest lack ofintelligence somewhere "there anent," and a disclaimer on hispart at once convicts him of insincerity. Had this matter been gotten upin an open, manly manner, and on the principle that "it takes two tomake a bargain," and after a fair hearing had been decided againstus, whatever we might have thought, there would have been no oppositionmade.

But done as it was, by a few parties in the furtherance of their ownselfish interests, and utterly regardless of the means employed to effecttheir purpose, we think we have good reason to object and shall not verysoon cease to do so. VERNON.

Excerpt...

[REPORT FROM HALL.]

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.

Public necessity demands a bridge over the Walnut river at Morton &Picket’s mills. Said mills are now ready for grinding both wheat andcorn.

Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.

A few days ago Mr. McKinley, of Ninnescah township, narrowly escapeda collision with a train on the road leading out from town by Bliss’mill. He had gotten out near the bluff and was on the track with his teamwhen a construction train on the K. C. L. & S. road came backing intowards town. Mr. McKinley had time barely to jerk his horses back fromthe track and to jump from the wagon when the train was pushing by. Theshave was a close one, and hereafter Mr. McKinley will come to town by thewest bridge.

Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.

The road supervisor of the district in which is the west iron bridgeshould repair the plank roadway at once before some serious accident occurs.

[OLDEST BRIDGE IN COUNTY, BUILT IN 1872 - FELL!]

Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.

Last Friday afternoon the old bridge near Wood, Jettinger & Co.’smill, fell in. It has been condemned for over a year as unsafe, and personswho used it were notified that they did it at their own risk. This was thefirst bridge built in the county, and has stood there since 1872. One ofAl. Requa’s teams had crossed the bridge only a few moments beforeit fell.

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.

Tax paying commenced at the county treasurer’s office a week ago,and Mr. Harden and Will Wilson are kept busy taking in greenbacks. If ongoing to pay your taxes, you find them higher than last year, don’tlay it to the assessor, but remember that we had no bridge bond tax, andnow have to pay for the two years.

Winfield Courier, December 2, 1880.

There is now in the Cowley County treasury $1,100 of the old Winfieldtownship funds, raised to pay the bridge bond indebtedness, and it is saidthat there is no authority to pay it out without an act of the legislature,notwithstanding that there are $2,000 of the old bridge bonds now due besides$200 in interest. If we were Gen. Jackson and had the management of thismatter, we would "take the responsibility" and pay out this $1,100on these bonds "quicker than you can say Jack Robinson."

Winfield Courier, December 2, 1880.

The Monitor calls attention to the condition of our bridges. That iscorrect. These matters should be attended to, and the press should keepup a noise about it until it is attended to.

Winfield Courier, December 9, 1880.

Sam Watt, trustee of Pleasant Valley township, is having the south bridgeacross the Walnut river overhauled, tightened up, and got in first classcondition this week.

Winfield Courier, December 16, 1880.

Sam Watt, trustee of Vernon township, has put the south bridge in a safeand first rate condition. Now it is in order for our friend Skinner, trusteeof Vernon township, to investigate the west iron bridge and put it in likecondition.

Excerpt...

[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

S. Watt, trustee of Pleasant Valley township, is entitled to the thanksof all the people who live in or come to Winfield. At a small expense hehas made the south bridge secure. Now let the other trustees go to work.

1881

Excerpts...

Winfield Courier, January 6, 1881. [From Winfield Telegram.]

The following is a summary of the tax levy for the year 1880, as takenfrom the Clerk’s books, showing the different purposes for which taxesare raised in the county.

Bridge Bond, old Winfield Twp.: $7,439.79

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.

Nearly every evening last week the river at the north and west bridgewas thronged with young folks skating. The snow Saturday night put a stopto their fun for awhile.

Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.

We are called upon to record accident No. 3 on the old man-trap of abridge near Bliss’ mill. Saturday night, one , after fillinghimself with liquor, started home. The team seemed to be imbued with themaster’s spirits, and commenced running. They turned the corner ofthe Christie residence, spilled the man out, and rushed for the old bridge;but the bridge wasn’t there, neither was there fence or posts to checktheir progress.

They had gained considerable momentum and of course plunged over theabutment, and fell thirty feet to the ice below. The wagon was smashed toatoms. One horse had his leg broken, and laid on the log for twenty-fourhours before anyone removed him; and the other horse got up, walked acrosson the ice, and went on home. If the man hadn’t been drunk, he wouldnot have fallen out, and would probably have been killed; consequently,liquor saved his life. Another argument for the free whiskey forces.

Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.

OLD TOWNSHIP FUND.

There is in the county treasury about $1,500 to the credit of old Winfieldtownship, which was raised for road purposes, and ought to be appropriatedfor such purposes and not remain in the treasury. The bridge across Timbercreek is such a purpose and is a necessity for an important travel and tradewhich comes to Winfield. The bulk of this money was paid by citizens ofWinfield, and these citizens are interested in keeping the roads open toallow travel and trade to come here. We ask that the legislature pass alaw appropriating the amount to put a first-class iron bridge on the Timbercreek standing abutments. It can be done for the amount. We think this wouldmeet with general consent. If not, there is no other just way but to appropriateit to pay on the Winfield township bonds.

Excerpts...

[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]

Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.

Time and again have the papers in this city called the attention of E.D. Skinner, the trustee of Vernon township, to the danger of the roads runningto what was known as the Bliss bridge. At this end there is nothing to stopa team plunging down, as was the case on Saturday night last. The only reasonthat the trustee gives for not fencing the road is because the commissionerschanged the township lines. Legal authority says that this man, Skinner,is liable for all damage that may occur while he leaves the road in sucha dangerous condition. We hope this is true, and that he will be obligedto pay for the horse killed last Saturday. He would have no sympathy inthis country if he would lose every dollar’s worth of property he hasin the world. He will probably learn that the acceptance of an office oftrust entails certain duties that are incumbent upon him to perform. Wenow give you notice, Mr. Skinner, unless you attend to your duties as trustee,you will find yourself involved "in a sea of trouble."

Last Saturday was an unusually bad day for Winfield. Many men appearedto think it was the last day that a drink of whiskey could ever be procured;and in consequence, those drank who never drank before, and those who werein the habit of drinking, drank the more. The natural result was, lots offellows got full. One would naturally, under such circ*mstances, have anticipatedmany accidents, but there was, as far as we know, but one serious one, andthat was to George McIntire, who lives on the farm of his mother-in-lawnear Seeley.

George got blind drunk and started home about six o’clock Saturdayevening: he started his horses on a dead run and instead of taking the roadsouth, to cross the west bridge, the team made for what was the Bliss bridge,that being their old familiar road. In making the turn McIntire was thrownout without injuring himself. The team ran madly down the blind road andplunged down from the abutment fully twenty-five feet to the ice below;one horse fell on top of the other. The horse underneath had his leg brokenand laid on the ice and suffered for upwards of twenty hours before he waskilled. The other horse loosened himself from the harness and went home.The wagon made a complete somersault. A man saw the team go over and herushed uptown for Dr. Graham, taking it for granted there was a dead mandown on the ice. The doctor came, the man was found, taken into the officeof Bliss & Wood, and our worthy coroner reported the man dead-drunk.The horse, the nobler animal of the two, suffered and was killed, whilethe man still lives. The ways of Providence are indeed inscrutable and pastfinding out.

[BRIDGES.]

Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.

