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Atlantic -- Northern Rails Link A-EH-K Communities

Danes' Railroad Completed During 1907-08 Holidays

JAN. 1, 1908 -- The Atlantic Northern Railroad's first engine-caboose arrived in Kimballton about midnight New Year's Eve.

The church bell rang and a crowd was at the town limits in the snow to cheer the arrival. The town limits had been extended only the day before to meet the tracks, by Kimballton officials, as it was necessary that the tracks reach Kimballton on the first day of the year to validate a township levy.

The Atlantic Northern reached Elk Horn one week earlier--Christmas Day--with the first consignment of freight, a carload of coal.

The 100-man construction crew, working through the holidays to get track to Kimballton, walked in double file to the college where the women of Elk Horn awaited them with a turkey dinner. In the afternoon a crowd gathered in the cut west of Union Street to watch the crew put down more track.

The railroad was the result of long-time desire and work by strong-willed men.

In November 1906 two promoters were in Atlantic seeking support for a proposed electric railroad from Atlantic to Elk Horn and Kimballton. They were Charles R. Judd and Clarence A. Ross.

A group in Elk Horn--including John Petersen, Thor Madsen, Hans Petersen, Rasmus Nissen and Rasmus Hansen--subscribed money for a preliminary survey.

One of the conditions was that Judd and Ross purchase the Atlantic Municipal light plant. Residents refused this in a special November election.

Elk Horn banker John Petersen then called on Hans Rattenborg of Atlantic.

They called meetings in Atlantic to enlist other persons interested in the project--F. M. Nebe, E. L. Andersen, James Stier, Charles Walner, S. G. Hunter, J. H. Simmons and E. E. Marquis.

Simmons was named president of the temporary group formed to organize a railroad; Stier secretary and Marquis secretary.

They then gained support from the financial community; J. A. McWaid, president of the Atlantic National Bank; J. W. Cykendall [sic Cuykendall], vice president, and J. E. Bruce, president of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank; and G. H. Messenger, president of the Citizen Savings Bank.

The officers incorporated with capital stock of $500,000, under charter granted Dec. 28, 1906.

The first legal meeting of directors, Jan. 3, 1907, saw the addition of directors M. N. Esbeck and A. H. Jorgensen of Kimballton.

Directors met again Jan. 7 and each paid $100 to become legal stockholders under the charter.

Rattenborg then showed his skill at raising money; selling $182,000 in stock. About two-thirds of the total $350,000 in stock was sold in the Elk Horn-Kimballton settlement and about one-third in the Atlantic settlement. The stock went to more than 700 persons.

The executive roster after incorporation included president McWaid, vice president and general manager Rattenborg, treasurer Marquis, and directors Charles F. Chase, T. B. Swan, Stier, Cykendall [sic Cuykendall], Simmons, Nebe, Bruce, Esbeck, Jorgensen and (John) Petersen.

Right of way for the road was purchased with $20,000 in stock and some cash.

Contractors and other apparently were skeptical about the venture as they asked that cash be available before they would bid on the work (June 1907). The officers responded by putting up $48,000 in personal security.

The construction crew broke ground July 15.

Construction was interrupted Oct. 20 (1907) at the onset of the national economic panic as work crews and contractors again sought assurance that money was available. The officers again succeeded in putting money into the operation with an advance of $30,000.

The crew began laying rails Nov. 3.

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Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2022.