The History of The Frisco Kansas Division

1897 February 16

Article reports Kansas Midland Railroad is purchasing the property on west side of Mosley from Douglas to Morris on which they propose to construct both passenger and freight depots and to build side tracks. At least four-fifths of the property has been purchased, and the remaining one-fifth will be appraised and condemned. The road has been operated by the Frisco under lease, but the recent change in the Frisco has released the Kansas Midland from its agreement with that road, and it is proposing to run the road on its own account.

1890 March 16

Today the new Santa Fe depot is open to all trains. The depot will be the terminus of the Frisco and Wichita and Western. The Santa Fe will continue to sell local tickets and check local baggage only at Oak Street.

1890 March 16

The Frisco people have blood in their eyes for fellows who greased their track yesterday. The 10:00 passenger east on the up grade out of town was unable to make regulation time. The wheels of the engine went round and round faster than ever, like they were greased sure enough, but the train failed to move. The engineer frothed at the mouth and assisted by others the air was soon blue. It was sand, pulls up, back out for more sand, pull up, and back out for five hours before they got over the smooth rails. It is believed that some boys got hold of a grease can used by the electric line on curves and thought it would be fun to put it on the Frisco track.

1891 April 26

The new freight depot of the Santa Fe and Frisco railroads on Fifth Avenue., south of Douglas, has been completed, and beginning tomorrow morning all freight will be received and delivered from that point.

1896 June 30

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

1896 August 5

Mr. Wolff of St. Louis, the newly appointed receiver of the Kansas Midland Railroad, was in Wichita yesterday. It is said the road is now leased by the Frisco road and it is anticipated that the Frisco will take charge of the line from Wichita to Ellsworth at an early date.

1902 February 9

Editorial about the inadequacy of the Santa Fe and Frisco depots here. Gives some history of reduction in planned size when the Santa Fe depot was built. Another thing would very much please Wichita people, and that is for the Frisco to pull out that little wooden station and erect on its site a station commensurate with the importance of that road.

1897 April 9

The Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

1888 January 25

Frisco and Kansas Midland officials inspected and accepted the new line to Ellsworth yesterday and will commence operating the line tomorrow.

1897 March 26

Article reported the Frisco railway plans to build its own new depot in Wichita. Ever since they have been running into Wichita they have used the depot of the Santa Fe. As it is now, they enter the city from the east and back down to the Douglas avenue depot by turning on the wye, which is between Pine and Oak streets, passing over Washington avenue. It is thought the new passenger depot will be on the corner of Douglas and Mosley. The freight depot will be on Mosley between William and English. The road will have 2,000 feet of ground between Douglas and Morris, which will be filled with side tracks and switches.

1897 April 25

Monday morning the Midland Railway company will commence to move the old Oak street depot to the recently purchased location on Douglas avenue, east of the Rock Island track. The palatial brick depot which the people anticipated there was mythical. The depot will be moved on trucks and will not be taken apart. The road has secured the old brick livery stable on South Mosley avenue for a freight depot. The Midland will do business as an independent road between here and Ellsworth and will have nothing whatever to do with the Frisco road. The Frisco trains will terminate here and will run, as usual, into the Santa Fe depot. It is understood that it has made a new lease for five years with the Santa Fe for depot and terminal facilities.

1897 May 26

A force of men yesterday placed in position at Douglas and Mosley the old Frisco wye depot. The new depot for the Midland is 40 by 80 feet and is being remodeled, repainted, and otherwise ornamented.

1897 June 13

Article says that beginning July 1 the Frisco will run a train to Newton over Santa Fe tracks daily to connect with the west bound Santa Fe train.

1897 June 15

General manager Holman of the Midland Railroad and master mechanic C. A. DeHaven are making improvements in the vicinity of the Midland yards. They are putting in a three stall roundhouse, a machine shop, a car repair shop and sand house, besides the depot and general offices. There are 11 engines in all owned by the Midland and now used by the Frisco, and these will probably be stored here after July 1st. There will be a mixed train each way every day till the crops begin to move, after which there will probably be a round trip passenger.

1897 July 1

Frisco trains, beginning today, will stop in Wichita, not going to Burrton, as heretofore. The Frisco train arriving here at 3:40 p.m. from St. Louis will be run to Newton by the Santa Fe to make connections with Santa Fe trains going east and west.

1896 August 9

Notice issued by A. L. Wolff saying he has on July 29, 1896 by order of Judge Caldwell of the United States Circuit Court assumed control as receiver of the Kansas Midland Railway. Until further notice the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad company will continue to operate the Kansas Midland railway. Mr. W. P. Hornan is hereby appointed general manager for the receiver with headquarters at Wichita. The Frisco Railroad may build a depot of its own in Wichita or rent terminal facilities from the Rock Island, as it has been paying the Santa Fe a monthly rental of $1,600 for depot privileges and considers this entirely too much.

1887 September 13

The joint passenger station of the Kansas Midland and Frisco roads at Wabash Avenue has just been completed by Capt. White, who is now erecting the stations at Burton and elsewhere. The station at Wabash Avenue is quite similar to the first class depots of the Frisco.

1887 April 12

An ordinance passed by Wichita city council yesterday granting Kansas Midland the right to construct a switch from a point on Washington Avenue near Oak Street in a southeast direction.

1887 April 15

Several car loads of rails arrived yesterday for the Kansas Midland. Work has commenced on the switch between this road and the Frisco, allowed by the council at their last meeting.

1887 April 26

The Frisco completed the laying of a track from Wabash Avenue to the corner of Oak and Washington, joining there the Kansas Midland.

1887 April 8

The architect firm of Patton and Fisher, of Chicago, has completed plans for the Fairmount college building. The Frisco Railroad has commenced work on a switch from their road to the college site. This would later become a part of Wichita State University.