"BRIDGE OR NO BRIDGE" is the prevailing topic of conversationthis week. It certainly looks to us as if this was a one-sided question.That the bridge across Dutch creek is needed no one will deny. The peoplein North Walnut township are paying taxes on the bonds which were used tobuild the old Bliss bridge, the west, or brewery bridge, and the south bridge.They can make no possible use of these bridges and they are paying theirmoney for the convenience of others. The time has now come for the balanceof the township to help them by allowing the use of the funds now in thetreasury to place a new bridge on the abutments which now stand there. Theamount, in comparison with that used in the construction of the other threebridges, is small, and it is, in all justice and fairness, due to them thatthis money be appropriated to build the Dutch creek bridge. The abutmentsnow standing there were built by private subscription; they have spent muchtime and money in trying to get a good bridge, while they have paid taxesfar out of proportion to the amount they have received in improvements.They did not kick and squeal when asked to tax themselves to build bridgesover which they would never travel; but as soon as they desire help andask for money already in the treasury, part of which they themselves havepaid, others come in and object. One of the loudest opponents of the bridgescheme wants to apply the money toward paying off the bonds now outstanding,and howls for "a reduction of taxation." This is very good. Weall want to reduce taxation, but it is hardly fair to get all we can outof a fellow, and about the time he wants something substantial in returnto sit back on our dignity and tell him that we have inaugurated a systemof "retrenchment and reform." Be fair, gentlemen, and it willpay in the long run.

Excerpts...

[THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.]

Winfield Courier, February 3, 1881.

On Tuesday Messrs. Weakley, Burger, and Brown, of Walnut township, obtaineda large number of signatures of our citizens asking that the fifteen hundreddollars now in the county treasury be used to build a new bridge acrossTimber creek. Many of our citizens signed under a misapprehension. We callthe attention of our readers to an interesting communication on this subjectfrom a prominent citizen.

The council met in special session on Wednesday to protest against thefunds of old Winfield Township being used for any other purpose except topay the indebtedness of such township according to the original agreement;and further protesting against a petition that had been placed on the streetsTuesday asking that these funds be used to build a new iron bridge acrossTimber creek. This action was unanimous on the part of the council. Theprotest was then submitted to a number of our largest taxpayers who signedit, and the entire document was forwarded to our delegation at Topeka.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.

FROM THE COURIER LEGISLATIVE REPORTER:

A bill has passed the Senate authorizing the Treasurer of Cowley Countyto pay to Walnut township the road and tax fund of old Winfield township,providing that Walnut township shall build an iron wagon bridge across Dutchcreek, north of Winfield.

[THE TIMBER CREEK BRIDGE.]

Winfield Courier, April 7, 1881.

Last Thursday the Walnut Township Board completed the contract for theerection of the Timber Creek bridge. They worked for five days before gettinga satisfactory proposition. The abutments are to be thoroughly repairedand straightened, and the superstructure is to be of the best wrought iron.When completed this will be one of the best bridges we have, and will be"put there to stay." The Board will superintend the work closely,and see that no inferior material is used. The people are largely indebtedto Mr. Robert Weakley, Samuel E. Burger, George Brown, and others for thework which made it possible to secure the bridge. The Board also put insome faithful work and showed much business ability in bringing the propositionswithin the limit of money on hand.

Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.

Mr. J. C. Roberts, trustee of Walnut township, has been putting in theweek superintending the repairs on the Timber Creek bridge. He informs usthat the abutments will be ready for the iron by Friday. The bridge willlikely be opened for travel inside of thirty days.

Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.

The Parks are inundated. The bayou surrounding Island Park is full, anda first class ferryboat is needed to reach the grounds. Riverside Park alsoproves to be a little too near the creek and is covered with water up tothe second bottom. The managers were damming them Monday.

Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.

J. H. Bullene let the stage pass over his new iron bridge across TimberCreek Monday morning on a temporary crossing, but the bridge was not finisheduntil Tuesday noon.

Winfield Courier, July 7, 1881.

The Timber Creek bridge was not accepted by the board last week, owingto some defects in putting it together. Ten days were allowed the contractorsfor perfecting the work.

[THE NEW IRON BRIDGE.]

Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.

J. C. Roberts, Trustee of Walnut Township, called on us last Thursday,and invited us to go along and see the new bridge, while they examined thestructure for final acceptance. We soon found ourself at the bridge, wherewere the treasurer and clerk of the township, Messrs. Blanchard and JoelMack; Col. Bullene, of Leavenworth, the contractor, and his brother, J.G. Bullene; S. E. Burger, and a few others. We did not go as an expert,so our opinion was not given and did not count, but we were much pleasedwith the bridge. It appeared to us to be thoroughly well constructed, anda complete bridge in every particular. It is a beautiful bridge, of a hundredfeet span, on abutments far above high-water mark.

We came back, and all took some lemonade, at Col. Bullene’s expense.Then the parties sat down in the COURIER office and settled up, and theboard paid for the bridge. A great deal of work has been done by RobertWeakley, S. E. Burger, George Brown, and others, to get up an interest,get the necessary legislation, and the necessary subscriptions. The TownshipBoard have spent their time, and used the greatest care to make the bridgeperfect in every respect, and have attended to their work faithfully. Thepeople most interested give them full credit and grateful thanks.

This bridge is of much importance to Winfield in many respects, and theefforts of those whose exertions have secured the bridge will be appreciated.

Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.

Some unprincipled fellow has defaced M. Hahn & Co.’s sign, theone near the west bridge. Several letters have been scratched from the boardwith a knife. A man or a boy who will do this, will steal sheep.

Winfield Courier, November 10, 1881.

George Rembaugh waded the Arkansas river last Sunday to avoid payingtariff to the keeper of the ferry. What means this sudden burst of economy?

Cowley County Courant, November 17, 1881.

Mr. T. H. B. Ross took in Winfield last Friday in the interest of ourschool district. He says there has been many changes there, but few of theold "boys" are left, and Winfield does not appear now as it didin 1870-74. Caldwell Commercial.

Well, that’s a fact; there have been a good many changes in andaround Winfield since those days. The old log store has been reduced toashes, and some of the boys who used to gather there evenings to play "CaliforniaJack" and speculate on the future price of corner lots in Winfield,now take their wives and children to the theater in the fine Opera Housethat has arisen on the site of the old store. Max Shoeb’s blacksmithshop has given place to Read’s bank; the Walnut Valley House, as ahotel, has passed away. Likewise, the firms of Manning & Baker, U. B.Warren & Co., Alexander & Saffold, Bliss & Middaugh, Hitchco*ck& Boyle, Maris & Hunt, Myton & Brotherton, and Pickering &Benning. S. H. Myton is about the only one that is left. Tisdale’shack, which came in whenever the river would permit, has given wayto our two railroads; Tom Wright’s ferry, south of town, has been replacedby a handsome iron bridge, and Bartlow’s mill and its crew havedisappeared.

Cowley County Courant, November 24, 1881.

And now comes another suit against old Winfield Township, this time inthe U. S. Court. It is brought by the King Bridge Company, who sue for about$2,000. Mayor Troup and the different township officers have been servedwith the proper papers.

Cowley County Courant, November 24, 1881.

Walnut, Vernon, and the other townships outside of the city in old WinfieldTownship, have employed H. C. Sims, of Wichita, to look after their interestsin the suit brought in the U. S. Court by the King Bridge company. The companyhas about $2,500 in scrip which was issued to pay for building the approachesto the south bridge. If necessary, City Attorney Seward will act for thecity in the case. In our judgment the above suit should be added to theseries of blunders committed in blotting out the old township, and the wholematter should be settled and paid with as little cost as possible.

[BRIDGE SUITS.]

Winfield Courier, December 8, 1881.

