The Kanzas news., 1857-10-24
For Tue NEWs.
Railroad Building in the West.

1t has often been said that this is the age
of Railroads, the age of Steam, the age of
Invention, as though these things merely
happened to be the fashion or the rage of
the present age and generation and now,
that the East is conYulsed with one of the
spasmodic contractions of their money bags,
they, the 'wise men of the East" look
about them for the ''cause of all this great
commotion," when 10 it is found in the
rage for railroad building and land specula-
ton in the West. Certainly, gentlemen,
lay the blame ON US if you possibly can !;
be careful to overlook the faults which lie
at your own door: be sure to magnify the
mote in your brothers eye, but by no means
acknowledge the beam in your own. You
of the East-the croakers, I mean,-who
are always predicting some dire calamity
about to befall the country, if anything is
done out of the old routine of past ages !;
you, who derive your daily bread from the
great West, fairly 6egradge as tie means Of
sending 1t to you. The West mast hare rail-
roads, and more railroads still; there are
not yet enough by hundreds and thousands
of miles. In all the West there is moi road
of any importance that does not pay fair
return for the capital invested And it is a
self-evident proposition, that any country
can build just as many roads, dig just as
many canals, and build just as many boats
as it can furnish employment for Now
where is the railroad in the West that is not
actually groaning under the labor it is
obliged to perform? Engines and cars can
scarcely be procured fast enough to meet
the wants, the rapidly increasing wants OF
western roads. And the end is not yet
The produce from millions of fertile acres
must be carried to market. The cattle which
crop the rich herbage of our western prai-
ries must feed the dense population of the
East. The West can furnish grain and
meat, and send it to the far East cheaper than
they can be raised there; and, as long as
this is the case, means of transportation
must be furnished.
Kanzas needs railroads. She needs them
now. young as she is. Five hundred miles
of railroad, properly directed, would be {
paying investment in Kanzas to-day. And
hesitate not to make the broad assertion
| that a railroad cannot be built westward SC
far as to be losing concern. But especial
" do we need central route through this
Territory, from which branches shall radiate
as the wants of the country demand. Ma
ture has done her part in providing for such
thoroughfare. Here we have the frs
great requisite for a great road, an air line
upon an easy grade. We have the grave
and clay for ballast, the timber for super.
structure and fuel, the stone for culverts and
buildings, water abundant and convenient
rich country occupied by enterprisingm mer
who know the value of railroads, and who
will soon be able, unaided, to build them.
But We shall have aid. Capital flow;
westward as naturally as emigration, and a:
surely reaps rich reward. Money viii g
where money can be made and where ha:
ever been found an FL Dorado like our ricl
and beautiful West We now need great
practical mind to project wisely the future
railroad system of Kanzas-some one abov'
the petty interests of rival towns. clques o.
/ individuals And such an one, doubt not
viii be forthcoming. In the meantime le
us bestir ourselves, and prepare the way b.
securing grant of land for the purpose
before it shall all be occupied by the settler
as it viii be in a year or two more.
Kanzas needs earnest, intelligent, practi
cal men. We have had enough of theori
zing and agitation. One good railroad vii
do more towards making this a free an
prosperous State than thousand froth,,
: speeches, or s string of resolutions tha
|. would reach around the globe.
KANZAs.