1887 April 9

Article says at dawn yesterday a gang of Frisco workers began laying a switch from their line near Oak Street across country to Washington Avenue, which the switch joins about 120 ft. south of Oak Street Details. Says the route of the Kansas Midland is likely the cause of the Frisco's actions, since the affinity between the two roads has of late grown very rapidly.

1887 April 21

A meeting of the stockholders of the Kansas Midland Railroad here yesterday ratified the lease of this road to the Frisco.

1889 September 20

Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe., Frisco, Wichita and Western, and Kansas Midland RW all using Union Depot near Oak Street. Kansas Midland ad also mentions Wabash Avenue depot.

1887 August 24

Arrangements have been made for a switch off the Frisco at 13th Street A lumber company has been formed with yard at the end of the switch. The Wichita and Suburban motor line will establish their round house at the end of the switch.

1889 September 12

It is understood that about the 15th instant the leaser of the Harvey county railway expires and the Frisco from that time on will use their own track to Burrton, where they will make a connection with the Santa Fe.

1887 September 13

The Midland Railroad has finished a 50,000 gallon water tank at Lake and is building the third near Lyons.

1887 October 27

Major H. L. Morrill, general manager of the Frisco, arrived yesterday in his special car, the Catoosa, and was met at the Wabash Avenue depot by Kansas Midland officials.

1887 December 28

The Kansas Midland switch on Mosley Avenue from Second Street to Kellogg will probably be completed today. It is being put down by a large force of Frisco men.

1888 December 31

The Kansas Midland Railway Company completes 106 Miles from Wichita, KS to Ellsworth, KS in 1888.

1888 January 15

Kansas Midland railway have made a time card which will go into effect in a few days, giving a passenger train service each way daily; also a freight train north and south daily to Ellsworth, 103 miles north, where it connects with the Union Pacific. Passenger and mail north leaves Wichita daily at 7:30 a.m., arrives at Ellsworth at 12:33 p.m. Passenger and mail leaves Ellsworth at 3:45 p.m. and arrives Wichita at 8:40 p.m. The freight and passenger business for this line will be transacted at the union freight and ticket offices of the Santa Fe and Frisco companies.

1898 August 21

Article reports the Frisco has signed a lease agreement with the receiver of the Kansas Midland Railroad and will take charge of the lien September 1.

1887 May 12

The stone and brick mason work for the foundation of Fairmount college has been let to Mr. H. M. Matheson. Excavation for the main building has been completed. Material for the foundation is arriving from Augusta and is conveyed from the main line of the Frisco road on a switch to the building site.

1902 September 26

The contract for new Frisco passenger station was let yesterday to G. W. Goodlander of Kansas City, the low bidder. It is understood that the railroad is hunting a purchaser to move off the old frame structure.

1897 July 1

The first passenger train of the new Kansas Midland service will leave Ellsworth tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. and arrive in Wichita at 10:45. Returning, it will leave Wichita at 12:20 p.m. and arrive in Ellsworth at 4:30. It will make connections at Ellsworth with the Union Pacific fast mail to Denver, leaving Ellsworth at 5:10 p.m. and arriving in Denver at 4:00 a.m. the next day. The freight service will remain about as it is at present. There will be one train a day each way, leaving Ellsworth at 8:30 a.m. and arriving here at 2:50, and leaving Wichita at 7:30 a.m. and arriving in Ellsworth at 2:00. These trains will be allowed to carry passengers, so one can go up the road as far as Wherry and back the same day.

1902 January 9

The Frisco Railroad will relay their track from Wichita to Carthage, Missouri, as soon as the rails can be obtained from the steel mills. The present rails weigh 56 pounds, but the new ones will weigh 75 pounds. The track was ballasted about a year ago. New track has already been laid from Carthage to St. Louis.

1902 August 26

The Frisco preempted the Orient Railroad from laying a track on Mosley by itself without prior announcement laying a second track on the east side of Mosley from north of 3rd street to Lewis street in one day from early Sunday morning to late Sunday night. Two trains of materials and one train with 125 men was brought to Wichita from Neodesha between 6:00 p.m. and midnight Saturday and immediately started laying the track and then worked steadily all day. This is thought to be forerunner of a new Frisco depot at Mosley and Douglas, where the present frame structure is located.

1902 September 5

The Frisco Railroad has bought 124 lots along Mosley avenue. The land lies along both sides of Mosley extending north from one block south of Kellogg. It includes the entire block between Mosley and Mead and between Orme and Kellogg. The land is to be used for larger and better terminal facilities. Land has also been purchased for building a wye connection from near Murdock, and across Wabash to join the line on Mosley avenue. Previously it has been necessary for trains from the east must turn north to the junction on Washington avenue before proceeding south to the depot.

1902 September 13

Plans for the new Frisco passenger depot have been given to contractors with requests for bids to be received by September 20. Specifications for the freight depot have not yet been received here. The old frame depot has not been disposed of as yet. All of the new track laid down Mosley avenue has been reduced to grade and the switches put in, and it is now being used regularly by the company. The street crossings have been put in and the track ballasted with crushed rock from the Joplin mines.

1902 September 15

The city council yesterday granted the Frisco Railway company right of way over certain streets and alleys and vacated certain others in connection with the Friscos expansion of its yards and depots in this city. Details listed. Plans for the Frisco’s new freight depot were presented. It is to be just south of the passenger depot with a two story office building 30 by 40 feet on the north side and a warehouse one story high 120 feet long extending from this to the south and a covered platform 90 feet long extending south from the warehouse.

1901 April 19

Frisco to make Wichita a division point. All passenger crews will lay over at Wichita instead of going on to Burrton, and the Ellsworth crew will be run in here.

1902 September 21

The Frisco Railway company will put in a switch and 2,000 feet of track for the Burton Stock Car company to facilitate removal of material from the dismantled plant.

1900 July 14

Article says the Kansas Midland Railroad company, while still in the hands of a receiver, has been operated for some time by the Frisco, and the latter company is expected to buy it when it is sold at public auction in Wichita on July 25.