The King Iron Bridge Co. has sued the townships of Vernon, Pleasant Valley,and Walnut, and the City of Winfield in the United States Circuit Courtfor the sum of $1,879.67 and interest, on five township orders of the oldWinfield Township, all issued for building the approaches to the South bridgeApril 10, 1879, except $330.00, Dec. 31, 1878, for iron bridges. Rossington,Johnston & Smith of Topeka are attorneys for the plaintiff. The petitionasks for the appointment of a master in chancery who shall take proof ofthe territorial extent and taxable property of the parts of the old WinfieldTownship now in each of the defendant limits and apportion the indebtednessto each, and that an order issue that each of the defendant municipalitiespay their proportion immediately. This is in addition to the suit of Carpenterbrought by M. G. Troup in the district court of this county for the paymentof $2,036.10 of bridge scrip of Winfield Township and interest from October15, 1881. This is one of the results of bad management in the past in thedisruption of Winfield Township. Now there is no other way to pay the indebtednesslegally except at the end of a suit in chancery.

Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.

Mr. E. D. Skinner, trustee of Vernon Township, talked old Winfield bridgescrip with us half an hour Saturday. As Vernon is not very largely interestedin the matter, she will let Walnut and Winfield do what fighting there isto be done.

1882

Cowley County Courant, January 12, 1882.

The trustees of townships comprising old Winfield Township have met andapportioned the expense of contesting the payment of the township scripissued by the officers of the old township for bridge building. The apportionmentbetween the townships based on their property valuation is as follows:

Vernon, $7.35.

Fairview, $4.42.

Walnut, $39.50.

Pleasant Valley, $7.40.

Winfield City, $91.33.

This makes a total of $150.00.

The Courier has stated that the Hon. H. C. Sluss has given a writtenopinion that the scrip was legally issued. We think the statement of theCourier contained a typographical error, as we saw the written opinionof Mr. Sluss, in which he confidently states that the scrip was notlegally issued and that he had no idea that the old territory could be justlyheld for its payment.

The Courier also misstated in saying that Mr. Sluss demanded $300for contesting the case. Mr. Sluss has agreed to contest for $150, threehundred dollars to be paid him if he wins the suit.

Winfield Courier, January 19, 1882.

Rumors have been current that the Supreme Court decision invalidatesthe bill appropriating the money for the Dutch Creek Bridge. The bill receivedthe constitutional majority and is all right.

Winfield Courier, March 2, 1882. Editorial.

THOSE WINFIELD TOWNSHIP SUITS.

We wish to brace up our city council in relation to these suits. Theyare in relation to the debts incurred by the last trustee of the old township,in building the bridges in excess of the amount voted by the people. Forthis excess township scrip was issued, the legality of which was questionedor denied at the time, and has never yet been decided. Three suits againstthe territory which comprised the old township are commenced to collectthis scrip and the question to be determined by the court is: Is this scriplegal and binding? If so, what existing municipal corporation is liableand in what proportion? And in what way shall the money be raised? The suitsalready commenced involve the sum of about $5,000. It is necessary thatthese be defended in order that either of these questions should be properlysettled and the interests of the corporations interested be protected andsecured on equitable principles. John C. Roberts, trustee of Walnut Township,has been at work in the matter for sometime and has made, with the approvalof the other townships and a majority of the city council, complete arrangementsfor the defense of these suits at a minimum cost. The county clerk has furnishedthe assessment rolls and a schedule of the proportion of the expense toeach municipality is agreed upon. The officers of each township interestedhave signed a contract to pay their proportion of the expenses. It is doubtlessthe wish of the citizens that the city council also ratify the contract.It will cost $150 to defend these three cases and it is worth much morethan this to learn the legal status of the claims. We cannot afford to letit go by default. This sum is the fee of H. C. Sluss, who has been selectedas the counsel for the defense. In case the two principal suits are defeated,the sum will be double. The proportion of the $150, among the municipalities,will be about as follows.

Winfield City, $92; Walnut Township, $37; Pleasant Valley, $7.50; VernonTownship, $7; and Fairview Township, $4.50. The city of Winfield can wellafford to stand the $92, and the council should promptly ratify. In casethe suits are successful, Winfield City alone will have $3,000 to pay besidesits proportion of some further claims which will be prosecuted. She canwell afford to pay $92 or twice that sum to have her interest thoroughlylooked after. Mr. Roberts has done the work; now let the council stand toand go ahead.

[EDITORIAL.]

Cowley County Courant, March 2, 1882.

OLD WINFIELD SCRIP.

We have heard considerable comment among our citizens in relation tothe payment of the city’s share of the scrip issued by old WinfieldTownship, for which the city of Winfield has been sued by the King BridgeCompany and by Carpenter and Reed.

The city’s proportion to pay, should the courts decide the debtlegal, would be considerable, and the people of this city would certainlywish to know that the debt was lawful before they are called upon to taxthemselves for two or three thousand dollars. The city council at a meetingresolved to contest, if all the other townships would join, in testing thelegality of this large amount of scrip.

Since then we have learned that Pleasant Valley Township has refusedto contest, but we suppose of course, the city council will take steps toprotect the interests of the people and see that they pay only such debtsas are legal. This scrip has not a very good name, and is thought by manyto have been illegally issued.

Though Mayor Troup is attorney for the parties bringing the suit, wesuppose he will guard the interests of the people as well as those of hisclients, and the citizens of this city will look to him and to the citycouncil for full protection of their rights. If these claims are legal,the city will not hesitate a moment or protest an instant over their payment,but a decision of the courts should certainly be obtained.

Excerpts...not sure if the following applies to Winfield or ArkansasCity!

Cowley County Courant, April 13, 1882.

The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Monday morning,and have been busy transacting the usual routine of business. All threemembers of the Board were in attendance.

The petition of D. S. Roach for a ferry on the Arkansas river was granted,and the County Clerk directed to issue license for one year.

Excerpts...

[CHIMES FROM BETHEL.]

Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.

Two or three timber sows are camping near the bridge on Dutch creek.This is a shame. Can’t the officers prevent this nuisance? It’san insult to all decency. This is the great thoroughfare which a large amountof trade comes to your town, and if our mothers and sisters are to be insultedevery time they go to town, it’s better that other arrangements bemade.

[Second the motion. Fire them out. Pr.]

Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.

A team loaded with ladies and children was frightened by the train onthe crossing south of the south bridge last Friday and ran away, scatteringthe folks around over the prairie. We could not learn the names of the parties,and conclude there was no one hurt.

Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.

W. A. Lee received one of the Gaar Scott engines and separators lastSaturday for John Davis and Bros., of Vernon Township. It was unloaded,driven up through the streets, and created quite a commotion. The idea ofan engine running along the road without horses and pulling a threshingmachine was rather novel, to say the least. After going about through thestreets for awhile the engine started for Vernon Township followed by alarge procession of farmers. It pulled across the west bridge and up thehill on the opposite side without trouble. Mr. Hess of Vernon engineeredthe "iron horse." We wonder what the mechanical ingenuity of manwill invent next?

Cowley County Courant, May 18, 1882.

Hahn & Co.’s sign board near the Dutch creek bridge has beenmashed up, but then they keep other signs in the papers, which if they aretorn up one day, they appear fresh and bright the next.

Excerpts...

Cowley County Courant, May 18, 1882.

THE COURANT family loaded itself into one of Schofield & Keck’sbest rigs Sunday morning, and made what is sometimes termed a flying tripto the Geuda Springs. We won’t say "far famed," "worldrenowned," "justly celebrated," for that would not be strictlyaccurate, and as the truth is all we desire to tell, the facts must be adheredto.

The ride to the Springs on a beautiful morning like yesterday is simplydelightful. The road from the time you leave the livery barn, till the springsare reached, is as near perfection as it well can be, stretching as it does,across what we will risk to say, is the most beautiful township in Kansas.Cowley County, in our judgment, is one of the best looking counties in thestate, and Beaver township is certainly very near if not quite the gardenspot of the county. There are no hills to speak of, and the little streamsare all bridged and unless it is immediately after a heavy rain, there isno more delightful drive in the west. The wheat is now headed and is ofsuch uniform height and advancement, and so limitless in acreage, that itrequires but little imagination to make it a shoreless green sea. But wemust hasten to the Springs.

