The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 267, Ed. 2 Friday, March 15, 1946 Page: 1 of 16
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arch 14, 1946
Rotary
IchH SP!'-
and son team in
Stamford Rotary
le admissionof
the club, as a
|Bryant, the fa-
ptarian for over
la past district
Inly recently re-
Ie from the mil-
RED CROSS SCORE
Goal
$36,900
- Raised to date , , 11,146.50
Still to go.....25,753.50
V.L. LXV, NO. 267
ABILENE
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Che Abilene Reporter ~32ews
“WITHOUT OR WITH OFFENSE TO FRIENDS -OR FOES WVE SKETCH YOUR WORLD EXACTLY AS IT GOES.” - Byron________
A TEXAS 2ualiy NEWSPAPER
3 OTHER SCIENTISTS NAMED
ABILENE, TEXAS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1946 -SIXTEEN PAGES
Associated Prut (AP)
EVENING
FINAL
United Press (UP) PRICE FIVE CENTS
0 Basic principles of the “mod-
el charter” for Council-Mana-
ger city government are:
1. “ , all powers of the
city shall be vested in an elec-
tive council . . . which shall
enact local legislation, adopt
budgets, determine policies,
and appoint a city manager
who shall execute the laws and
administer the government of
the city."
2. “The council shall appoint
9 the city manager for an indef-
inite term and may remove
him by a majority vote of its
members.”
By WENDELL BEDICHEK
The man is one of Sweetwater’s
most useful citizens. He has served
as city councilman and as mayor
at $5 for each of the 24 regular
meetings a year. He has given of
his time and thought to many ef-
toils that brought benefit to his
@community. He is a successful
business man who wouldn't ask
for a vote but who will serve loyal-
ly.
• • •
This man never ran for office,
in the usual sense. He was one of
five men ‘drafted’ who consented
to serve on the commission if
chosen by the voters.
When the five were elected they
selected one of their number to
Obe mayor. That's how they choose
a mayor to be chairman of the
commission. He also gets $5 for
each twice-a-month regular meet-
ing and cannot draw more than
$180 in a year.
Candidates are placed on the
} city election ballot at Sweetwater
for Places 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 If
there are more than two candi-
dates for any one place each voter
-marks his ballot to indicate his
first, and his second choices for
each place.
When the ballots are counted
any candidate who receives first
choice on a majority of the bal-
lots cast is elected. Where there
are more than two candidates for
a place and no candidate has re-
ceived a majority of the first
choice votes all first choice votes
are counted as having the value
of one vote and all second choice
votes as having the value of one-
half vote. All first and second
choice votes for each candidate on
this basis are added together and
the man with the most votes on
that basis is elected
When the Sweetwater Council-
Manager charter was adopted in
1927 it was stipulated that the first
live commissioners elected under
it would draw for length of terms.
OTwo drew one-year terma, three
drew two-year terms. This set up
the system of electing two com-
missioners one year and three the
next, keeping two or three always
in office with one year of experi-
ence They select the chairman—
the mayor each year.
Our friend who has been com-
missioner and mayor has lived in
Sweetwater a long time He is a
business man, not a one-man poli-
tical movement.
Said this friend of our's. “It is
easier to get a good city manager
than it is to get a good mayor ”
“How do you figure that?" he
was asked.
"Because a mayor in a commis-
sion government is elected because
he is the most popular candidate
His qualifications for administer
• ing the city's business do not
count When an -elected council
ephires a city manager it can demand
qualifications to do the job.
% • 4
In Abilene we elect four com-
missioners. a mayor and a chief of
police every two years. Each is
charged under the charter not only
to form policies and make local
laws, but to carry out those policies
and enforce the laws—each is "a
manager”—but a part-time mana
ger named because of popularity
instead of qualifications as a city
% government administrator.
On top of the commissioners is
the mayor, elected as such, who is
a "super- part - time -manager" as
Please see ABILENE, P. 3. Col. 2
Canadian Prof Faces
Atomic Leak Charge
U. S. Notes Ignored
OTTAWA, March 15—(P)-
Fred Rose, labor progressive
member of parliament, was
charged today with violation
of Canada’s official secrets act
of 1939.
OTTAWA, March 15—(—The
royal commission said today that
its investigation of the Canadian
spy case had disclosed that Dr.
Raymond Boyer assistant profes-
sor of chemistry at McGill univer-
sity, had transmitted to the Soviet
union full information regarding
his secret work in explosives.
