The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-12-25

reach and accommodate more valuable 10
cal and general interest, in the opinion of
your Committee, than any other system
Of railroad of equal extent on the broad
face of our republic.
4th. Whilst the valley Of the Kansas is
thus shown to be sufficiently North to af-
ford cheap and direct connection with all
the more Northern roads of the Union, it
is still far enough South to avoid the OBJ
structions and delays consequent upon the
long winters and deep SHOWS Of more
Northern localities, as is most clearly
shown by map of Isothermal lines furn-
ished by Smithsonian Institute and pub
lished in the agricultural department of
the Patent Office Report Of 1855, plate 4.
9Th. Its directness as the great central
stem of the Pacific road, and the practici-
bility of throwing it into any one of the
several more practical passes in the noun
tains North and South of the parallel of
39o North latitude; are prominent facts
among many of the important advantages
of this route that point it out to practical
railroad men and give it peculiar claims to
high consideration.
9th. Its cheapness of construction,
working and repair, are items of the first
importance both to the stockholders and
the public who employ it. Located as it
will be on the high, wide and reliable bot
toms of the Kansas river abounding in
timber for cross-ties, fuel, &C., and fanked
by bluffs forming perpetual quarry of
the best quality of stone for bridges and
ballast, with abundance of water at all
points, we feel that we hazard nothing in
saying that its cost per mile for construc-
ton and repair, and for operating the road,
will fall very far short of the cost of any
other road of any considerable length on
the broad face of our republic.
We have thus presented for your con-
sideration a few of the more important
points in which the superiority of this
route presents itself, both as the great Gen.
trail stem of the Pacific road as we'll as a
means for the development of the exhaust
less resources of the great interior, and
you viii now permit us to examine the
subject more particularly as local or Kan
sas improvement.
To make this road and its boundaries
most useful and advantageous to the peo-
pie of the Territory and future State Of
Kansas, much depends upon the point Of
emergency from the navigable waters OF
the Missouri river and the location of its
principal lateral branches.
The system of roads presented above
! appears to US better to accommodate the
various local and interior interests of the
Territory than any other that we have
considered, offering, at the same time, rail.
road facilities to all the great natural d.
visions of our own Territory, and extend
ing to and gathering in the trade of i'm
mense and exceedingly rich districts be.
yond our borders dependent upon the i'm
provement system of Kansas for access tc
market.
The present magnitude of the trade o.
New Mexico, and the Southwest alone
is incredible to those who have not ex.
smined the facts and convinced them.
selves Of the truth of the published sta
tistics.
The business across the plains during
the past season, has employed no less thar
10000 wagons drawn by 10000 mules
and oxen; and counting but two men t.
a team, no less than twenty thousand per
sons have been engaged in transporting al
kinds of merchandise over the broad acre.
of our Territory at an expense of many
millions to their employees.
Let us examine in detail few items o
the cost for conveying the trade of these
Southwestern regions across the plains
10000 wagons at 800 each, $1,000 OOC
10000 oxen and mules at an
average of $50, 1900 OOC
10000 hands at 5000, 5000 OoC
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