The Arkansas River is crossed on a good ferry boat, in charge of a carefulboatman. Let us stop for a moment on this raging Arkansas, or as VinnieBeckett would say: "this big rolling muddy." We have had considerableacquaintance with this river for a number of years. So much so, that weare not afraid of being laughed at on the score of total ignorance on thesubject. Thousands of dollars have been squandered—that’s theword—in making surveys of the stream by "competent engineers."These surveys invariably follow the bed of the river on the old theory thatnature knows what is best for us, which she don’t. The cutting acrossof miles of bend here and there, the advantage of crowding that body ofwater into a new and narrower channel never seems to have entered the "competentengineer’s" mind. The only competency seeming to be requisitewas the ability to get through with the appropriation by the time Congressmet again.

Cowley County Courant, June 1, 1882.

Mr. J. H. Finch met with a severe accident last Saturday evening. Ashe, with Gen. Green, was driving on the approach to the west bridge, theteam jumped to one side, upset the buggy, and threw Mr. Finch to the ground,breaking both the bones in his left leg, a little above the ankle. Dr. Emersonreduced the fracture, and Uncle Jim is now getting along very well.

Excerpt...

[COMMUNICATION FROM "GRANGER" - BEAVER ITEMS.]

Cowley County Courant, June 1, 1882.

TANNEHILL, May 25, 1882.

The heavy rain of Friday night has put Beaver creek on a high and sweptaway two bridges.

Excerpt...

[CORRESPONDENTS.]

Winfield Courier, June 1, 1882.

Tannehill Items.

The heavy rain of last Friday night got Beaver Creek on a "high,"and two highway bridges were swept away.

Winfield Courier, June 8, 1882.

Mr. Powell, a sheep man of Harper County, while returning from the countryTuesday in one of Schofield & Keck’s best rigs met with a veryserious accident. In coming down the grade at this end of the west bridge,the buggy struck a large rock, almost upsetting it, and throwing Mr. Powellout. The horses immediately became frightened and began to run. Leavingthe road, they ran into the timber at the right, and while going at a terrificrate, one horse struck a large tree, instantly breaking his neck. Luckilythere was no lady in the buggy.

Winfield Courier, June 15, 1882.

A SAD ACCIDENT.

Mr. L. F. Wellman, of South Bend, is Killed by Falling From His Wagon.

DIED. Today (Wednesday) just as we go to press, we learn of a very sadaccident which happened just across the south Bridge, and which cost Mr.L. F. Wellman his life. Mr. Wellman and his two daughters were coming totown in a two-horse wagon. The wagon was rickety and the hounds which holdthe tongue were frail. In coming down the hill just over the south bridgethe wagon took a shoot sideways, which threw Mr. Wellman out, his head strikinga rock and producing concussion of the brain from which he died in abouttwenty minutes. As we write the Coroner is arranging for an inquest. Mr.Wellman is a man perhaps forty-five years old and has a family.

Cowley County Courant, June 22, 1882.

DIED. Again we are called upon to record a distressing accident, withfatal result. Mr. L. F. Wellman, of Pleasant Valley, was driving to thiscity about 11 o’clock Wednesday, and just as he drove over the railroadcrossing just beyond the south bridge, the wagon tongue became detached.The wagon ran uncontrollable to one side of the road, and with a suddenlurch, threw Mr. Wellman out upon his head and shoulders, breaking his neck.His two daughters, aged respectively twelve and sixteen years, were withhim when the accident happened. Mr. Wellman was probably about fifty yearsof age and was rather helpless and clumsy in his movements. The Coroner,Dr. Wells, was notified, but after viewing the remains and the scene ofthe accident, didn’t deem it necessary to hold an inquest. We understandthat the unfortunate man was in poor circ*mstances, and leaves a wife andquite a family of children. Mr. Joseph Hill, Trustee of that township, hastaken charge of the remains and will see that they have decent burial.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882. [From Green’s Real EstateNews.]

BRIDGES.

There are two good bridges across the Walnut River at Winfield, one west,and one south of the city. The first one is an arched iron bridge, 180 feetlong and 35 feet high. The other the same kind of a bridge with single span153 feet long. Each of these bridges rests on solid stone abutments. Thereis also one (an iron bridge) north of town and across Dutch Creek. Thisbridge is 100 feet long.

Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882.

The Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Railroad Company has donated tothe Fair Association the free use of all the iron they need to build thebridge over Timber Creek to the Fair ground. This will be a great savingto the Association and a kindness that is appreciated.

Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882.

The track at the fair grounds will soon be ready for driving, and thebridge will be finished this week. The managers are pushing things alongrapidly.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, August 10, 1882.

The Fair.

The association has recently built, at a large expense, a new bridgeacross Timber Creek a short distance above the ford leading to the grounds,thus providing both an entrance and exit gate, which will prevent the jamand commotion that would otherwise result from the great number of teamsthat will be continually going and coming from the fair grounds.

Winfield Courier, November 16, 1882.

The board of Vernon Township are tightening up and repairing the ironbridge west of town. They will also complete the grading.

1883

Winfield Courier, January 4, 1883.

[From Green’s Real Estate News.]

COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS.

ITS HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION,

Together with that of the

CITY OF WINFIELD, ITS COUNTY SEAT.

BRIDGES.

There are two good bridges across the Walnut River at Winfield, one west,and one south of the city. The first one is an arched iron bridge, 180 feetlong and 35 feet high. The other, the same kind of a bridge with a singlespan, 155 feet long. Each of these bridges rests on solid stone abutments.There is also one (an iron bridge) north of town and across Dutch Creek.This bridge is 100 feet long.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, January 18, 1883.

Wilmot Items.

The township trustee gave the bridge over Timber Creek a regular overhauling.It was badly out of repair, but it is now safe to drive over. SPECTATOR.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.

Baltimore Items.

Mr. W. R. Stolp is building a foot bridge across Timber Creek near hishouse.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.

Akron Brevities.

The first thing Mr. Burt did after the high water was to warn out handsand fix the bridge across Little Dutch at Akron. We will have good roadsas long as Mr. Burt has anything to do with it for whatever he undertakesto do, he does right. AUDUBON.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1883.

The bridge across the Ninnescah on the Santa Fe road was washed out lastweek and trains on the Caldwell branch are run to and from Wellington byway of this place.

[CORRESPONDENT: "NOVUS hom*o" - NORTHWEST CRESWELL.]

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1883.

Northwest Creswell.

We are to have a new bridge across Spring Creek on the Geuda Springsroad.

Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.

The floor of the West bridge is in a bad condition and unless somethingis done someone will have damages to pay. The embankment on this side oughtto be railed, also. Doc. Copple’s team backed off of it some days agoand narrowly escaped injury. The proper authorities should look after itat once.

Winfield Courier, November 1, 1883.

The west bridge has been closed by the authorities as dangerous and willremain so until the necessary repairs can be made. The floor of the bridgeis rotten and bad and the iron work loose. It will be perhaps two weeksbefore the plank for flooring can be got there. This will be a great inconvenienceto the citizens of Vernon, Beaver, and the northwest, and the proper authoritiesshould lose no time in putting it in shape.

[BRIDGE WEST OF WINFIELD.]

Winfield Courier, November 15, 1883.

Bridge Meeting.