The commission also said three
other scientific workers engaged
in secret research for the govern-
ment during the war had given the
Soviet union highly confidential
data. With publication of the
names of these four, the commis-
sion has now identified eight gov-
ernment employes it said were op- a bouts of numerous United States
erating in a Moscow-directed "net-124 "
work" in Canada.
Fred Rose, known as the
first and only Communist ever
elected to the Canadian par-
liament, was taken into custo-
dy last night. He was not nam-
ed by the royal commission,
but Superintendent Josephat
Brunet of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police said at Mon-
military units.
In addition to Boyer, the com-
mission named these:
Harold Samuel Gerson, assistant
Iran
omises ri
treal that Rose would be ar-
raigned on charges “most def-
initely” connected with the es-
p onage case.
Today’s royal commission report
elaborated on the general charges
made public March 4, giving "spy
thriller" details of operations un-
der pseudonyms. The earlier re-
port said the military attache of
the Soviet embassy had sought to
obtain secrets of the atomic bomb,
radar, electronics and the where-1 reported.
to the head of the production con-
trol department of Allied War Sup-
p’ies, Ltd. a government company
concerned with the production of
chemicals and explosions. Gerson
was known in the spy ring under
the cover name of "Gray,” the re-
port said.
Squadron Leader Matt Simons
Nightingale, employed as a tele-
phone technician in the construc-
tion of military airports by the Roy-
al Canadian airforce.
Dr. David Shugar, a PHD in
physics at McGill university, who
was employed in the navy on re-
search in anti-submarine detec
tion. He used the undercover name
of "Prometheus," the commission
Attlee Okehs Indian
Independence Drive
LONDON, March 15.— (A) —
Prime Minister Attlee told the
house of commons today that if
India chooses full independence
from Britain "in our view she has
the right to do so.”
"It will be for us to help to make
the transition as free and easy as
possible," he declared during de-
bate on the mission of three cab-
inet members who will go to India
shortly to take up again the prob-
lem of self-government for India.
But, he said, "I hope the Indian
people may elect to remain within
the British commonwealth.
"If she does so elect,” he added
“it must be by her own free will,
Girl Honored by
Red Cross Drive
Was Friscoan
Thst girl to whom Taylor county’s
Red Cross fund campaign was ded-
icated Monday morning by former
Chaplain William E. King was Es-
ther Richards of San Francisco, a
nurse in World
War I and a Red
Cross social work-
er in World War
II.
King, now pastor
of the University
Baptist church,
served through a
half dozen cam-
paigns beginning
in Sicily with the 45th division, on
up the Italian boot, into southern
France, the Rhineland and central
Germany Through those hundreds
of days of combat he buried count-
less American boys.
And, it fell to his lot to bury
nurses and a Red Cross girl on
Anzio beachhead They had been
killed by a German anti-personnel
bomb that struck an evacuation
hospital. This occurred a week af-
ter Laverne Farquhar, the Abilene
Army nurse, was killed nearby.
GIVE!
A 55 contribution to the Red
Cross fund campaign will pro-
vide for five home visits by
Red Cross public health nurses
Last Man
Stand for
CIO PICKETS THE BRITON
for the British commonwealth and
empire is not bound together by
chains of external compulsion.”
Attlee said that Britain, in mak- 1
ing a final treaty with India, was
not "going to hold out anything to
our own advantage that would be
to the disadvantage of India."
He said he thought India would
"find great advantages" within the
commonwealth and warned that
"no great nation can stand alone
today."
Attlee said the cabinet mission
was going in India "in a positive
mood."
The three cabinet members who
compose the mission are Lord Pe-
thick-Lawrence, secretary of state
for India; Sir Stafford Cripps,
president of the board of trade;
and A. V. Alexander, first lord of
the admiralty.
They will leave next Tuesday and
are due in India March 23.
Attlee said the government in-
tended to tin the mission "as free
a hand as possible” in negotiating
with Indian political leaders and
that the three "are going out to In-
dia resolved to succeed."
BOB WAGSTAFF
Wagstaff Seeks
Congress Seat
Bob Wagstaff, who ran a strong
third in the congressional race two
years ago, said today that he will
be a candidate again this year.
“I have received much encour-
City Asked
TEHRAN, March 14.—( Delayed)
— (AP) — Gen. Ahmed Sepehbod
Amir Ahmedi, minister of war, said
today the Iranian army was "ready
to fight to the last man" if Russian
troops move toward Tehran from
Karaj. 20 miles northwest of here,
where he said trainloads of troops
and ammunition are arriving
nightly.