1902 October 12

Bids opened on October 15 for the new Frisco freight depot. It is on Rock Island avenue, 200 feet south of Douglas. The office is a two story structure of gray pressed brick, 30 by 40 feet. The warehouse will be 120 feet long and 40 feet wide, also of gray pressed brick. Ten doors will open on the west or team side and six on the east or track side. On the west a galvanized iron awning will extend 8 feet. On the east side a galvanized iron awning will extend over 8 feet of platform and 2 feet of track. The platform at the south end beyond the warehouse will be 100 by 48 feet and have an incline for heavy teams 16 feet long and 10 feet wide.

1902 October 19

Work on the removal of the old passenger depot of the Frisco line at Mosley and Douglas will begin tomorrow. The building will be removed to Morris avenue, north of Kellogg, and then used as a warehouse.

1902 October 25

The old Midland depot that has stood at the corner of Mosley and Douglas for years is being moved away. Yesterday it was blocked up, placed on rollers, and moved off the foundations. It has stood unoccupied for years. A long time ago it was a pretty good depot, as frame depots go, but it was never what a town of 20,000 people should have even when it was built. It was built by the Kansas Midland and occupied by them a few years. It was kept in pretty fair condition during that time, but when the road went into the hands of a receiver, it soon presented a very dilapidated appearance. When the road was sold to the Frisco, that company put in new windows, scrubbed the floors, and varnished the interior woodwork and made a show of using it for a few weeks. Years ago the windows were boarded up, the doors nailed shut, and the building became the home of sparrows and pigeons. The paint crumbed and fell, small boys pulled the boards off the windows and played marbles on the floors, and at night tramps made it their home. The old depot will now be moved down near the round house, where it will be used as a store room and tool shed. Work will start Monday on the excavations for the new depot.

1902 November 11

Yesterday the first stones were laid for the foundation of the new Frisco passenger depot. The contract has also now been let for the new freight depot. It will stand about 40 yards south and west of the passenger depot and will face the east.

1902 December 10

Workmen began tearing down the old Midland freight depot to make room for the new Frisco freight building. This big brick structure was erected years ago, during the boom, and was first used as a livery barn, but when the Midland road ran into this city it was converted into a freight house.

1871 July 24

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri. It is later disorganized.

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1902 September 15

Work started on tearing down of the abandoned plant of the Burton Stock Car company. This would be the future site of the Frisco's 29th St. Yard.

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1900 April 12

Report that Frisco will begin at once to improve the old Kansas Midland depot and terminal facilities and utilize them for its own use, now that it has gained control of the Midland. For a number of years the Frisco has had joint use of the Santa Fe depot with that road. The lease will not expire until February 1901, but it is said that the lease can be and will in all probability be abrogated. The report is out that the Frisco will greatly enlarge and improve the Midland depot and make it modern in every respect. The terminal facilities at present are by no means adequate and many additional sidetracks, crossings, turntables, and like conveniences will have to be put in.

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1887 January 29

Site of Union Freight Transfer Depot settled. It has been decided to locate it on Fifth Avenue on the east side of the Santa Fe track between Kellogg and Orme Streets. The building will be put up by the Santa Fe, Wichita and Western, Frisco, Rock Island and the Kansas Midland companies. It will have east front of 200 ft. and 75 ft. wide. On each side of the building will be a platform 50 ft. wide which will be under roof.

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1898 August 4

Two men, Samuel Smith and Tom Wynn (or Winn), were taken into custody on suspicion of robbing the Frisco train at Andover.

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1898 July 16

The Frisco is held up in Andover, where suspected robbers Samuel Smith and Tom Wynn (or Winn), and held up station agent S.B. McClaren. They then flagged down the express passenger

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1899 May 7

Article reports rumors of a possible Union depot some where on East Douglas avenue, probably between the present Rock Island and Santa Fe depots. At present the Santa Fe, Frisco, Wichita and Western, and Midland trains all arrive at one depot which is called the Union depot. The Rock Island is but a block away. There are 42 passenger trains arriving and departing from Wichita daily, mostly between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

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1900 September 25

The Kansas Midland Railroad Company is created under the general laws of Kansas.

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1900 October 1

The Kansas Midland Railroad Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

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1901 October 20

The Frisco offices are having their signs reading Frisco Line removed and replaced with signs reading Frisco System. The Frisco system now embraces the Frisco Line and the Memphis Route.

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1900 April 10

Article confirming the sale of the Kansas Midland (in hands of receiver) to the Frisco. The Frisco will now re-open and improve the Midland depot here and build its own terminal facilities in the way of side tracks, depot, switches, etc. After the expiration or annulment of the contract with the Santa Fe for western business by way of Newton the Frisco will use the Midland to Burrton and reach Colorado and the west by way of the Union Pacific from Ellsworth. The Midland will be repaired and put in good shape.

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1897 July 11

An article in the Wichita Eagle reports new changes in the time card of the Frisco Railroad effective today.

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1900 April 18

An article in the Wichita Eagle reports the Frisco paid $2,065,000 for the Kansas Midland. The article speculates on improvements of the Wichita terminal, passenger station, etc.

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1900 May 12

The Frisco has decided to postpone erection of a passenger station in Wichita until the terminal contract with the Santa Fe expires, which will be in January 1901.

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1900 October 11

The Frisco plans to improve the track and facilities of the Kansas Midland line.

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1900 October 18

The Frisco has put six solid extension vestibuled coaches on their service between Wichita and St. Louis.

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1900 October 23

The title to the Kansas Midland was transferred to the Frisco. At the Master's sale last July the road was bought by representatives of the bondholders instead of by the Frisco, as first supposed. A new company was then formed, with the name of the road changed to the Kansas Midland Railroad company and the title of the old company was transferred to the new . The transaction yesterday transfers the title of the new company to the Frisco.

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1900 April 1

The Wichita Eagle reports rumor that the Kansas Midland Railroad has been sold to the Frisco. The Frisco has the Midland under lease now.