For some time the iron bridge west of town has been in a bad condition,and last week the authorities of Vernon Township closed it until the necessaryrepairs could be made. Many of the people of Vernon objected strongly tothe township having to stand all the expense of keeping it in repair, andpresented a petition, largely signed, to the trustee asking him to do nothingmore with the bridge. Hearing of this, the businessmen of the city had ameeting Friday evening to devise ways and means for assisting Vernon torepair it. The meeting was largely attended and organized by electing A.T. Spotswood, chairman, and D. L. Kretsinger, secretary. Messrs. J. B. Lynn,J. P. Baden, and S. P. Davis were appointed as finance committee and S.H. Myton, A. D. Hendricks, and Ed. P. Greer as a committee to confer withthe officers of Vernon Township and see whether an equitable arrangementcould not be made whereby both parties could unite in keeping the bridgeup. The finance committee secured subscriptions to the amount of ,which amount was placed with the treasurer, W. C. Robinson. The conferencecommittee met H. H. Martin, trustee, and P. B. Lee, clerk, of Vernon Township,on Saturday and made an arrangement with them whereby the citizens of Winfieldshould pay for the lumber necessary to floor the bridge, and Vernon wouldput it down, build an abutment under the west end, tighten up the iron work,and fence the approaches. This will put the bridge in first-class shapefor a year to come, after which some new arrangement will have to be madefor taking care of it. This bridge is used more than any other in the county,and the repair bills are necessarily very heavy. Vernon spent $300 on thewest approach last summer and the present work will cost upwards of $600.

At the Friday evening meeting a small fund was raised for temporary repairs,which was placed in the hands of Mr. Kretsinger, and by noon on Saturdayhe had the bridge in shape for travel.

Winfield Courier, November 22, 1883.

The lumber for the repairs on the west bridge has been shipped and willbe here in a few days. It is the best hard oak and will make a floor thatwill not soon give way.

Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.

The lumber for the west bridge repairs has arrived and the citizens ofWinfield have paid for it in accordance with the agreement between theircommittee and the officers of Vernon Township. It now remains for Vernonto put the bridge in first-class shape and the problem will be solved forthe present.

Winfield Courier, December 27, 1883.

Bridge Done.

The repairs on the West bridge are finished and teams began to crossWednesday evening.

1884

Winfield Courier, January 3, 1884.

The west bridge is now thoroughly repaired and was thrown open for travellast week. The repairs are first-class, Trustee Martin having seen thatevery stone and piece of timber was put in just right. It has cost upwardsof five hundred dollars, about half of which was furnished by the businessmenof Winfield and the balance by Vernon Township.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.

An application was made to the Board at a regular meeting last week bythe residents of Beaver Township on the west side of the Arkansas Riverto appropriate two thousand dollars toward building a bridge across thatstream. The people have subscribed about fifteen hundred dollars. The feelingof the board seemed to be to make the appropriation, but they can do thisonly on a careful estimate of the cost of the bridge and other requirementsof the statutes.

Winfield Courier, January 31, 1884.

I have had the rods and braces tightened on the iron bridge south oftown, in Pleasant Valley Township, and conspicuous notices put up announcing"$5.00 fine for riding or driving over this bridge faster than a walk,"and by the powers of "Gaskell’s Compendium," the next manthat trots cattle or horses across that bridge will hear a racket.

L. HOLCOMB, Trustee.

Excerpt...

Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.

MAPLE TOWNSHIP.

A new bridge has arrived and will be put across Pole Cat Creek east ofWalter Jacobus.

JERRY.

Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.

A lot of boys have been in the habit of going out to the west bridge,mornings, firing off pistols, and scaring the teams of passers-by. Whenremonstrated with by a gentleman the other morning, they used very offensivelanguage. Complaints have been made and the boys will come to grief if thething is not stopped.

Arkansas City Republican, March 8, 1884.

At a meeting of the assessors last Monday, a committee was appointedto draw up a petition to the county commissioners, and circulate it in thedifferent townships, asking the county to assume control of all bridgesin the county and keep them in proper repair.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1884.

Bad Bridge.

The trustee and road supervisors of Walnut Township should attend tothe northwest approach to the Timber Creek Bridge right away. It is representedas in a bad and dangerous condition. First they know, there will be an accidentand damage done which will cost the township five times as much as it willto make the needed repairs.

Winfield Courier, April 3, 1884.

The culvert between the Santa Fe depot and the west bridge has a dangeroushole in it. Somebody ought to look after it.

[WINFIELD LACKS BRIDGE.]

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.

A BRIDGE! A BRIDGE!

My Kingdom for a Bridge!!!

The principal grounds mentioned by the Railroad Commissioners for recommendinga station between Winfield and Oxford, two stations only ten miles apart,was the lack of bridge facilities to get in to either of those towns. Itis about time that the businessmen and citizens of Winfield took activesteps to have the bridge at Bliss’ mill reconstructed on a much largerand more substantial plan. Winfield has lost enough business on accountof the absence of that bridge. The profits already lost on that accountwould be sufficient to build more than one such bridge, perhaps half a dozen.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.

A Narrow Escape.

On last Saturday evening, about six o’clock, as James Whitson ofPleasant Valley Township was crossing the Santa Fe Railroad beyond the southbridge, on his road home, the passenger train coming from Arkansas Citydashed around the curve, and, before he could get off the track, struckhis wagon. The train was three hours late, and making up time at a livelyrate. It knocked the left hind wheel into splinters, threw the wagon-bedabout twenty feet, Mr. Whitson with it, and gave everything a fearful joltingup. The horses were crazed with fright, and circled around over the countrywith a part of the wagon for some time before they could be brought to ahalt. Fortunately, Mr. Whitson came out of the wreck with only a few slightbruises, but the wagon will need many poultices to be able to stand alone.

[BRIDGE MEETING.]

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.

On last Saturday afternoon a large meeting was held in the Courthousefor the purpose of discussing the feasibility of the County purchasing thevarious bridges built over the Walnut and Arkansas Rivers and one over TimberCreek, all of which have been built by the Townships and by individual subscriptions;and also building some others much needed in different portions of the county.It being a fact that all the costly bridges built in the County up to thepresent time having been built exclusively by the townships and by individualsubscriptions, the county itself never having invested a single dollar inany of them, cannot under our present laws expend a single dollar in repairon said bridges, and the burden of keeping them in repair by the townshipshas become a very onerous one and in consideration of the fact that severaltownships having control of said bridges, are desirous of selling said bridgesto the county for a normal sum, say for one dollar ($1.00) apiece, and thusshift the responsibility of keeping them in repair onto the county. It wasthought best by many of the leading citizens, both of the city of Winfield,and also of the several townships, to call a meeting of citizens and discussthe feasibility of the change. The meeting was organized by calling C. A.Bliss to the chair, with H. H. Martin as secretary. A motion being carriedthat a committee of three be appointed by the chair to draft resolutionsexpressive of the sense of the meeting, Col. McMullen, William Moore, andJessie Isenagle were appointed as said committee, who after some deliberationreported the following.

WHEREAS, There are many valuable bridges already built in the county,and

WHEREAS, These bridges have been erected at great cost by the townshipsbuilding the same, and

WHEREAS, These bridges are kept in repair at the expense of said townships,and the same have become burdensome to the people by whom they were built,and in justice to the taxpayers of said locations ought to be transferredto the county,

Therefore, Resolved, That the county ought to own all the bridgeswithin its limits valued at $500 dollars and over, and further,

Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting—1st: Thatthe county purchase and own all bridges of the value of $500 and over, and—2nd:erect others when the same may be necessary in the county, having in viewthe greatest good to the greatest number of people.

The above report of the committee was received and unanimously adopted.

