The Rock Island Line LbNA #68029
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 24, 2014 |
| Location: | US-54, Seward County; Rest area southwest of Kismet Thirteen miles sout |
| City: | Kismet |
| County: | Seward |
| State: | Kansas |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Aspen
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|---|---|
| Found by: | Squatchis |
| Last found: | May 27, 2015 |
| Status: | F |
| Last edited: | Dec 24, 2014 |
ARKALON AND THE SAMSON OF THE CIMARRON
Many Kansas towns originated as potential railroad centers. Three miles west of this marker Arkalon was founded in 1888 at the Cimarron river crossing of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska railway, a part of the Rock Island. Town lots were cheap, and people flocked in by the hundreds. However, the deep sand of the area was a serious handicap to the movement of horse-drawn freight, and the town never succeeded in establishing itself as a profitable marketing point. It was sustained for years by the large stockyards but by the 1920's most of the population had gone.
Mighty Samson bridge over the Cimarron river in Seward County, Kansas The railroad, slowed by a hairpin curve and plagued by flooding on the Cimarron which brought severe damage to equipment and freight, diverted several miles of track from the town to utilize the bridge it erected here in 1939. Called the Samson of the Cimarron, the bridge is 1269 feet long and was considered an engineering marvel of the day. It helped speed the commerce of the Southwest to its destination, and Arkalon to oblivion.
Thirteen miles southwest is Liberal, established on the railroad in 1888, and the Seward County seat since 1892.
TO FIND "Rock Island Line" turn into the rest stop (Panhandle Rd) and go south the road will curve right. It might be easiest to park at the picnic tables at this curve or you can follow the curve around and just drive up to the cluster of Juniper trees close to the guard rail on the north side of the road. Find the Juniper that is closest to the guard rail and the Rock Island Line is up in the branches inside the tree about 4 ft. off the ground hooked on a carabiner so when you unclip it the carabiner will stay in the tree for the boxes return.
Take out more trash than you bring in and happy boxing
Many Kansas towns originated as potential railroad centers. Three miles west of this marker Arkalon was founded in 1888 at the Cimarron river crossing of the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska railway, a part of the Rock Island. Town lots were cheap, and people flocked in by the hundreds. However, the deep sand of the area was a serious handicap to the movement of horse-drawn freight, and the town never succeeded in establishing itself as a profitable marketing point. It was sustained for years by the large stockyards but by the 1920's most of the population had gone.
Mighty Samson bridge over the Cimarron river in Seward County, Kansas The railroad, slowed by a hairpin curve and plagued by flooding on the Cimarron which brought severe damage to equipment and freight, diverted several miles of track from the town to utilize the bridge it erected here in 1939. Called the Samson of the Cimarron, the bridge is 1269 feet long and was considered an engineering marvel of the day. It helped speed the commerce of the Southwest to its destination, and Arkalon to oblivion.
Thirteen miles southwest is Liberal, established on the railroad in 1888, and the Seward County seat since 1892.
TO FIND "Rock Island Line" turn into the rest stop (Panhandle Rd) and go south the road will curve right. It might be easiest to park at the picnic tables at this curve or you can follow the curve around and just drive up to the cluster of Juniper trees close to the guard rail on the north side of the road. Find the Juniper that is closest to the guard rail and the Rock Island Line is up in the branches inside the tree about 4 ft. off the ground hooked on a carabiner so when you unclip it the carabiner will stay in the tree for the boxes return.
Take out more trash than you bring in and happy boxing