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1900 October 1

The Kansas Midland Railway Company is sold to the The Kansas Midland Railroad Company.

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1879 October 9

Wichita Eagle, October 9th, 1879, Page 3, The tracks of the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad reached Cherryvale Saturday night.

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1880 March 4

Messrs. Hobart and Allen, directors of the St. Louis and San Francisco road, have been in Wichita this week. It was thought that the depot and so forth were permanently located in the north part of town, but Mr. Hobart informs us that the right of way into that part of the city will cost them so much more than they had calculated upon that he did not feel justified in recommending its adoption, unless something could be done. The lower end and east side of the city have made very favorable propositions, and unless high prices at the upper end can be materially compromised or reduced the location will be changed, he thinks.

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1879 May 22

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, May 22, 1879, Page 2, An article in the Wichita Eagle reports the vote on May 20th which carried by a large margin for the subscription of bonds for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad.

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1879 June 26

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, June 26th, 1879, Page 3, Grading of the first 20 miles of the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad from Oswego started a week ago last Saturday. Thirteen thousand tons of steel rails have been bought, to be delivered before Ja

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1879 July 3

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, July 3rd, 1879, Page 3, About 1000 men are at work on the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad west of Oswego. Delivery of steel rails will commence the second week in August and will continue at the rate of 3000 tons per mont

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1879 July 24

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, July 24th, 1879, Page 3, Stockholders of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad voted July 17th to increase bonded debt of the company $1,100,000 in order to acquire the Missouri and Western Railroad (from Pierce City, Missouri

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1879 July 26

The Missouri and Western Railway Company's property in Missouri is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1879 May 15

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, May 15th, 1879, Page 2, Article summarizes terms of proposed bond issue for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad: Must commence construction within 60 days. Must build and operate 75 miles of the road by next January. If it builds only to Wichita it gets just $35,000. If it builds only one line from Wichita to western line of Sedgwick County it gets $140,000. Only if it builds to Wichita by August 1880 and two lines to the western line of the county by August 1881 does it get the full $230,000.

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1879 September 18

Wichita Eagle, Thursday, September 18th, 1879, Page 3, Track laying on the St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railroad is progressing at the rate of one and one half miles daily. The road will be finished to Cherryvale by the last of this month and to Fredoni

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1879 April 10

Wichita Eagle,Thursday, April 10, 1879, Page 3, The Wichita Eagle publishes a proclamation for special election May 20th to vote bonds for St. Louis, Wichita, and Western railroad project. Total amount of bonds is $230,000.

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1879 November 20

Cars commenced running through to Neodesha on Sunday, November 9th. Track laying is pushing for Fredonia. Seven new ten wheel Baldwin engines, 19 by 24 feet, arrived at Springfield November 10th.

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1879 November 27

Track layers are 1 mile east of Fredonia, and have ran into issues with rock cuts. Depots have been built in Cherryvale and Neodesha.

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1879 December 11

The board of appraisers, or condemning commission, have been very busy for some days past, condemning the right of way through this county for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad. The line approaches from the eastern boundary of the county on a s

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1879 December 31

The St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway Company completes 61 miles to New Albany, KS.

1880 January 1

The St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad is now completed more than 75 miles west of Oswego and will commence on December 28th running passenger and freight trains over this 75 miles, thus complying with conditions of the Sedgwick County bond subsidy.

1887 April 10

Agreement between the Kansas Midland and the Frisco Railroad for the latter to become interested in the construction and operation of the former road from Wichita into Nebraska. The entire road is to be put under contract within ten days and the Frisco will run her trains through from St. Louis over the entire line, while the Kansas Midland company will operate the local trains from Wichita.

1879 July 29

The Missouri and Western Railway Company's property in Kansas is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1877 February 7

The State Line, Oswego and Southern Kansas Railway consolidates with the Memphis, Carthage, and Northwestern Railroad company to form the Memphis, Carthage, and Northwestern Railroad

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1872 April 13

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1872 April 12

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas. 20 miles of track completed from Carthage to Brownsville, KS, 1873. 27 miles of line graded from Brownsville to Oswego, KS, Not completed.

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1872 April 5

The State Line, Oswego and Southern Kansas Railway is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1875 March 22

The Missouri and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

1875 March 19

The Missouri and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1875 February 11

The Pierce City and Kansas Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1879 May 20

Bonds carried for the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railroad

1875 March 6

The Oswego and State Line Railroad Company is consolidated with The Pierce City and Kansas Railroad Company to form The Missouri and Western Railway Company.

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1880 May 20

The smoke of the construction train of the St. Louis road can be seen over the hill as we go to press. The general passenger agent of the St. Louis and San Francisco was in Wichita last week making arrangements for operating the new railroad. The terminal facilities of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe will be used and for the present the railroad will run into the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe depot. The curve in the grade, running to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, is being made by the St. Louis and San Francisco.

1877 February 7

The Memphis, Carthage and Northwestern Railroad Company is sold to the Missouri and Western Railway Company.

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1878 December 31

The Missouri and Western Railway Company completes 27 miles to Oswego, KS in 1878.

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1879 February 27

Wichita Eagle February 27, 1879, Page 2, Editorial says we now have an opportunity to get an extension of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad to Wichita from its present terminus of Oswego.

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1879 February 27

Wichita Eagle February 27, 1879, Page 3, Report of a meeting held Saturday which passed resolutions favoring voting of bonds to aid the extension of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad from Oswego to Wichita.

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1879 March 21

The St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1879 April 3

Wichita Eagle,Thursday, April 3rd, 1879, Page 3,The Wichita Eagle publishes a legal petition calling for special election to vote bonds to aid construction of a railway from Oswego to Wichita by the St. Louis, Wichita, and Western Railway.

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1875 February 16

The Oswego and State Line Railroad Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1885 September 16

The brick walls are up at the Consolidated Tank Line company's warehouse at the Y of the Frisco & Santa Fe railroads.

