missouri & north arkansas rr: neosho to...

Missouri & North Arkansas RR:Neosho to Wayne

Looking back over a half-century ago,

at 32 route miles that lasted

less than a half-century.

by J. L. Gattis

20 October 2016

Introduction – Why the M&NA?

In the 1800s, natural springs with supposed

healing powers attracted people the springs at Eureka Springs, Ark. began to

receive local attention in the 1850s

around 1879-1880, the population boomed

had “tourist-attraction development potential”, but

nestled in the rugged Ozarks, was difficult to travel

to

M&NA RR: Neosho to Wayne, by J. L. Gattis, Oct 2016; all rights reserved 2


Railroads were pushing west in the mid- and

late-1800s by 1870, the South Pacific RR from St. Louis

extended into far southwest Mo.

in 1871, renamed Atlantic & Pacific arrived in

Vinita, I.T.

in 1881, renamed St Louis & San Francisco Ry

(“The Frisco”) branched from Monett into

northwest Ark., with a route toward Ft. Smith and

Paris, Tex.




1873 map showing the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad … the main line and

land grant in Missouri

Note the dashed planned route southwest from Springfield into NW Ark.


Solution: connect with the developing

national RR network! Eureka Springs Ry linked Eureka Springs to the

newly-built Frisco Line at Seligman, Mo., in early

1883


Introduction – 1880’s RRs in the area



Soon, the vision expanded in 1899, E. S. Ry. became St Louis & North

Arkansas RR● extended to the southeast to tap other natural resources

bondholders foreclosed; in 1906 became Missouri

& North Arkansas RR● planned extensions in late 1906 extension to the southeast, reaching the Mississippi River and

ferry connection with Yazoo & Miss. Valley RR (Illinois Central

RR) at Helena, Ark.

extension to the northwest to reach Neosho and Joplin, Mo.



Soon, the vision expanded the connection in Seligman made M&NA

dependent upon SLSF, whereas at Joplin there

were many railroads● early surveys created a route from Beaver, Ark to

Cassville and on to Joplin, thus bypassing the steep

approach to Seligman from the southeast

● but the selected route retained the Seligman connection;

relied upon trackage rights from Seligman to Woodruff

(renamed Wayne), then went to Neosho, through a

populated area with good farmland, but no existing towns

● clearing and grading began April 1907


Source: The North Arkansas Line pp. 56, 69, 73, 78.


Soon, the vision expanded the connection in Seligman made M&NA

dependent upon SLSF, whereas at Joplin there

were many railroads● construction by Greek crews; local families hired to

prepare meals

● Neosho connection with KCS completed in January 1908

● used trackage rights over KCS from Neosho to Joplin

● President Scullin told newspapers than M&NA would

eventually build its own line from Neosho to Joplin,

duplicating the KCS

● mid-1908, formed Joplin Union Depot Co.


Source: The North Arkansas Line pp. 56, 69, 73, 78.

Source: The Monark Towns and Surrounding Villages, 1999,

compiled by Larry A. James, Newton County Historical Society.



1909

map

Newtoniawas NOT on the M&NA

Official Guide

Jan ’08 cf Jan ’09


Official Guide

Jan 1909 at Neosho


READ DOWNWARD READ UPWARD

#3 Mile KCS #4 #2

11:55 pm 0 Kansas City 7:00 am 4:55 p

6:43 am 174 Neosho 12:28 am 10:02 am

#10 SL-SF #9

9:30 pm 142 Tulsa 4:05 am

1:18 am 28 Neosho 12:11 am

#21 #1 M&NA #2 #22

12:01 pm 7:05 am 0 Neosho 11:40 p 9:00 am

4:00 pm 8:45 am 42 Seligman 9:55 p 5:50 am

5:20 pm 9:40 am 60 Eureka Spgs 9:05 p 4:40 am

Development along the railroad line

Real estate Truman Elmore assisted the MNA in obtaining

right-of-way between Neosho and Wayne

with railroad concurrence, he initially purchased

land at four locations for town sites: MonArk

Townsite Co.● Chester – soon renamed Stark City Elmore had assisted Stark Brothers Nurseries in establishing

operations there

● Fairview

● Wheaton

● Ridgley


Source: “The Monark Towns in Newton and Barry Counties, Missouri”

by J. P. Elmore, in The Monark Towns and Surrounding Villages, 1999,



Real estate Truman Elmore assisted the MNA in obtaining

right-of-way between Neosho and Wayne

subsequent MonArk Townsite Co. activity● later, a 5th area was subdivided: Aroma

● In 1913, Elmore purchased a large plot between Neosho

and Aroma, subdivided it into large tracts. The company

created a partially-roofed gravel trackside platform and a

park area, became Monark Springs.


Source: “The Monark Towns in Newton and Barry Counties, Missouri”

by J. P. Elmore, in The Monark Towns and Surrounding Villages, 1999,



Oak Leaves 1912

Homeseekers’

Edition



Oak Leaves aimed at people looking for a new place to live,

described communities along the route in

flowering terms


“It is situate (sic) on high rolling prairie… The roads are generally good. …This portion of the State of Missouri ranks high in Educational matters. …Prospecting for lead and zinc is being pushed near Aroma, Fairview…New farms are being opened up and new orchards are being planted. …Chester is a new town … Within the past 90 days about 1000 acres of land adjoining the town site has been purchased by one of the largest nursery companies in the United States …”

Operating the railroad line …

… was problematic from the start! as expansion began, nation entered an economic

recession in 1907

Belamy et al. v. M.&N.A.R.Co., 8th Circuit Court of

Appeals● in May 1907 – while extensions were in progress – the

Arkansas railway commission fixed a maximum

passenger rate of 2¢ per mile for intrastate travel

● the railroad had been charging 3¢ per mile, and

contended that even 3¢ per mile did not pay operating

expenses, maintenance, and other fixed costs. costs to operate were a result of extending the line into rugged,

undeveloped country


Source: The Federal Reporter, Vol 215, Sep-Oct 1914, p 18 ff, West Publishing, St Paul.

Operating the railroad line …

… was problematic from the start! incurred receiverships

became Missouri & Arkansas Ry in 1935

by 1946 …● physical plant in sad shape

● losing money

● high train accident rate per million engine miles

● Sep 5, strike notice given

● Sep 21, abandonment petition sent to ICC

● line ceased operation in September

ICC approved abandonment in 1948

a few short segments resumed operation, but

eventually were abandoned


Source: The North Arkansas Line pp.227-240.

Other examinations of the M&NA …

generally give less attention to the Neosho

extension website -

● NorthArkansasLine.com

books -● The North Arkansas line: the story of the Missouri &

North Arkansas Railroad, by J. R. Fair

● A geography of the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad,

by L. R. Handley (a 1973 M.A. thesis)

● You can't get there from here: an historical and pictorial

trek down the Missouri & North Arkansas, by M. Lagan


M&NA timetable

June 1925


Source: Boone County Heritage Museum

M&NA timetable


M&NA timetable

Sep 1927



M&NA timetable


Union receipt records

At Neosho



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