“Iran has shown to the
world it is a peaceful nation,
but if Russia commits an overt
act, not only every soldier but
every boy and girl in the '
streets will fight to defend
their capital," the general said
in an interview immediately
following an audience with
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi,
Shah of Iran.
The shah, he said, plans to pre-
sent the Iranian question again to
the United Nations security coun-
cil. which will meet in New York
City later this month.
Ahmedi said the Russian garri-
son at Karaj had been “increased
fourfold" and that there were
“three times as many Russians in
Azerbaijan as a month ago."
He termed the reported concen-
tration of troops and equipment
a “definite threat to Tehran” and |
added that all necessary precau-
Winnie Keeps Wraps on
Speech Awaited Tonight
NEW YORK, March 15.-
Winston Churchill put the finish-
ing touches today to tonight's
speech in which he is expected to
reply to critics of his Fulton, Mo ,
address and possibly to Generalis-
simo Stalin's denunciation of him
as a "warmonger.”
But the former British prime
minister clamped a complete news
blackout on the speech’s actual
content, an a member of his staff
said that the only copy of the talk
in existence is the one Churchill
will use in its actual delivery from
10:30 to II p. m. (EST) at an of-
ficial city dinner.
Meanwhile, the greater New
York CIO council announced it
would throw a cordon of pickets
around the Waldorf-Astoria where
menting a new world war,” and
added it was disgraceful" that
New York should give “official
recognition and a public platform
to a man who so recently was re-
pudiated by the overwhelming ma-
jority of the voters in his own
country."
Police, meantime, put into effect
elaborate protective measures.
The United States itself, howev-
er, will not be represented offi-
cially. Undersecretary of State
Dean Acheson, originally schedul-
ed to make one of the welcoming
addresses, will be unable to appear
because of pressure of other bus-
iness, the State department said
last night.
And it still as not known wheth-
er Russia would be represented.
Churchill will address 2.000 guests An invitation was sent to Andrei
as the climax of a day-long city A. Gromyko, Soviet ambassador,
fete. but the Russian embassy said he
Saul Mills, council secretary, in was not in Washington at the time
a call for pickets last night, said and that a reply would be made
Britain's wartime leader was “fo-later.
ONLY 10 CAST
Absentee Ballot
Deadline Tonight
Deadline for casting of absentee
ballots for the special election for
city commissioner next Tuesday
drew near today with little pickup
in public interest, according to
records of the city secretary.
At noon today, only 10 absentee
votes had been cast and three were
still outstanding Last votes must
be in by midnight-tonight.
In the election, R. B. Leach and
T. N. Carswell are seeking the city
commission place left vacant by the
resignation of G I. Jennings
agement from all parts of the dis-
trict." Wagstaff said. "When I
made the race two years ago, it
was impossible to make a thorough
campaign. Gasoline and tires were
strictly rationed; there were no
country picnics or other political
speakings; and everyone was busy
with the war effort. This year con
ditions will be different, and I ex-
pert to make a thorough campaign
of the entire district.”
Wagstaff, 53, is a leading attor-
ney of Abilene, a graduate of Har-
din-Simmons university, and a vet-
Goering Borrows
Churchill's Words
NUERNBERG, March 15—(UP)
to the sick in needy families.
In his address at the campaign gality.
"kick-off" breakfast Colonel King,
relating the work of Red Cross
with the sick and wounded at the
fronts, told of burying the little
Red Cross girl snd said he wished
Please see RED CROSS, P. 3, Col. 3
—Reichmarshall Hermann Goering
concluded his statement in his own
defense at the war crimes trial
today with a quotation from Win-
ston Churchill that "in a struggle
for life and death there is no le-
Loan Topic
Of Russo
Message
WASHINGTON, March 15—(P,
—A Russian communication deliv-
ered to Secretary of State Byrnes
today by Nikolai V. Novikov, So-
viet charge d’affaires, dealt with
economic and commercial matters
and had nothing whatever to do
with the American notes on Iran
and Manchuria, the state depart-
ment said.
Michael J. McDermott, depart-
ment press officer, told reporters
the Russian note had "a bearing"
on a recent United States offer tc
discuss a Soviet request for a
$1,000,000,000 loan. - -------
McDermott said that the U. S.
communication mentioned not only
the Russian loan request, but re-
viewed in detail the entire eco-
nomic and commercial relationship
between the two countries.
