This article from Railway Age describes construction of what is now the Kansas City Southern track running from Kansas City, MO to Beaumont, TX; which passes through several communities in the North Caddo area.
In 1891 the system, which was then known as the Kansas City Nevada & Fort Smith, consisted of only 69 miles of track from Kansas City to Amoret, Mo. During that year an extension of 12 miles was built to Hume, and the following year the road was extended to Cambria, Mo., 17.(5 miles further). In 1893 the name of the company was changed to the Kansas City Pittsburg & Gulf and the work of construction was begun in earnest. The line was extended from Cambria, Mo., via Pittsburg, Kan., to Joplin, Mo., 55.08 miles; the Kansas City Fort Smith & Southern, extending from Joplin to Sulphur Springs, Ark., 51 miles, was purchased and the line was pushed on from the latter point to Siloam Springs, Ark., 24.34 miles.
On account of the panic of 1893 the work was suspended during 1894, but construction was renewed in 1895 and 77 miles of road were built from Siloam Springs to the crossing of the Arkansas river in Indian Territory. The Texarkana & Fort Smith, running from Horatio, Ark., to Texarkana, 47 miles, was absorbed and was extended from its southern terminus south to Mooringsport, La., 45 miles.
The banner year in the way of construction was 1896, although the work was held In check somewhat on account of the free silver agitation, In combatting which, it may be remarked, Mr. Stilwell personally took a most active and useful part. The line was extended from the Arkansas river south 89 miles to a point 16 miles south of Mena, Ark., and from Mooringsport south to Many, La., 103 miles.
Twenty miles of road were also built in Texas from Beaumont to Port Arthur, in order to enable the company to begin work on its important improvements at the new town site of Port Arthur. This left 133 miles"of road to be built during the present year from Many to Beaumont, as well as the gap of 45 miles between Mena and Horatio, Ark.
These figures, which are taken from the records of The Railway Ago Construction Department, may be recapitulated as follows:
Kansas City Nevada & Fort Smith, line Kansas City to Amoret / 69.00
1891—Extended, Amoret to Hume, Mo / 12.00
1892—Extended, Hume to Cambria, Mo / 17.60
1893—Extended, Cambria to Joplin, Mo / 55.68
1893—Kansas City Fort Smith & Southern absorbed, Joplin to Sulphur Springs, Ark / 51.00
1893—Built, Sulphur Springs to Siloam Springs / 24.34
1893—Absorbed, Texarkana to Fort Smith, Horatio to Texarkana / 47.00
1894—No work done.
1895—Built, Sulphur Springs to Arkansas River in Indian Territory / 77.00
1895—Built, Texarkana to Mooringsport, La / 45.00
1896—Built, Arkansas river to 16 miles south of Mena, Ark / 89.00
1896—Built, Mooringsport to Many, La / 103.00
1896—Built, Beaumont to Port Arthur, Tex / 20.00
1897—Built, end of track to Horatio, Ark / 45.00
1897—Built, Many, La., to Beaumont, Tex / 133.00
Total Above / 788.62 miles
Source: Railway Age - 17-Sep-1897
For additional area railroad history, see The "Flying Crow" and "Southern Belle."
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