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1880 February 26

The Wichita Eagle reports that graders on the St. Louis and San Francisco are in sight of town.

1883 January 4

The Frisco Railroad gross earnings during 1882 will be about $3,610,000, about $450,000 more than in 1881 due to the short crop in 1881. Net earnings will be about $1,920,000, and after paying all fixed charges and the dividend on the preferred stock, the company will show a surplus for the year of over $500,000.

1883 April 5

A six drive-wheeled engine on the Frisco left Wichita last week for St. Louis with 57 freight cars, making a train of upwards of 1700 feet in length. One engine on the Santa Fe pulled 63 cars from Newton to Wichita once, which was the longest ever pulled in or out of Wichita by one engine.

1883 November 22

The new standard time has been adopted by the railroads entering Wichita.

1884 March 27

The Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company is organized under the general statutes of Kansas.

1884 September 12

The Santa Fe and Frisco railroads have fitted up an elegant ticket office.

1882 March 28

The St. Louis, Wichita and Western Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company

1885 April 11

Work to Commence Immediately on the Kansas City and Southwestern.

1882 February 23

The Joplin and Galena Railway consolidates with the Joplin Railroad Company to form the Joplin Railway Company.

1885 November 25

The Eagle reports Our Santa Fe friends are probably opening their eyes to the fact that the little cutoff constructed by them for the accommodation of the Frisco from Sedgwick city to Halstead is liable to become very soon an important link.

1886 February 8

The Kansas Midland Railway Company is created under the general laws of Kansas.

1886 October 6

The room on North Main st. formerly occupied by the post office, is was fitted up so the Santa Fe and Frisco ticket office could be moved to it.

1886 February 10

The first charter of this week was granted to the Kansas Midland Railway Company, which is designed to run from Wichita to Red Cloud, Nebraska on the Burlington and Missouri River. Capital stock is $5,000,000. Directors are S. W. Campbell, C. R. Miller, J. O. Davidson, W. E. Stanley, Robert E. Lawrence, H. G. Lee, and O. H. Bentley, all of Wichita.

1887 January 30

Union Stock Yards organized yesterday as a joint stock company. 15 acres of ground has been secured at the junction of the Missouri Pacific, Santa Fe, Rock Island and Midland, or in the present "Y" of the Ft. Scott, and Santa Fe. $200,000 has been subscribed.

1902 April 20

Frisco employees believe the recent trip of company officials to this city was to consider the building of a passenger station on the site of the old Midland station, which is no longer in use. The contract of the Frisco for the use of the Santa Fe passenger station has expired and the company can use other facilities whenever it so desires.

1885 December 31

The Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad Company completes 62 miles to Erie, OK. Erie is on the border with Kanas

1880 November 18

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad is now advertised in St. Louis as the Frisco Line which is short and handy.

1880 May 23

The last rail was laid Sunday evening and the Great East and West Railroad is completed to Wichita. On Monday evening Superintendent Rogers reached here by a special. Regular passenger trains commence running this week. The first dirt on this extension was broken at Oswego on June 17, 1879 and steel rails laid the full distance of 145 miles since then.

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1880 June 3

Quotes of several newspaper articles on the completion of the St. Louis and San Francisco railway to Wichita. Mentions that since the voting of bonds, the stock of the St. Louis and San Francisco road has been acquired by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company, and Wichita is unhappy that the new road will not be independent and compete with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and is therefore reluctant to pay the whole $230,000 bond issue. 30 passengers came in on the second through train over the St. Louis and San Francisco. The new passenger train consists of three coaches and an express and mail car, painted dark and gilt. The train started carrying St. Louis mail on Tuesday, June 1st.

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1880 June 1

The first passenger train is ran to Wichita over the new line. The train started carrying St. Louis mail on Tuesday, June 1st.

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1880 June 5

One hundred nineteen car loads of freight, etc. have been received over the St. Louis, and Wichita road up to Saturday night.

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1880 June 17

The St. Louis road is shipping in Butler County stone and has shipped out 40 car loads of sand.

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1880 June 24

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company have laid a track about 300 feet long alongside of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe for transfer purposes.

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1882 January 5

This intimation given out by the Eagle last spring that a passenger depot would be built at the intersection of the Frisco and Santa Fe Railroad, near the northern limits of the city, was received with some little skepticism. In addition to the grounds within the wye the companies have purchased strips on each side of the track 50 and 100 feet respectively by 1000 feet long. The plan shows a very nice passenger depot 80 feet long and 30 feet wide and two stories high. The freight business of both roads will be done at the old depot; the passenger, mail, and transfer business at the new. The spot designated for the new depot is on the west side of the main track of Santa Fe and north of Oak street.

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1880 September 16

A survey is being made by the St. Louis and San Francisco from Sedgwick City to Halstead along the banks of the Little River to a connection with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

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1887 March 19

A charter has been filed for a town site near five miles east on the Frisco line, to be called Manchester.

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1881 March 17

Note says a track has been ordered between Sedgwick City and Halstead to connect the Frisco and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

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1881 May 26

Article says Frisco railway is demanding issuance of $42,000 of bonds voted to aid construction of the railway by Sedgwick county but not yet issued. The county maintains the Frisco has not complied with the requirement to build 78 miles of railroad in the county.

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1881 November 3

Editorial saying the Frisco is threatening to build a branch from Augusta to Newton, and implying that the failure of Sedgwick county to live up to its contract and issue all the bonds for the St. Louis-San Francisco railway lost to Wichita the location of a depot and machine shops and also the extension of at least one line to the western limits of the county.

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1882 February 25

The Joplin Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Missouri.

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1882 February 23

The Joplin Railway Company is organized under the general laws of Kansas.

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1882 March 17

The Joplin Railway Company is sold to the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company.

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1880 August 26

The St. Louis and San Francisco will extend their track along Pine Street and will at its intersection with Main Street erect an independent depot. It seems that the proposition to build a union passenger depot on the triangle at the intersection of the roads has fallen through.

