The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-09-26
Report of John O. wastles, Chairman of Com.
.nitiee, to The Delegates Of the Neosho and
Jefferson City Railroad, Assembled in 0onven.
ton zf Butler, Bates Ccunfy, Mo.
SEPTEMBER 8. 1857.

SEPTEMBER 8, 1857.
GENTLEhEN:-When the proposition
for this road was first made, it was expect
ed that an interest so deep and so enten-
sive could not possibly be awakened in so
short time. It's now but little over
two months since the project was first
named. and yet we see here, to-day, del
egates from nearly the whole extent of
the ike from Emporia to Jefferson City,
distance of over 200 miles; and an inter-
est has been awakened throughout the
entire route that gives hopeful promise Of
an active and energetic determination to
push the matter to speedy and triumph
ant consummation.
At a meeting of delegates in Kansas,
held at Emporia in July last, to consider
the wants of Kansas as to Railroads, and
the remedies, this route was proposed
the Hannibal and st. Joseph road across
northern Missouri, now terminating at
st. Joseph, was to be continued to Tope-
ka, On the Kansas river; from Topeka it
was to be continued to Emporia. This
road, together with that to be constructed
up the kaw from Wyandott to Quindaro,
would supply northern and central Kan
sas with ample thoronghfares.
Emporia lies nearly west from St Louis
and Jefferson City. A line of Railroad
was proposed connecting these places, for
the benefit of southern Kansas and SOUTH
western Missouri The proposition was
approved by the committee, followed BY
the appointment of delegate to make a
survey OF the route and the appointment
was Immediately followed by the survey.
and brief report of the route, with ex-
tracts from the notebook, is now most res
pectfully submitted to this convention.
Leaving Emporia, which is located Just
above the junction of the Cottonwood
and Neosho rivers, in central Kansas. the
route led down the NeoSho valley in near
ly a south eastern direction. By crossing
the Cottonwood above its junction with
the Neosho, smooth and level country
is secured, and strip of high, bluff like
land avoided, which would be encounter
ed by crossing the Neosho above the
junction of the Cottonwood. Both the
rivers at these places of crossing have rocky
bottoms and rocky banks and can be
brldged with great success. Rock is
abundant, and timber convenient.
Continuing down the Neosho, along the
eastern side, the valley is remarkably
smooth and level, and its surface quite
even and unbroken. The width of the
bottom along this river varies from a half
mile to mile, and the timber is of good
quality and abundant in quantity. Saw
mills are up, and going up at proper inter-
vals along the river.
Ottumwa is the first town reached of
any considerable size, and is twenty-five
miles from Emporia.
Here a meeting was called at about an
hours notice, and was fully attended, aud
the proposal for the Railroad was only
received. Dr. Hamilton Smith was an
pointed to accompany the delegate and
continue the survey on to Hampden.
From Ottumwa the route still continues
along the valley of the Neosho, and the
country is much the same in profile as
that above. The river, with its heavy
timber lying along on the right, and the
distant bluffs on the left, while the fertile
valley is seen stretching far away in the
distance, exhibits prospect as remarka-
BILE for its beauty as it is for its natural
adaptation to Railroad construction.
Hampden is eight miles from Ottumwa.
Here meeting of the citizens was held
and the matter warmly approved and
measures adopted to continue the survey.
Mr. w. A. Ella, an able and most worthy
resident, one of the proprietors of the
town and a practical surveyor, was ap-
pointed to assist in laying out the route to
Hyatt.
At Hampden we leave the Neosho
which bears away to the southeast, and
take nearly due east course.
The prairie, after the first half mile or
more is unusually favorable in its iorTna-
ton. 1t is not high and broken as in some
parts of Kansas, nor is it so fat and low
as in some portions of Illinois, but it lies
on general level, and the swelis and un-
dulations are such as render it beautiful.
and adapt it to the best system of agricul-
turai cultivation. Some portions of the
route for miles are SO nearly on an even
ness of surface that it is difficult to tell
whether you are on an ascending or a
descending plane. :
WolfCeek, Long Branch, and Hickory
Creek, tributaries of the Neosho, with
channels deep and narrow, are on the
route, and will furnish timber in reasona-
BILE quantities. Hickory Creek is to be sup
piled with saw mill the present season,
and has good supply of timber.
Fountain is located on this Creek and is
so named from the fact that on divide.
some GO or so feet above the prairie,
spring of pure cold water gushes out from
the rocks, and continues its refreshing
stream throughout the season.
The prairie from Fountain nearly to
Hyatt is much the same, and sand stone
is distributed at convenient intervals all
the way from the Neosho.
When within a mile or two of HYATT
the prairie becomes more broken and
somewhat rocky, but by aslight curvature
in the line it could nearly be avoided, on
entering that town.
at hyatt, the subject met with a hearty
and cordial support from Mr. Army, the
agent there, and from the whole commu-
nifty connected, and the whole thing
seemed TO take new life and shape from
this point, and the line delegate arose to
the dignity of a member of most import
ant committee.
A large and highly interesting meeting
was held, and the subject ably and forcibly
presented to committee of several gen.
tlemen who were appointed to continue
the survey and also to 'tstake out'' a mail
route from that place to Moneka. Dir.
Bent, practical surveyor and civil engi-
neer, was to take charge of the expedition.
A resolution was offered BY Dir. Army, and
unanimously adopted, that a convention
Of delegates from the various localities
along the line should be held at Butler,
N Bates County, No., on the second We'd
nesday in September. At subsequent
meeting, Mr. Army was appointed to visit
Washington City at the next session of
Congress, and solicit grant of land for