Arthur E. Stilwell: Promoter With a Hunch

Fascinating biography of Arthur E. Stilwell, an inveterate railroad promoter who, with Kansas City as his base, promoted several railroads in the hopes of creating an economic empire. Among the railroads that bore his imprint were the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad, the Kansas City Southern, the Kansas City Suburban Belt, and the Kansas City Mexico and Orient Railroad. After his railroad ventures failed, he had a second career as an author and promoter of psychic powers. The book provides an excellent guide to the economic development of the south central United States (Stilwell named Port Arthur, Texas after himself) and should be useful the region's historians. Illustrated with black and white photos. 256 pages with index.