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1908 September 19

Few people could afford the Model T when it was introduced in 1908. But Ford's moving assembly line increased production volume, and prices fell dramatically from $850 to $260 by 1925. The Model T gave personal mobility to more than 15 million rural and u

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1879 November 8

Thomas Edison used this carbon-filament bulb in the first public demonstration of his most famous invention, the first practical electric incandescent lamp, which took place at his Menlo Park, New Jersey, laboratory on New Year's Eve, 1879. As the quintes

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1881 November 8

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1884 October 14

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1892 November 8

From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island was America's largest and most active immigration station, where over 12 million immigrants were processed. On average, the inspection process took approximately 3-7 hours. For the vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island

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1896 June 5

This U.S. Supreme Court case set the precedent that separate facilities for blacks and whites were constitutional as long as they were equal. Restrictive legislation based on race would continue until another Supreme Court cast, Brown v Board of Education

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1902 December 29

Building permit issued for the new Frisco passenger depot at cost of $18,300, to be 45 by 90 feet. The foundations are now completed. Wichita Eagle/Tihen Notes

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1903 May 15

The Wright brothers inaugurated the aerial age with the world's first successful flights of a powered heavier-than-air flying machine. The Wright Flyer was the product of a sophisticated four-year program of research and development conducted by Wilbur an

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1872 March 30

To permanently close to settlement an expanse of the public domain the size of Yellowstone would depart from the established policy of transferring public lands to private ownership. But the wonders of Yellowstone-shown through Jackson's photographs, Mora

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1909 September 19

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1913 September 19

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1917 September 13

Americans reluctantly entered Europe's Great War and tipped the balance to Allied victory. In part the nation was responding to threats to its own economic and diplomatic interests. But it also wanted, in the words of President Woodrow Wilson, to make

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1920 August 18

This sign was designed to be placed in the window of a home so that all who passed would know that the woman within had exercised her right under the 19th amendment and registered to vote. It also served as a reminder to other women to do the same. - Smit

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1924 April 15

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1927 April 15

Our messenger of peace and goodwill has broken down another barrier of time and space. So spoke President Calvin Coolidge about Charles A. Lindbergh's extraordinary solo transatlantic flight in 1927. Not until the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969 was the e

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1901 May 15

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1862 October 11

Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862, the Homestead Act encouraged Western migration by providing settlers 160 acres of public land. In exchange, homesteaders paid a small filing fee and were required to complete five years of cont

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1849 June 2

James Marshall was superintending the construction of a sawmill for Col. John Sutter on the morning of January 24, 1848, on the South Fork of the American River at Coloma, California, when he saw something glittering in the water of the mill's tailrace. A

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1851 August 13

Moby Dick published

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1852 January 30

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Toms Cabin is published, widely praised by abolitionists and condemned by slave owners. The book sells several hundred thousand copies in its first few years of publication.

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1853 May 27

Also known as the Sale of La Mesilla, the Gadsden Purchase was the result of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American war in favor of the Americans. The war was a territorial dispute over land. The purchase changed the southern b

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1854 May 27

The Kansas-Nebraska Act repeals Missouri Compromise of 1820 and allows all territories to permit or prohibit slavery.

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1858 February 28

The completion of the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1858 was a cause for much celebration on both sides of the Atlantic. Tiffany & Company of New York purchased the cable remaining on board the USS Niagara after the successful completion of the c

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1877 November 8

Reconstruction end

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1861 November 6

Elisha Otis patents the steam-powered elevator

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1876 November 8

Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated several experimental telephones at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. This unit features a single electro-magnet and could be used both as transmitter and receiver. Bell approached the problem of transmittin

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1863 December 1

In the summer of 1862, Lincoln drafted an executive order on slavery. Published in September, it declared that, as of January 1, 1863, all persons held in slavery in areas still in rebellion would be then, thenceforward, and forever free. Although the E

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1865 November 28

13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified, abolishing slavery, President Lincoln is assassinated

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1868 January 13

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees African Americans citizenship rights and promises that the federal government will enforce equal protection of the laws.

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1869 April 26

The joining of east and west by rail at Promontory, Utah was a significant event in American life and culture. A national network of iron, steel, and steam, represented by the driving of the Golden Spike, became a unifying metaphor in the years after the

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1870 April 26

15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution gives black men the right to vote

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1931 April 15

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1860 November 6

Enter story info here

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1975 May 7

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1928 April 15

From 1939 to 1941, about 7,000 television sets were sold. This new technology was out of reach for most Americans as sets ranged from $200 to $600. Television broadcasts were limited to a few large cities such as New York and Los Angeles, they became avai

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1962 March 17

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1963 March 17

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1964 August 28

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1965 August 28

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1968 June 10

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1955 March 17

These replaced the older trans-Atlantic telegraph cables.

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1973 May 7

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1955 March 17

As a boycott of Montgomery, Alabama's racially segregated buses entered its third month, Rosa Parks was arrested for the second time. One of 115 black Montgomerians-including Martin Luther King Jr.-to be indicted by the county grand jury on charges of vio

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1976 May 7

In 1976, computer pioneers Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs began selling their Apple I computer in kit form to computer stores. A month later, Wozniak was working on a design for an improved version, the Apple II. They demonstrated a prototype in December, a

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1986 January 28

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed during ascent when a booster rocket failed and the external tank burst into a fireball. The seven members of the STS 51-L mission crew died. - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

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1990 October 11

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1991 October 11

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2001 September 11

The events of September 11, 2001, have left an indelible mark on the physical and emotional landscape of the United States. Television, print, and web-based media outlets were flooded with photographs and video of the collapsing Twin Towers in the days fo

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2003 September 11

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1969 July 20

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1942 December 5

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1846 June 4

A war between Mexico and the United States over a territorial dispute for land in present-day Texas. A decisive U.S. victory resulted in the Mexican cessation of land in Texas, California, and New Mexico

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1933 April 15

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1933 April 15

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1935 June 10

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1936 June 10

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1939 March 31

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1960 March 17

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1941 December 7

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1929 April 15

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1942 December 7

Executive Order 9066 authorizes internment for Japanese Americans living on the West Coast

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1944 June 22

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1945 March 17

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1950 March 17

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1952 March 17

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1954 March 17

Supreme Court decision bans racial segregation in schools

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1941 December 7

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2005 April 30

The rest of the line from Augusta to Wichita is scrapped, with only a few railroad ties and tracks left behind. Only 100 miles or so of the line remain in Kansas, with even fewer in Missouri.