A motion was then made, and carried, that it is the sense of this meeting,that a special election be called to submit to the qualified electors ofCowley County, Kansas, the question of the county purchasing all the bridgesof the various townships owning bridges of the value of $500 and over ata nominal sum of, say one dollar ($1.00) each, and of building some others,and if the same cannot be done at a special election, that it be submittedto a vote of the qualified electors of the county at the next general election;if it is found upon further investigation that the county has the powerunder the law to purchase the same.

A motion being put and carried that a committee of three be appointedto confer with the county attorney in regard to the legality of callinga special election, or of submitting to the qualified electors of the county,the question of purchasing the bridges, and also to ascertain whether thecounty has the power under the law to purchase said bridges, and if so,to prepare through legal advice petitions to the county commissioners tocall said election. L. F. Johnson, of Beaver, W. M. Sleeth, of Creswell,and H. H. Martin, of Vernon, were appointed as said committee, with instructions,if necessary, to call another meeting after such meeting adjourned sinedie. C. A. BLISS, Chairman.

H. H. MARTIN, Secretary.

[BRIDGES.]

Arkansas City Republican, April 26, 1884.

At a meeting last Saturday at the courthouse, in Winfield, held for thepurpose of discussing the project of the county’s purchasing all thebridges built by the several townships, and costing $500 or over, for thenominal sum of $1.00, it was decided to be the sense of the persons assembledthat such action be taken. A committee of three, consisting of L. F. Johnson,of Beaver; W. M. Sleeth, of Creswell; and H. H. Martin, of Vernon, wereappointed to confer with the county attorney concerning the legality ofcalling a special election, or of submitting to the qualified electors ofthe county the question of purchasing the bridges and also to ascertainwhether the county has the power under the law to purchase said bridges,and if so, to prepare through legal advice petitions to the county commissionersto call said election, and with instructions, if necessary, to call anothermeeting.

[BRIDGE MEETING.]

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.

THE BRIDGE MEETING.

I notice in the columns of your paper of last week the proceedings ofa bridge meeting. I have talked with several of the taxpayers of this townshipon the subject, and am satisfied that this township would be in favor ofthe county buying the bridges already built by the several townships; andof building bridges in the future at the expense of the county instead ofthe townships. But it seems to me that it would be imprudent to hold a specialelection about the matter. The expense of an election of this county costsabout $800. This is a trifle for a county so large and wealthy as Cowley,but it is worth saving; and I would suggest that we take a vote on thatmatter at the general election in November, and, instead of spending thatamount to hold a special election, that it be appropriated to repair thebridges proposed to be bought.

While there may be no law authorizing appropriations by the county torepair bridges belonging to any township, I believe it would be generallyapproved from the fact that it is right that any bridge that is free forthe use of everybody should be kept in repair at the expense of the public.Yours Truly, H. J. SANDFORT.

[COMPLAINTS: SANTA FE ENGINEERS.]

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1884.

We have heard, lately, much complaint regarding the carelessness of engineerson the Santa Fe in whistling at crossings. Several teams have had narrowescapes at the crossing near the south bridge, and on Saturday Mr. S. H.Sparks, of Pleasant Valley, came within a hairs breadth of having his teamand wagon demolished. The law requires engineers to whistle within a hundredyards before approaching a crossing, and evidence shows that it is beingdisregarded in this case. The officials should look into the matter at once.The lay of the land at the crossing referred to makes it impossible to seea train until you are right at the crossing—too late to govern a tinyteam. The engineers on the passenger trains seem to be especially derelictin this particular.

Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.

We notice several dangerous holes in the bridge near the dairy, eastof town. The Walnut Township officials should look after it and probablysave the township a damage suit.

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[CITY COUNCIL.]

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1884.

The bill of Jos. O’Hare, $32.50, expenses of trip to Leavenworthin attending to the bridge case against the city, were allowed and orderedpaid.

[COMPLAINT BY CITIZEN.]

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1884.

A citizen has entered his complaint to the COURIER, in which he aversthat he saw with his own eyes and counted with his own counter the remainsof seven defunct dogs floating in Timber Creek above the water works; thathe has seen wagon loads of garbage thrown off of the Timber Creek Bridgeinto the stream night after night; that land-owners north of town have stoppedallowing the use of their land as garbage ground and for this reason thestuff is dumped into the river from the bridge. This may be a very niceand hand thing for the persons who haul the garbage and carcasses away,but as dead dog soup, has not yet become a favorite or healthy beveragewith our people, we desire to enter an emphatic protest against it. If itmust be dumped in the river, let the dumping occur from the bridge belowthe town. The statute gives our city fathers police power in such casesfor a mile outside of the city. We ask them to take immediate steps to stopit.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

A bridge meeting will be held at the Courthouse in Winfield, at two o’clocknext Saturday, for the purpose of considering the public bridge questionas relating to the people of the county. Let all turn out. Order of Com.

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Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, October 1, 1884.

We have today petitions in circulation in this city praying the countycommissioners to submit to Cowley’s voters a proposition for the countyto purchase the three bridges now owned by Creswell and Bolton Townships.Will the county commissioners act on this before the general election? IfArkansas City, with its Republican majority, defeats King, is anyone foolishenough to suppose the county will help take this bridge burden from ourshoulders? In the coming years we may frequently desire to call on the countyat large for aid. The county is Republican; so is Arkansas City; and ifwe do not show a reasonable degree of fairness in politics, we cannot blamethe rest of the county for working against us in matters purely local.

Arkansas City Republican, October 11, 1884.

In each township of Cowley County petitions are in circulation askingthat the county commissioners submit a proposition to the lawful votersof our county for the purchase of the bridges in the county. The two bridgesacross the Arkansas River should at least be owned by the county above allothers. The Arkansas is a government stream and does anyone else know ofbridges being owned by the township, when they span a government stream.All bridges within a county should be owned and sustained by the county,for are they not a benefit to the people at large as well as they are agreat benefit to the community in which they are located.

[BRIDGES.]

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1884.

The County Commissioners have decided to purchase at a sum not to exceedfive dollars all the main-stream bridges in the county, for which an electionproclamation is published elsewhere. They will also span the Arkansas nearTannehill with a bridge.

Election Proclamation.

STATE OF KANSAS, COWLEY COUNTY. ) ss.

I. G. H. McIntire, Sheriff of said County, do herein and hereby proclaimand make known to the electors of said County that there will be a generalelection held in said County at the several election districts therein,on Tuesday, the 4th day of November, A. D. 1884, for the purpose of choosingone President and one Vice President of the United States, one member ofCongress for the Third District of the State of Kansas. And the followingState officers of the State of Kansas, one Governor, one Lieutenant Governor,one Secretary of State, one Auditor, one Treasurer, one Attorney General,one Superintendent of Public Instruction, one Chief Justice of the SupremeCourt, and one Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Also the followingDistrict officers: One Judge of the District Court of the Thirteenth JudicialDistrict; one State Senator for the 27th Senatorial district of the Stateof Kansas, one Representative for the 66th Representative District of theState of Kansas, one Representative for the 67th Representative districtof the State of Kansas, and one Representative for the 68th Representativedistrict of the State of Kansas. Also the following county officers: Clerkof the District Court, Probate Judge, County Attorney, Superintendent ofPublic Instruction, and a member of the Board of County Commissioners forthe First Commissioner district of said County.

And I, the said G. H. McIntire, by order of the Board of County Commissionersdo further proclaim and make known that whereas the Board of County Commissionersof Cowley County, Kansas, have determined that it is necessary to purchaseat a sum not exceeding five dollars and forever after maintain a certainiron bridge across the Walnut River at a point about 150 feet north of the½ [?Could be 1/4 or 1/8..hard to read?] section line running eastand west through section No. 20, township No. 34 south, of Range No. 3 Eastin said County, said bridge being near Searing & Meade’s mill,and has been constructed 8 years and originally cost $3,500, and has a 90foot span and 30 foot span approach and made of iron with plank floor, ingood condition; that an election will be held at the time and places aforesaidfor the purpose of determining whether the County shall purchase said bridgeat a sum not to exceed five dollars. The ballots in favor of said propositionshall have written or printed thereon, "For the purchase of the ironbridge across the Walnut River near Searing and Meade’s mill,"and those against said proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"Against the purchase of the iron bridge across the Walnut River nearSearing & Meade’s mill."