Novikov, after a three-minute
conversation with Byrnes, told re-
porters only that he had delivered
an answer to a note from the Unit-
ed States government.
There were three U. S. notes
awaiting Soviet replies prior to
the Novikov visit. Two concerned
Soviet actions in Iran and the
third protested the reported Rus-
sian withdrawal of Japanese in-
dustrial equipment from Manchur-
ia.
This development on the diplo-
WTU Announces
Rate Reductions
tions were being taken to meet it I
The general said that Iranians The West Texas Utilities com
would not “go out to meet the Rus- ! pany has made rate reductions in
sians or even erect fortifications 117 West Texas communities with-
in the past 30 days “without ad-
vertising and fanfare," Price Camp-
bell, president of the company
said today. nntinr o These rate reductions, saidjasred, giving his permission tor
mem sanep yesterasy of ERE Campbell were bald up during the direct quotation. -Im sure we’ll
duetions to be effective soon in
some West Texas cities, served by
outside the city.".
The general said the Rus-
sians h ave "only partially
evacuated Semnan, Shahrud
and Meshed, towns in north-
eastern Iran, where they an
nounced they had begun evac- 1
uation March 2,” and that he |
had recalled to Tehran an j
army column which Soviet j
troops turned back at Garm- I
sar two weeks ago.
He said he considered it “hope
Camp Not
less for our forces to sit out there
on the plains awaiting the pleas_
ure of the Russians.” C..LL
surplus
COLD FORECAST
55-MPH Wind
Due to Strike
eran of World war I He represent
ed his district in the 42d and 43d
legislatures, being the author of
much important legislation His
home county of Taylor gave him a
good majority over his three op-
ponents in the last election, ing through Big Spring at 11:18 a
, His formal announcement and m today was expected to reach
platform will be published later. Abilene some time this afternoon,
• • • weather bureau officials said.
Wagstaff’s record in the legists
ture included the authorship of
the oil and gas conservation statu-
A 55-miles-per-hour wind blow-
Contrary to a United Press re-
port last Saturday, the Associated
Press advised the Reporter-News
today that War department officials
in Washington say there has been
no change in the status of Camp
Barkeley from the “inactive” rat-
ing given it May 1, 1945.
The AP quoted War department
authorities to the effect that there
tes. which were sponsored by the
independent oil operators of this
district and were passed through |
the legislature over the opposition
of several major oil companies
These conservation statutes have
been judicially construed and
upheld by all courts, including
the Supreme court of the United
States
Other laws which Wagstaff spon-
sored were the Water Priority act
the law which gives cities and
towns and farmers and ranchmen
full priority to the use - of the
waters of West Texas streams in
Goering offered the quotation
after admitting that the Germans
committed excesses" in France
which probably violated interna-
tional law.
Goering’s cross-examination will
commence tomorrow. Please see W AGST AFF, P. 3, Col.
the Texas Electric Service com-1 matic front came in the wake of
the Texas Electric service com President Truman’s comment yes-
pany, said the West Texa» com- terday that he does not consider
pany's rate reduction program in the current international situation
the remaining 57 communities as fraught with danger as many
served by the company will be people believe.
complete about May 1. | “I’m not alarmed by it," he de-
reductions, said clared, giving his permission for
war period due to the necessity of work out of it.”
heavy tax contributions to help“
win the war and increases in cost
of materials and supplies, together
with increases in labor costs made
necessary in turn by increased liv-
ing costs.
Campbell said that electric serv-
ice is the smallest item in the
household budget, declaring that
the electric dollar now buys 50
per cent more service than it did
15 years ago and that "you obtain
more value per dollar spent for
electric service than any other
service or commodity.”
The chief executive's hopeful-
ness was echoed by two important
figures on Capitol Hill, although
diplomatic officials remained ap-
prehensive over ultimate Soviet
intentions in the Iran area.
Senate Majority Leader Barkley
(Ky) commented “it has been my
opinion all along that the situa-
tion isn't as bad as the headlines
had been no decision in Washing
ton as to whether or not Berkeley
would be declared surplus The
., .United Press release Saturday at-
, The wind is travelling „down tributed to the Eighth Service Com-
from Midland and the New Mexico mand headquarters in Dallas an
7 * 3 announcement that the camp had
recorded in some time were report been declared surplus as of Feb
ed last night. 28
1 The temperature is expected to Maj. John E. Buxton, past com
make a nose dive tonight with a mander said he had received ord
36-degree low tonight.
Light showers, which started
border where the highest breezes
shortly before noon today, will
continue through the afternoon,
weather officials added.
