The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-30
For a. Hsra,d Of Freedom.
An Important Suggestion.
LAWRENCE, Oct. %. '5S.

For as Herald Of Freedom. /
An Important Suggestion.
LAWRENCE, Oct. %, '58.
G. W. BRowS-DEAR SIR Through
the medium Of your columns, propose
to submit some thoughts for the consid-
Grafton Of our citizens.
First-it is Q fact patent to every one,
that while our town stands out upon the |
list of Territorial cities the most flourish |
ing, beautiful and central to commerce
and railroad interests, that our citizens
have overlooked our natural advantages
and busted themselves about political
questions which labor has only yielded
an abundant harvest Of chat. This we
have done, while our sister towns have
been taxing their energies to devise and
consummate plans for the growth and
prosperity of their respective places
This I do not charge upon the ignorance
of our citizens, but to their negligence.
That we have fair proportion of brains,
or, in other words, as much real talent, |:
not more, than any community Of our
compass is Kansas, cannot be oontrovert-
ed. Why, then, is it, that Lawrence, sit
uated in the very center Of the most fer
tile section of the Territory, and possess
ing SO many natural advantages, has not
tongue to advocate her interests, or a
voice to utter her claims to -eminence ?
1t is time we should throw off this su-
pineness-let us arouse and strike for the
advantages and the greatness which ma
ture has laid at our feet.
Prominent among the things which we
should attempt is the construction of a
railroad from some point on the Missouri
river; without which, We must indefi-
nitely remain but an inland village. To
select from the various charters, the one
mostlikely to most subserve our purposes,
and which will, with the greatest speed
and certainty, connect us with the Mis-
souri, river, and the vast net word of roads
east, is question Of great moment-and
some delicacy.
In order to elicit opinion or choice, as
well as speedy action, I shall, in this ar
ticle, advocate the completion of that sec
ton of the Kansas Valley Road between
Lawrence and Kansas City. My reasons
for this, are,
1. This road is in the hands of com.
pany already organized large amount
of its stock is already taken, one-fourth Of
which is taken by capitalists in New York
city, who are its strong and active
friends.
i 2. 1t is now conceded point that Kan.
sas City is to become great commercial
city-controlling, for years to come, the
trade of the great South West. The dis
covery OF gold upon the mountain branch
es Of the Arkansas and the South Platte
will fix, as additionally certain, Kansa
City as the starting point to those golt
regions, and places our city directly upol
, the line of travel from Kansas City to tn,
gold placers. The first train of cars leavin.
Kansas City, will transfer with it the San
ia Fe trade-a trade that has enriched st
Louis, built Boonville, Lexington, Inde
pendence, Westport and Kansas City,
Citizens of Kansas City now secretly fea
) this more than all the rival towns above
them on the river. The Kansas Valley
Road, if made, will become a portion of
or rather the extension of the Great Pa
cific Road trunk, and, until further com
pleted, would make Lawrence its termi
} nus. Of thirty counties lying south o
Kansas river, all but two Oykins ant
Johnson) would find our city nearer t.
, them than either Kansas City or Leaven
worth, and will take a deep interest il
building up grea. commercial center o
their own. A road from here to Leaven
worth, Delaware, or Wyandott, woult
simply make us tributary to those places
and afford facilities for their growth anc
prosperity at our expense.
II Two of the principal men of the Kan
sas Valley Railroad Company, the Presi
dent being one, are large property holder
with us here, and would work with us
|. and have repeatedly urged us to join then
in a survey of the route. At this time
the engineers of the Pacific Railroad ar
making the construction survey from
Pleasant Hill to Kansas City, preparator.
to an immediate commencement of tn
work. To that place the road will speed
lily be made. The opening Of Congress
q is at hand. A grant of land almost OBJ
9 tanned at previous session, will again b
f urged-and the suspicious time for actiol
j will speedily pass from us forever.
10 the good sense OF our people, IL
j view of the foregoing facts, I appeal ant
t submit, whether we should not at ono
Q unanimously and resolutely take up thi
Q matter, and to secure to our city and our
= selves a rich harvest and a glorious desti
]. Iny. If we have neither the brains, III
tact, or the energy to this work, let it b
known; and let us become as we shal
. deserve to be, @poor as rats"-and mon
ument of folly, ignorance and stupidity