And, whereas, the Board of County Commissioners of said County have determinedthat it is necessary to purchase at a cost not to exceed five dollars andforever after maintain the wooden bridge across the Arkansas River abouta half mile west of Arkansas City, near the half section line running eastand west through sections 25 and 26, township No. 34, Range No. 3 east,in said County, said bridge being built on piles driven 15 to 20 feet deepand is 800 feet long, built about one year ago of wood, cost $5,000. Therefore,I do further proclaim and make known by order of said Board of Commissionersthat an election will be held at the time and places aforesaid for the purposeof determining whether the county shall purchase said bridge at a cost notto exceed five dollars. The ballots in favor of said proposition shall havewritten or printed thereon, "for the purchase of the wooden bridgeacross the Arkansas River about half mile west of Arkansas City," andthe ballots against that proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"against the purchase of the wooden bridge across the Arkansas Riverabout a half mile west of Arkansas City."

And, whereas the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas,have determined that it is necessary to purchase at a cost not exceedingfive dollars and forever after maintain the combination bridge situatedabout one mile south of Arkansas City in said county across the ArkansasRiver at a point about 10 rods east and six rods south of the southwestcorner of lot No. 4, in section 36, township 34, range 3 east, in said CowleyCounty, said bridge being about 750 feet long, partly iron and partly wood,the iron part 3 years old and the wood part 5 years old and cost $10,000.Therefore, I do further proclaim and make known by order of said Board ofCommissioners that an election will be held at the time and places aforesaidfor the purpose of determining whether the county shall purchase said bridgeat a cost not exceeding five dollars. The ballots in favor of said propositionshall have written or printed thereon, "For the purchase of the combinationbridge across the Arkansas River about one mile south of Arkansas City."The ballots against said proposition shall have written or printed thereon"Against the purchase of the combination bridge across the ArkansasRiver about one mile south of Arkansas City."

And, whereas the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas,have determined that it is necessary to purchase at a cost not exceedingfive dollars and forever after maintain the iron bridge across the WalnutRiver about a half mile west of the south part of the city of Winfield inVernon Township and in the southwest quarter of section 29, township 32south of range No. 4 east in said Cowley County, said bridge being builtof iron with stone peers and abutments, one span 120 feet with two ironspan approaches, one 26 and the other 30 feet, built in 1877 and now ingood repair and cost $4,000. Therefore, I do further proclaim and make knownby order of said Board of County Commissioners that an election will beheld at the time and places aforesaid for the purpose of determining whetherthe county shall purchase said bridge at a cost not exceeding five dollars.The ballots in favor of said proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"For the purchase of the iron bridge across the Walnut River in VernonTownship," and those against said proposition shall have written orprinted thereon, "Against the purchase of the iron bridge across theWalnut River in Vernon Township."

And whereas the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas,have determined that it is necessary to purchase at a cost not exceedingfive dollars and forever after maintain the iron bridge across the WalnutRiver about a half mile south of the city of Winfield in Pleasant ValleyTownship, Cowley County, Kansas, said bridge being built of iron span 150ft. with two iron approaches and stone abutments built in 1877; in fairrepair, cost $4,500; therefore, I do further proclaim and make known byorder of said Board of County Commissioners that an election will be heldat the time and place aforesaid for the purpose of determining whether thecounty shall purchase said bridge at a cost not exceeding five dollars.The ballot in favor of said proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"For the purchase of the iron bridge across the Walnut River abouta half mile south of the city of Winfield in Pleasant Valley Township,"and the ballots against said proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"Against the purchase of the iron bridge across the Walnut River abouta half mile south of the city of Winfield in Pleasant Valley Township."

And whereas the said Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County,Kansas, deem it necessary to build a bridge across the Arkansas River about525 feet south of the half section line running east and west through themiddle section of twenty-one (21), township thirty-three (33), range three(3) east in Beaver Township, Cowley County, Kansas, said bridge to be builtof iron, with stone and iron piers and abutments, length 300 feet, width14 feet, the estimated cost of which is $6,500 dollars.

Therefore, by order of the said Board of County Commissioners, I do furtherproclaim and make known that there will be an election held at the timeand place aforesaid for the purpose of determining whether the county shallbuild said bridge at the estimated cost thereof, the ballots in favor ofsaid proposition shall have written and printed thereon, "For the buildingof the Iron bridge across the Arkansas River in Beaver Township," andthe ballots against said proposition shall have written or printed thereon,"Against the building of the Iron bridge across the Arkansas Riverin Beaver Township."

And Whereas the said Board of Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas,deem it necessary to build an iron bridge across the Walnut River near thesection line between sections seven (7) and eighteen (18), township thirty-one(31), range No. four (4) east in Fairview Township, Cowley County, Kansas,the estimated cost of which is $4,500, said bridge to be built of iron,with stone piers, and is 280 feet long.

Therefore, by order of the said Board of County Commissioners, I do furtherproclaim and make known that there will be an election held at the timeand places aforesaid for the purpose of determining whether the county shallbuild said bridge at the estimated cost thereof.

The ballots in favor of said proposition shall have written or printedthereon "For the building of the Iron bridge across the Walnut Riverin Fairview Township," and the ballots against said proposition shallhave written or printed thereon, "Against the building of the Ironbridge across the Walnut River in Fairview Township."

And I do further make known that two ballot boxes will be necessary ateach voting precinct, one for the votes for National, State, District, andCounty officers, and one for the votes on the bridge propositions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand as the Sheriff of CowleyCounty, Kansas, at my office in the city of Winfield, this 13th day of OctoberA. D. 1884.

G. H. McINTIRE, Sheriff.

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1884.

Bridge Matters.

EDITOR COURIER: There is some little stir for a new bridge across theWalnut River on the west side of town, main object being to give east andwest trade a direct road to the business portion of the city. The writerhas talked with some of the Vernonites and citizens of the city and it seemsthe most desirable place is at the west end of ninth avenue, this road wouldthen run direct to the crossing of Main street and ninth avenue, the centerof the business portion of Winfield and run by the fair grounds and withinone block of Bliss & Wood’s Mill. Should the bridge be built wherethe old wooden bridge stood, this would throw teams into the meanderingcrossings and switches of both the Santa Fe and Southern Kansas Railroads;while if the other was there, there would be but one crossing. It is notthought that the old piers of wood bridge are sufficient for a good doublebridge. People of the western part of this county know something of themud hole they have to encounter in crossing by this route. A direct roadcoming in at the west end of ninth avenue is surely desirable. CITIZEN.

Arkansas City Republican, October 18, 1884.

The petitions of the several townships of Cowley County asking the countycommissioners to submit the propositions to the legal voters of said countyfor the purchase of the bridges within the county at $5 per bridge was grantedat their session of last week, and an election was called for on November4, 1884. In the county there are five bridges to be purchased: one acrossthe Walnut near Searing and Mead’s mill; one south and one west ofArkansas City spanning the Arkansas River; then, one across the Walnut inPleasant Valley township. [CONFUSING! I COUNT ONLY FOUR MENTIONED ABOVE.]

The notice of election also calls for erection of two bridges, one uponthe Arkansas in Beaver Township, and one to span the Walnut at Fairview.

