Orient

The Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway System (the Orient) began as a good intention; last week it sold out, a good buy for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe.

Original and romantic intent was to run 1451 miles--up and across Kansas, south through high Oklahoma and higher Texas, across the Rio Grande, then southwest across Mexico, 1,451 miles to the Gulf of California. The line from Kansas City to Wichita, Kan. is still "under construction." From Wichita one can ride 735 miles to Alpine, Texas, without changing cars--on a local train.

From Alpine to Pulpito, Mexico, is another stretch of road theoretically under construction; and another further southwest. In between, the Orient has two good divisions, the Mountain running through Chihuahua City, and the Pacific, wiggling to Topolobampo on the Gulf of California.

The Kemper family of Kansas City (William T., Rufus Crosby, James W.) have been operating the system, with Herbert F. Hall, chairman of their directorate. The Kempers found a buyer in the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe offered $14,507,500, or $414 a share. Last week the I. C. C. approved the happy deal.