Santa Fe Railway Survey Party of 1870. A surveying and appraisement party from the AT&SF railway left Topeka in August of 1870. Among the group were D.L. Lakin, AT&SF Land Commissioner, and Judge Muse. Their task was to survey the topography of the land and to secure a description of each section. Also, they were charged with selecting a point west of Cottonwood Falls as the location of an office for the sale of railroad lands. In the words of Muse, “…the agency…had been tendered to us at any point west from Cottonwood which we might select.” Working slowly westward from Emporia, the party traveled well-armed in a covered wagon. They met bands of Arapahoes, Cheyennes, and Comanches who resented the invasion of their country. Photo from HCHM collection.

Santa Fe Railway Survey Party of 1870. A surveying and appraisement party from the AT&SF railway left Topeka in August of 1870. Among the group were D.L. Lakin, AT&SF Land Commissioner, and Judge Muse. Their task was to survey the topography of the land and to secure a description of each section. Also, they were charged with selecting a point west of Cottonwood Falls as the location of an office for the sale of railroad lands. In the words of Muse, “…the agency…had been tendered to us at any point west from Cottonwood which we might select.” Working slowly westward from Emporia, the party traveled well-armed in a covered wagon. They met bands of Arapahoes, Cheyennes, and Comanches who resented the invasion of their country. Photo from HCHM collection.