A separate ballot box from the one used to deposit the votes for thenational, state, and county candidates will be had for the votes on thebridge question. This proposition is one which all should stand united upon.It is not political; therefore, all should pull together. It is a subjectof vast importance to each and every citizen of Cowley county. What enrichesone township augments the remaining ones. Let us all put our shoulders tothe wheel and on the first Tuesday in November vote for the purchase anderection of said bridges.

Arkansas City Republican, October 18, 1884.

Clippings from the Courier.

The county Commissioners have decided to purchase at a sum not to exceedfive dollars all the main-stream bridges in the county, for which an electionproclamation is published elsewhere. They will also span the Arkansas nearTannehill with a bridge.

Arkansas City Republican, November 8, 1884.

Creswell says unanimously for Cowley to buy the bridges.

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.

Rev. J. H. Snyder is putting the finishing touches on his fine new residencejust across the west bridge. The architecture is very neat and the locationbeautiful. Should the projected bridge across the river at the end of NinthAvenue be built, the splendid table land just over the Walnut will sooncontain many handsome suburban residences.

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.

The Bridges.

The bridge questions voted on last week were nearly as uncertain as theNew York returns. The result is: For the purchase of the Walnut River bridgesouth of Winfield, carried by 21 majority. For the purchase of the WalnutRiver bridge west of Winfield, carried by 22 majority. For the purchaseof the Arkansas River bridge west of Arkansas City, lost by 2 majority.For the purchase of the bridge south of Arkansas City, lost by five majority.For the building of the iron bridge across the Arkansas River in BeaverTownship, lost by 27 majority. For the building of the iron bridge acrossthe Walnut River in Fairview Township, carried by 334 majority. This matterof the county purchasing the bridges already built, at $5.00 each, seemsto be a mistake. The Statute provides that the county cannot at any timeappropriate more than the original appropriation for repairing or maintaininga bridge. Thus, if the county buys these bridges at $5.00 each, it can neverspend more than $5.00 each in keeping them up. The bridges that were defeated,with the exception of the Beaver bridge, are better off than those whichcarried. Arkansas City and Winfield both voted solid for the bridges.

Arkansas City Republican, November 15, 1884.

Winfield voted solidly for the purchase of her bridges and scratchedArkansas City’s. Unintentionally Winfield when she scratched us didus a favor. As it is now the Winfield bridges are on the county and only$5 can ever be appropriated for the maintenance of them. Our bridges remainon the township yet. If Winfield had acted squarely, and voted solidly asthe Courier stated she did for the purchase of Cowley’s bridges,all our bridges would now be in the same fix as Winfield’s and only$5 could have ever been expended for the maintenance of Cresswell’sbridges in the future. He that scratches last scratches best and longest.

Arkansas City Republican, November 22, 1884.

We are informed that we were too previous in accusing Winfield of scratchingArkansas City on the bridge question. The Courier was right for onceand we gladly correct.

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Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.

The City Parliament.

The following bills were allowed and ordered paid.

Jos. O’Hare, expenses in attending city case in U. S. Court, $25.00.

Also, Jos. O’Hare, for services in the King Bridge Co. vs. Cityof Winfield, in U. S. Court at Topeka, $160.00.

Arkansas City Republican, December 27, 1884.

Shall Bridges Be County Property?

There seems to be a general desire to place the bridges in charge ofthe county. The expense of keeping them up falls heavily on the townshipsin which they are located, while the public at large do most of the travelingover them. We understand that petitions will be presented to the membersof the legislature from this county asking that they try to secure legislationcovering these points. Courier.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 31, 1884.

Bridge Meeting.

At a meeting of the voters of Creswell Township, Monday, December 29,business pertaining to the township was transacted, after which the subjectof maintaining certain bridges was brought up for discussion. We know thatcertain bridges have been built and maintained for the benefit and accommodationof other townships and corporations almost exclusively. Now the questionis who must support these bridges. So far Creswell Township has been taxedto build and support said bridges, but the fixed determination at the presentis to throw off this oppression. Not because we are opposed to internalimprovements, or any legitimate expenditure of money whereby we may be benefittedto any reasonable extent.

Speeches were made by F. M. Vaughn, G. Kirkpatrick, R. L. Marshall, andA. B. Sankey. Mr. Kirkpatrick proposed to make said bridges self-supportingby making them toll bridges. Mr. Vaughn proposed to have the bridges vacatedand closed, as they are the private property of the township. Others proposeddifferent schemes. It was agreed by all, however, that the supporting ofsaid bridges was an injustice and an imposition. It was thereupon

RESOLVED, (1) That the grievance be placed in the hands of a committeeappointed by the chair. (2) That this committee be instructed to bring thematter before the county Commissioners, and to decide what steps shouldbe taken toward righting the wrong. (3) That the Clerk be authorized topresent a copy of these proceedings to the different papers of ArkansasCity for publication. R. L. MARSHALL, President.

S. E. POLLOCK, Secretary.

[Coverage of Winfield Bridges Ceased with the 1884 newspapers.]

I have only two more items to add taken from a Winfield newspapersome years later. MAW

Daily Calamity Howler, Thursday, October 8, 1891.

Commissioners’ Court.

Sealed proposals for the construction of a bridge across Dutch creekin Fairview township was received. The superstructure was awarded to theWrought Iron Bridge Co., of Canton, Ohio, for $584. The substructure wasawarded to Roberts and Webber for $430.

Quite possibly this article should be in the "Arkansas City"file relative to bridges as I do not know where the bridge referred to waslocated. Article was taken from the Arkansas City Traveler.

Daily Calamity Howler, Friday, October 30, 1891.

LEE WEST.

Captured by Under Sheriff Trout, Kitchen, and

Deputy Sheriff John Mann.

West Attempts to Shoot but Gets Shot.

Last evening at about 8 o’clock Under Sheriff Kitchen and DeputySheriff Mann came into the city and reported that they had captured LeeWest, but had to shoot him to get him. Last Monday, West, while under trial,skipped the town and has been in hiding since. The officers have kept asharp lookout, but were unable to locate their man. Yesterday morning UnderSheriff Kitchen received word from West that he would kill him on sight.Kitchen was also told that West was coming into the city last night andwhich way. Accordingly yesterday afternoon Kitchen, accompanied by JohnMann, went out to watch the road by which West would come into the city.Kitchen was armed with a Winchester, and Mann with a shot gun loaded withbuckshot. They stationed themselves five miles east of the city near WillMartin’s farm at a bridge which West would have to cross to get intothe city. They watched there all afternoon and just before 6 o’clockthey put Will Martin on guard and went into the house to eat supper. Whileeating they heard a horse walking across the bridge and they felt that theirman had arrived. Jumping up from the table they ran outside and securedtheir guns and rushed out to the road. West did not see them as they walkedinto the road as he was ahead of them a short distance. Mann shouted, "Haltand throw up!" West never said a word, but rising in his saddle, turned,and fired, and almost at the same moment Kitchen discharged his Winchester.West fell from his horse at the side of the road and lay there.

Will Martin, the farmer, went up to him and found him still claspinghis Winchester as if he was ready to shoot. The gun was removed from hisgrasp and West was taken to Martin’s house. It was found that the loadof buck shot had taken effect in the side and back and was a severe wound.The injured man never said a word after he was shot, although he was perfectlyconscious. Martin was left to guard the wounded man while Kitchen and Manncame to the city after a physician. The officers brought with them West’sWinchester.

Dr. Morris went out to attend West and at a late hour returned. He reportedthat West was in a bad condition. He had received thirteen No. 4 shot. Thisis a size nearly as large as buckshot and made several ugly wounds, twoin particular being painful, having struck him near the kidney. The physiciansthink there is little prospect of West recovering.

Traveler.