In the late 1880s, the Rock Island Railroad built a rail line into Indian Territory, entering near Caldwell, Kansas, and following the Chisholm Trail.

Rock Island responded by installing a hook to pick up and deliver mail, without slowing their trains.

[1] Citizens in both government towns began attempting to flag down trains, placed dummies on the tracks, and then left wagons and debris across the rails.

In June 1894, citizens of Pond Creek tore up about a hundred yards of track and wrecked a freight train.

[3][4] Finally the U.S. Senate decided to move and on August 8, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed an act (28 Stat.