I Lost night, a dust storm blew
in on Abilene at 8:25 lasted until
11:30 p m
preference to utilties companies
and hydro-electric projects, the
Confederate Pension Transfer act
of 1931, under which excess funds
Quake Hits California
LOS ANGELES March 15—P
—Earthquake shocks felt over
southern and central California ear
ly today caused earth slides which
broke the Los Angeles aqueduct in
Sen Canyon.
Campbell said further “these re-
ductions in electric service cost
have been accomplished by tech-
nieal developments in production
and distribution of electric energy
through private management and
initiative and through the bene
fits of re financing the company's
borrowed money On the average,
the company’s rate reductions will
be an equal or a greater percent
than those announced in other
would seem to indicate.”
And Senator Pepper (D-Fla)
told reporters, “I think entirely
too much emphasis has been laid
on the bad side of the internation-
al situation I think people who do
so are rendering a public disserv-
ice.”
Sensitive to the current drift of
foreign affairs, the House leader-
ship sought quietly meanwhile to
stem the flood of members' speech-
es rapping Russia and other war-
time Allies.
areas with Abilene and San Angelo
still maintaining the lowest rate in
the area "
Mitchell Entry
Sets Show Record
ers to stop shipping all property
"Until I get furtherorders, I’ll FORT WORTH, Tei. March 15
just stand by. Major Buxton said —UP—The highest price ever paid
“Only * few carloads have gone in a Southwestern Exposition and
out.” , Fat Stock show for a grand cham-
The post commander said thst pion steer was bid this morning
if Camp Barkeley is still “inactive,” for T-O Atomic, a 810-pound Here
operation would continue as it was ford owned by Stuart Henderson.
1 prior to the “surplus” orders, last | a 15-year-old 4H club from Hyman.
near Colorado City.
The 11 1-2-month-old animal was
He said he had heard "talk" of
the possible change, but had no
official report.
The camp now has approximate
ly six officers, 40 enlisted men and
65 civilians. It was placed on in-
active status April 30, 1945.
sold at auction for $5 a pound, or
a total price of $4,050, to the Coca-
Cola bottling company here after
spirited bidding.
| The previous high price paid
1 here was $3.15 in 1929.
THE WEATHER
v. s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
WEATHER H( REAU
ABILENE and Vicinity Mostly cloudy
this afternoon partily cloudy tonight
and Saturday Somewhat cooler tonight.
Lowest temperature tonight 36, Strong
west winds shifting to northwest to-
night
EAST TEXAS Partly cloudy this af-
ternoon tonight and Saturday: not 90
warm tonight and in east and south por-
tions Saturday. Fresh to occasionally
strong westerly winds on the coast
WEST TEXAS Partly cloudy this af.
ternon and tonight cooler tonight ex-
cept in Panhandle Saturday fair
Maximum temperature for 24 hours
ending at • *- m.: 79,
Temperatures
— 22 1 Thur-Fri Thur Wed
BITAR AM Hour PM
AWES 760
UlWEI 277—6
Sunrise
Sunset
City Began 6 5 Years Ago With Hous ing Pains, Boom
abort time after the meeting at the Hashknife ranch.
J Stoddard Johnston, a prominent politician from Kentucky
and kinsman of Gen Albert Sidney Johnston, might well be added
to the list of founding fathers, as also might the Texas and Pa-
cific railroad, for certainly they became the determining factors
in deciding Abilene’s location, and their holdings were exten-
sive. Johnson had been wooed into the Merchant camp He already
owned much of the surrounding land, having inherited it from his
illustrious kinsman and he made several visits out here.
It was not until after Johnston’s visit to this and Callahan
counties during the first weeks of December, 1880, that the pres-
ent site was announced or the name “Abilene” used Furthermore,
a formal contract, a copy of which can be secured free from the
Taylor County abstract office, was made between the founding
fathers and the railroad following this visit of Johnston’s. It is
dated Dec 18. 1880, and is an agreement to locate Abilene on the
present site The nucleus lots later figuring in the town-lot sale
are mentioned.- -
Johnston was also a close friend of ex-governor, John C Brown.
By N. H. KINCAID
Sixty-five yean ago today, Abilene was having its first housing
shortage, its first business boom, and its organization, begun by
an auction sale of residential and business property sites.
It wasn’t a surprise affair by any means. Advertisements of
the sale had been run in newspapers over the state, listing the
property as the “future great" city of the area. Special trains had
been run by the T&P railway bringing prospective buyers to the
new location, and the original townsite had been surveyed and
blocked for the affair.
