Grayson County TXGenWeb

Missouri ~ Kansas ~ Texas
Railroad

Denison Daily Herald
Monday, September 23, 1878
pg. 1

IRON BANDS
Uniting Denison with Every Quarter
Making the Railroad Center of North Texas

Missouri, Kansas & Texas
The great pioneer line of road to Texas reached this point in December 1872, after traversing the richest portions of central Missouri, southern Kansas and the far-famed beautiful and picturesque Indian Territory. The main line from Denison to Hannibal is 576 miles. In addition to the main line the Neosho Valley branch from Parsons, Kansas traverses the famous Neosho Valley a distance of 150 miles. From Denison the M.K.& T. connects with the A. & P. at Vinita, I.T., with the Mo. R. Ft. S. & G. at Ft. Scott, Kansas, with the Mo-P at Sedalia, Missouri, and with the C.B. & Q. at Hannibal, Missouri. Its direct and close connections with St. Louis, Chicago and the east make the M.K. & T the Great Immigrant's route to Texas, which State owes the liberal and far-sighted management of this road for the wonderful emigration that has been attracted here by advantageous rates and judicious advertising. It is known far and wide as the emigrants best and safest route to Texas. While it is one of the longest continuous lines of railroad in the country it is one of the best equipped, and the mangement is bringing it up to standard of excellence second to none. Denison and Texas is particularly fortunate in being connected with the North by such a line of railway; and that this is fully appreciated by the people of Texas is attested by the immense commercial and passenger traffic the road is doing. Particularly this is attested to by the heavy traffic in cattle and cotton.
The close connections of this line with eastern lines makes it particularly popular with the traveling public. At Hannibal this road runs into the Union depot with the C.B. & Q and the Wabash railways, and it is positively the only route to Texas by which the traveler and emigrant can avoid annoyance and delays, and expense of omnibus and transfer ferries. Another important item to the traveler is that this line offers through cars from Houston, Texas to Chicago. In addition to the great convenience of through cars, the M. K. & T. also has the advantage over all other lines from Texas to St. Louis The M. K. & T. is the only railway from St. Louis that runs through coaches, sleeping cars, baggage and express cars from the great Union Railroad depot. The traveler and emigrant coming to Texas via St. Louis should remember that if they wish to avoid the annoyance and delays by omnibus transfers, and also have the advantages of through coaches and sleeping cars from St. Louis Union depot, they must see that they secure passage tickets reading over the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway, Sedalia, Missouri. The M.K. & T. through sleeping cars from Chicago via the C.B. & Q. R.R. starts from the great Central Depot at the east end of Lake street.
The M.K. & T. is known as the "Texas Fast Through Freight Line." They have a large number of cars used exclusively for through business between Chicago, Hannibal, St. Louis and Texas. In addition to their own cars, cars of all Eastern and Northern railroads can be run through to Kansas or Texas, either via Hannibal or St. Louis, and over their line, without breaking bulk or unloading. No change of gauge or difference in width of railroad tracks, consequently no delays. No other line in Texas offers these advantages to the freight shipper or emigrant. Shippers over the M. K. & T, are offered very low rates, and for emigrants to the Southwest wishing to remove their livestock or household goods with them to their new homes, they will make the most liberal rates.
Emigrants desiring to ship their horses, cattle or live stock will be allowed to load them in the same car with their household goods, and when one family has not enough to load one car, two or three more families, or as many as are necessary may join together to fill the car, but only one man will be allowed to accompany the same, and he will be entitled to ride free.
Any information that may be desired about freight or passenger rates to Kansas or Texas, will be cheerfully furnished by applying to G.W. Lilley, Assistant General Freight Agent, or Jas. D. Brown, General Passenger Agent, at either St. Louis or Sedalia, Missouri.