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Rare separately issued map of the St. Louis, Fort Scott and Santa Fe Airline Railroad, published by McLean Litho in St. Louis.

It is quite possible that this railroad never operated, as we can find virtually no evidence of its existence, even in Fort Scott, Missouri, as noted below.

The line was shown to extend from St. Louis and the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers westward, showing the central portions of Missouri, bounded by the Missouri River and the Mo. Pacific R.R. at the top and the South West Pacific R.R. at the bottom, bisected by the St. Louis, Fort Scott and Santa Fe Air Line R.R., "150 Miles Shorter than any other Road to Fort Scott and 350 Miles Shorter to Santa Fe".

The Fort Scott Monitor of July 26, 1870 notes:

A party of surveyors have been at work for the past three or four days near Grand avenue, and about a quarter of a mile south of Olive street, commencing north of the old Tremont park near the head of Morgan street. The survey is said to be for the St. Louis, Fort Scott and Santa Fe railroad, which is said to be an air line route to Fort Scott. The survey, it is contemplated, will bear a little south all the way, and is carried on by some Eastern company.

The Fort Scott Monitor of April 14 1872 notes:

From the Wlchlta City Eagle. More than two years ago a company was organized at Humboldt for the purpose of building a Railroad from Fort Scott to Humboldt, and on west through Woodson, Greenwood, Butler and Sedgwick counties, to the Arkansas River. The company was duly organized and chartered and a preliminary survey of the route made. By an examination of the map it will be seen that those counties are on the direct line of the St. Louis, Ft. Scott and Santa Fe Railroad. During the last year that portion of the road between Fort Scott and Humboldt has been graded and is now ready for the iron. Last fall the three chartered roads along the line of the Fiftieth Parallel, were consolidated, and we now have a strong company of solid men who are determined to push this road through to the Arkansas River as soon as possible. Allen County has already voted her quota of county bonds. A few weeks ago Greenwood County voted to take 1200,000 in stock in this road.

Rarity

OCLC WorldCat lists no copy of this map, with one item relating to the railroad, a broadside at Yale University, "Dear Sir: I take pleasure in transmitting to you herewith, a map, and documents relating to the building of the Saint Louis, Fort Scott and Santa Fe Air Line Railroad ..." with a date of 1870, published in Union, MO, at the "Appeal" Print.

Includes a table showing the population of counties along the railroad and its tributaries.