Selection of the site had been made late in the preceding
A summer, the rails of the T&P had been laid through here around
" the middle of January, and on Feb. 28, the ticket agent had arrived
and officially opened the railroad for business. *
It was a planned city, deliberately located where it would
stand the best chance for the most growth in the area, which has
proved itself through the years and is limited only by the fore-
sight and energy of its citizens.
Selection of the site was made on a sultry late-summer day
in 1880, when a buggy containing two men and drawn by a pair
of frisky little Spanish mules pulled away from Buffalo Gap. the
county seat of Taylor county, and struck out north, with just a
slight easterly bearing There was no road snd the country was
rough and hilly around the Gap.
0 Just before noon Surveyor S. L. Chalk and J. D Merchant
pulled up before the new frame headquarters of John N. Simpson
of the Hashknife ranch on Cedar creek, and climbed stiffly from
the buggy.
The headquarters was on the present Abilene Christian College
hill overlooking Abilene The exact site was described by Senator
W. J Bryan and T. A Bledsoe in February, 1945 as having been the
present 1622 Cedar Crest drive The old caved in well could still
be seen at the rear Jinks McGee remembers Simpson's house as
having been frame, the lumber freighted from Weatherford C E.
Gilbert refers to a log hut where dwelled the cowboys of Simpson t
ranch.”
The discussion of those men at the Hashknife ranch on that
late summer's day in 1880 dealt with the location of a town on
those extending Texas snd Pacific rails. It would serve as a
shipping center for the cattlemen and be the "future great” for
the railway. “Mr. Withers represented the railroad. Mr Simpson
his firm, and C. W. Merchant our interests,” said S L. Chalk in
recounting the discussion thst day. The naming of it was left up
to Simpson and Merchant, cattlemen.
The first proposed route on the TAP had included Fort
Phantom Hill, say both Henry Sayles and Will Young Some
lawyers in Fort Worth bought up the land at Fort Phantom Hill,”
said Will Young "They gave ‘Phantom Hill Scott (father of Mrs.
L. W. Hollis, mother of Dr Scott and Dr. Lonnie Hollis) an interest
in the land to go there snd look after their holdings When the
road did not go through, the holdings were left to him ”
Buffalo Gap seems to have been the second choice it was
the county seat and only town in Taylor county and was selected as
the supply depot and headquarters for the engineers on this end
of the extending line “Already their stores and men are coming
in read the Buffalo Gap News. March •. 1880 issue "And if we
are not too badly fooled the indications are favorable for a railroad
through Buffalo Gap at no distant date ”
But it seems thst the necessary land around the Gap could not
be purchased at an acceptable price and it was discarded as the fu.
ture shipping center several months before this meeting at the
Hashknife ranch. In fact, that entire route had been discarded
and the present one already accepted by the railway officials the
thing that was bothering them now was just where the new town
should be located.
Previous to this meeting at the Hashknife ranch, S. L. Chalk
and C. W. Merchant had bought up several hundred acres of
land near the present site of Elmdale, while Withers had bought
some out near the present Tye. or Tebo switch as it was first
known The Elmdale site seems to have been discarded also, how-
ever. and the controversy at the time of this meeting was be-
tween the proposed W ithers’ site, three miles esst of Tye. snd
the Merchant site, or the present Abilene location.
At this meeting at the Hashknife, Withers must have re-
ceived the idea that his site near Tye was acceptable for it was
advertised as the new cattle shipping center, the "future great" of
the Texas and Pacific railway, in the Dallas Herald. Yet in the
meantime the Merchant group was quietly buying up the hold-
tags st the present Abilene site These holding 'fathers con-
sisted of C. W and J D Merchant. John N Simpson, and J T
Berry S L Chalk had sold out and probably left the county a
the receiver for the Texas and Pacific railway at that time. "The
intimate friendship existing between Johnston and ex-governor
Brown may have borne results.” says John L. Stephenson, early
day newspaperman. “Anyhow, the Withers’ site was rejected and
the site selected by Merchant et. al. was laid off in blocks for
the town-lot sale ”
Thus it is not too much” to say that the influence of J Stod-
dard Johnston, the Kentucky politician dabbling in Texas real
estate, helped determine the exact location of Abilene.
1
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The Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 65, No. 267, Ed. 2 Friday, March 15, 1946, newspaper, March 15, 1946; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1644653/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Public Library.