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1773 December 16

In an act of protest against British taxation, demonstrators board three ships in Boston Harbor and dump 342 chest of tea into the water.

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1907 February 21

Frisco Railroad has agreed to build a new steel trestle bridge across the drainage canal. The canal will intersect the Frisco right-of-way several hundred feet from the present Frisco bridge over Chisholm creek. The new bridge will be about 60 feet in length. The canal crosses the right-of-way of the road near 12th street.

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1907 October 10

The Frisco is getting the road bed between Wichita and Beaumont in shape for relaying the track. Heavier and stronger bridges and culverts are being put in.

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1970 March 2

The Great Northern Railroad, the Northern Pacific Railroad, and the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad merge to become Burlington Northern Railroad.

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1970 March 2

Upon the commencement of the merger, the Burlington Northern Railroad immediatly leases the Spokane, Portland, & Seattle Railway.

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1980 November 21

The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad is Formally merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad.

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1907 September 21

Cleveland avenue street car Number 100, with Conductor John Stamp, collided with a freight train at the Frisco crossing on East Douglas last night. Car Number 100 is the one that plunged into Chisholm creek several years ago, injuring 13.

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2005 January 24

Plans are announced to scrap the remaining western portion of the line from the sedgwick/butler line to a point in Wichita.

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1907 July 12

The short track from the Rock Island to the Frisco tracks at Murdock avenue has been completed and will now make it possible to turn the heavy Rock Island engines here, which are too

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1885 April 14

A large force of graders commenced work on the Kansas City & Southwestern Railroad here at noon today.

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1887 September 11

Editorial about the Kansas Midland Railroad says it is in reality a Wichita enterprise. Much of the grading for the entire road was done in the early spring and summer, and a few miles of track was laid out from Wichita, on which was placed two passenger coaches and a new Editorial about the Kansas Midland Railroad says it is in reality a Wichita enterprise. Much of the grading for the entire road was done in the early spring and summer, and a few miles of track was laid out from Wichita, on which was placed two passenger coaches and a new construction engine and cars, but for some weeks now the work has been at a stand still. It is now learned that work is to be resumed on the 13th of this month and pushed to completion.

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1765 April 1

The British Parliament enacts the Stamp Act, provoking anti-tax protests in colonies.

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1767 June 5

The act requires colonists to pay duties on tea and other imports.

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1770 March 5

The confrontation between a mob of colonists and British soldiers on the night of March 5, 1770 ended with the death of 5 colonists. The event became highly propagandized by Patriots in favor of independence from Great Britain.

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1848 February 2

The treaty ends the Mexican-American War, giving the U.S. a massive amount of territory, including present-day California. This territory was added to during a peaceful purchase under the Gadsden purchase in 1853 with the land intended to accommodate a s

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2004 November 8

The track from Augusta to Andover is torn out between 11/01/04 and 11/19/04.

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1903 August 5

The public opening of new Frisco depot occured last evening. At one time a solid mass of people filled Douglas avenue from the Rock Island tracks to Washington avenue.

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1902 July 2

The Frisco Railway company has donated to the park commissioners ten cars of Joplin crushed shale. This crushed rock will be used on the drive between Griffenstein bridge and the fountain in North Riverside park.

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1903 February 3

Plans for the new Frisco terminals were received. They call for a roundhouse to house 12 engines, to be erected on Kellogg street, a coal chute, oil house, round house office, and a network of conveniently arranged tracks. Between Division street and Kellogg there will be 12 tracks. Two will run east of the freight depot for loading and unloading cars. Several switches will be built west of the passenger depot where sleepers will be placed before the departure of the trains. There will also be a beautiful park on the west side of the depot extending the full length of the building and about 100 feet wide. East of the depot a platform 15 feet wide and 300 feet long will extend, to be used in handling baggage. The new buildings and yards are to be completed by June 1, when the Frisco contract for using the Santa Fe tracks expires.

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1903 February 21

The brick walls of the Frisco freight depot are above the first story of the office. They are buff colored and the mortar used is red, making a very attractive combination. Material is arriving daily and work above ground on the passenger depot will commence soon.

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1903 March 3

Frisco Railroad has let contract for the round house to be built in its yards here

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1903 March 28

Material unloaded in the Frisco yards for the new round house and construction will begin at once. The building will be located about one-half block south of Kellogg on Mosley avenue and will cost $10,000. It will be built almost entirely of brick and its capacity will be eight engines an will have an iron turntable. The Frisco freight depot is almost completed and work on the passenger depot is being pushed as rapidly as possible

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1903 June 1

Frisco starts handling business from the new freight depot on Monday, June 1, 1903. The depot is just south of Douglas on Rock Island. The desks and papers of the company now in the Santa Fe depot will be moved Saturday and Sunday.

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1907 October 22

The Frisco Railroad plans to spend $20,000 for improvements in Wichita the coming year, including addition of two stalls to the roundhouse, making a total of seven stalls, and building

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1903 August 1

New Frisco depot officially opened to the public today. First passenger train will arrive at 8:15 this morning. The down town Frisco office at corner of Main and Douglas will be closed.

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1775 April 19

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the Revolutionary War.

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1903 September 6

The new Frisco switch engine Number 3618 has been assigned to duty on the joint switches in the North End.

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1907 April 11

Three cars and the tender of Frisco train No. 308, pulled by engine No. 152, were derailed yesterday six miles west of Medora on southbound trip from Ellsworth. Traffic was delayed for eight hours.

