Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-28
From the ptlsheld Union
THE PIKE COUNTY RAIL ROAD.

THE PIKE COUNTY RAIL ROAD.
The more we acquant ourselves with the
history of this proposed road--ihe efforts
that have been put forth, both for and
against it, and The unworthy means resor-
ted to defeat it, the more is our indignation
aroused and the more firmly are we CON
WINGED that our county has been fouIIy
dealt with, by foul men actuattd by foul
and sinister motives, Let Us look at the
facts.
The Naples and Springfield Rail Road, Is
the last link Of n chain OF Rail Road whose
various termni lie in the lap of the East.
From Hannibal, Missouri, 10 ST. Joseph, u
charter for Rail Road has already been
obtained, and the road will be built within
the time specified By the charter. What
that time l., we do not know, not having
al present the means in our possession by
which to determine the question. But we
believe all concedc that the road will be
built within the time specified.
(Just here we volunteer some lnforma.
SAstion for our nsi,hbor of the Union.
Msssrs. DufT& Learned, OF New York, last
month took the contract for the construction Of
the whole road from Hannibal to St. Joseph at
$23, 600 mile, the entire work to be comrlet.
ed in four years. Last Wednesday (2Oth
April) they sub-lct the first twenty-five miles
at this end of the route. The work at this end
will commence about the middle Of next month;
will be rapidly prosecuted in permanent man.
ner, and twelve months from this time, the road
will probably be in successful operation for a
considerable distance west Of this city.
At St. Joseph on the 10th Of next month the
6rst twenty-five miles at the other end of tho
route will be sub.let
The remainder Ct the line, extending dis.
lance of over one hundred and fifty miles, will
be placed under contract as soon as the same can
be prepared BY the engineers.
Our friend of the Union will thus perceive
that we have gone farther than merely obtain.
ing charter.
The sooner the Pike County Railroad s built
the better.
II any one will glance
at these maps he will see that the Pike County
Railroad is the Road that should be the connect.
ing link between Naples and Hannibal. 1t is
tbe IOutc OSCAuSO IL Is uVCCt Out' IL Is inc
enc which should be built. 1t is the one that
will be built, unless the capitalists of tho east
give credence TO the fraudulent maps Of the
route that have been placed in their hand by a
few designing and interested men in and about
Quincy.
We are prepared to prove 10 demonstration
that the proposed route through Pike county is
the shorter route by some SO miles and any one
can see it is the most direct. What is the route
by tho Quincy Road? Simply this: 1t is to
start at Naples; then it runs in norlheaStery
direction miles, till it gets 10 Meredocia; there
il crosses the river, and rms III northwest di-
Tection Is miles, till it reaches MI. Sterling !;
thence almost due west II miles, till it reaches
Clayton; thence it runs southwest % miles till
it gets to Quincy thence it runs in almost
southerly direction 20 miles till it finally reach
o Hannibal; that is if it take that route. They
are however attempting 10 run it TO Palmyra,
which is somewhat nearer.
Now, we leave il with the reader-was ever
. route more zig-Zag?-more outrageously
crooked? Does any one suppose that capital
lists, with full knowledge oil these facts will
take stock in such route, when it is known
that the Pike county Railroad route is SO miles
Shorter, and not near as zig-zag, nor half sc
hard to grads9 II they do, they surely will
net act with their accustomed sagacity, that il
certain.
But We must close for the present. We ash
the reader 10 Psrsue the articles, found in an
ether column, from the Hannibal papers.