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1907 April 16

Office of O. G. Burrows, commercial agent for the Orient Railroad in this city, announced today that the Orient’s offices, now located at 249 North Main, will be moved on or about May

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1907 April 18

The Wichita Beacon reports that The Frisco Railroad plans improvements in Wichita because of increased business

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1907 May 16

Report of incident of round house yesterday causing minor damage to Frisco switch engine No. 3608. Wichita Beacon/Tihen Notes

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1907 June 7

The Rock Island has made an agreement with the Frisco to turn the Rock Island’s big new engines on the Frisco’s “Y” at Murdock avenue. The Rock Island has no turn table in this city

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1903 July 16

Round house has been completed but cannot be used until the new turntable arrives -- it is expected any day. A new freight track for teams is being put in, so that goods may be unloaded directly from the cars to the wagons. It is located along Rock Island avenue, just south of the freight depot. Second story of passenger station is completed and windows and doors are all in. Interior work being done, hoping for official opening on August 1st.

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1830 January 28

Determined to record the manners and customs of Native Americans, Catlin, a lawyer turned painter, traveled thousands of miles from 1830 to 1836 following the trail of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Catlin visited 50 tribes living west of the Mississip

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1773 September 1

Phillis Wheatley was only seven or eight years old when she was captured and taken from her home in West Africa. A slave ship brought her to Boston in 1761. Knowing nothing of the talents she would soon show the world, John Wheatley, a prosperous tailor,

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1820 March 6

In an effort to balance the power in Congress between free and slave states, a compromise is reached between pro- and anti-slavery Senators, declaring the admission of Missouri as a slave state and Maine admitted as a free state. President James Monroe si

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1823 May 5

President James Monroe is best remembered for his declaration that the United States would behave unfavorably toward European countries that tried to interfere with North and South American affairs, warning against any attempts by European powers to estab

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1824 June 1

The bureau is established to regulate and settle trade disputes with Indian tribes.

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1825 October 26

When workers began digging the Erie, the longest existing canal in the U.S. measured 28 miles long. In contrast, the Erie Canal was planned to extend over 300 miles, connecting the Hudson River with Lake Erie, the East Coast with the frontier. The canal w

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1826 April 26

The Last of the Mohicans, by James Fenimore Cooper is published

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1814 August 24

Angered by British interference with American trade, the young United States was intent on reaffirming its recently won independence. Instead, a series of defeats left Americans anxious and demoralized. They were stunned when, on August 24, 1814, British

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1828 February 19

Andrew Jackson elected President, Democratic Party formed

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1814 June 17

By the dawn's early light of September 14, 1814, Francis Scott Key, who was aboard a ship several miles distant, could just make out an American flag waving above Fort McHenry. British ships were withdrawing from Baltimore, and Key realized that the Uni

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1830 April 15

The Indian Removal Act authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties with eastern Indian tribes for their removal to lands west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their homelands east of the river.

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1836 November 3

Gun manufacturer and inventor Samuel Colt (1814-62) receives a patent in 1836 for his design of a firing mechanism that can be fired multiple times without reloading. During the Civil War, the Colt Revolver was the most commonly used revolver.

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1837 October 14

Morse develops and patents the electric telegraph, the first communication form of its kind to be sent long distance. Morse then develops what later became known as Morse code in order to transmit messages along telegraph wire.

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1838 October 14

In 1830, Congress passes the Indian Removal Act, mandating that the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes abandon their homes in the southeastern states and move to Indian Territory, the eastern half of what is now the state of Oklahoma

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1841 February 5

Catlin's book details his years traveling in the West to document the culture and customs of the American Indians.

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2009 September 11

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1826 July 4

Both former presidents die on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

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1794 June 21

The cotton gin greatly sped up the process of removing seeds from the cotton fiber. This had the positive impact of increasing U.S. cotton exports, but it also had the negative impact of enabling the expansion of slavery.

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1776 March 8

Published anonymously in Philadelphia in January 1776, Common Sense appeared at a time when both separation from Great Britain and reconciliation were being considered. Through simple rational arguments, Thomas Paine focused blame for colonial America's t

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1776 July 4

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed

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1781 October 19

British General Charles Cornwallis formally surrenders to General George Washington and his American forces at Yorktown, Virginia, bringing the American Revolution to a close.

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1783 September 3

Signed in Paris by representatives from the United States and Great Britain, the treaty officially ends the American Revolutionary War. The design on this relief sculpture shows John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay signing the document for the Unit

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1786 July 18

Peale conceived the idea for an American museum of natural history in 1783 following his time spent drawing from mastodon fossils. Three years later on July 18, 1786, his museum was opened to the public in Philadelphia.

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1787 May 1

The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned from day to day unti

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1819 April 6

Spain, unsuccessful at settling Florida, cedes its territory to the United States for many of the same reasons France sold the land in the Louisiana Purchase - fear of losing it by war. This removed yet another European power from the continental U.S. and

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1791 December 15

The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, were adopted as a single unit on December 15, 1791, and constitute a collection of mutually reinforcing guarantees of individual rights and of limitations on federal and state governmen

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1846 June 4

The Smithsonian Institution is established with funds from James Smithson (1765-1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase a

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1797 March 4

John Adams becomes the 2nd U.S. President

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1800 November 13

Washington replaces Philadelphia as the U.S. capital city

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1803 April 29

In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson negotiated a treaty with France in which the United States paid France $15 million for the Louisiana Territory - 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River - effectively doubling the size of the young nat

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1804 May 1

President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on a three-year expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.

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1807 January 5

Fulton built upon knowledge gleaned from years of experimenting with different designs in England and France to finally develop and build a working steamboat in the United States. In August 1807, his steamboat made its historic voyage navigating the Hudso

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1812 June 18

The War of 1812 begins

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1789 February 4

George Washington is unanimously elected the 1st president of the U.S.

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