The Kanzas news., 1859-06-18


We have been told that this is a great un :
dertaking, and that it will require more
means than We can obtain to accomplish it.
We are aware that it viii require time and
money, but we are satisfied that this coun-
try has within itself the means 20 construct
every road proposed IN this report, and it
will be evident to all that it can be accom-
Plished upon the plan proposed by our
company in Missouri and Kansas 10 con-
stTuct our road.
The country through which the Usage
Valley & Southern Kansas Road in Nilsson
souri, viii pass, is still to considerable ex-
tent In a state of nature, and the lands are
owned in large bodies by spectators, and
until the proposition to build this road was
made could not be sold, and the annual tax
upon it would in few years have impover-
ished the owners. It has been demonstra-
ted that one-third of the lands for twelve
miles on each side would more than con-
struct the road, and the other two thirds
would then be worth more than double the
amount of all the lands without railroad
The owners are convinced of this, and are
giving to our company in Missouri deeds
for lands, and taking stock for the value of
the lands thus given, which will place In
the hands of that company sufficient means.
by mortgage of the lands, to build the
road to the Kansas line.
At the railroad convention held at Butler,
Mo-, corporstors were selected for the JEFF
ferson City & Neosho Valley Railroad, and
at meeting held at Hyatt. Kansas, author
ity was given to apply to the Legislature of
our Territory for charter Incorporating
the persons chosen at the Butler 7conven-
ton. The charter was granted, but the
names of the corporators were changed,
which being discovered, on application to
Gov. Denver he refused to sign the bill,
and it failed to become a law. In June,
1853, the stockholders of our road assem-
bled and adopted articles of association in
conformity with the "Act to authorize the
formation of railroad associations and to
regulate the same. approved February Esd,
1857" and appointed Board of Directors
and fled with the Secretary of the Terrific
ry the articles of association, and the evil
dence that the requisite stock under the law
was taken and the per centage paid in con-
formity with the law. The Board of Di-
rectors appointed engineers to survey the
routes through Kansas, and appointed w
F. NJ. Army, the President of our road, our
agent to obtain from the General Govern
ment the right of way and grant of land.
Three routes were surveyed which will be
found in the report of the engineers, one of
which run principally through government
lands, and the right of way was obtained
with the privilege to use materials for the
construction of the road, and the selection
of lands for depots and water stations from
the lands belonging to the government
The plats were filed in the General Land
Office, the application granted and orders
sent to the land Office In the Territory to
reserve the right of way, &c. On the 9TH
er two routes the right of way has been OBJ
tanned Except in one locality) from the
settlers, and almost every settler has en-
tered into agreement to donate to the COM
pany lands for depots,-in some instances
40 acres have been given. 1t was expect
ed that grant of land from Congress, of
alternate sections for seven miles on each
side of the road, would be obtained during
last session, but in consequence of certain
causes, which it is not necessary to detail
here, the grant failed.
An application has been made to the
President of the United States to postpone
the land sales, which would be of great ben
eft to the poor settlers, and also leave the
lands so that we could obtain grant at the
next session of Congress. Ii, however, the
lands are offered for sale they will be loca
ted in large bodies by spectators Nth land
sOarrdnts, and then be like the lands in Mis-
souri,, almost worthless without railroad,
which will compel the land holders to give
a portion to build the road so as to enhance
the value of the balance and save them from
the payment of taxes on lands from which,
without railroads, nothing can be realized.
According TO the report of the engineer
of the Pacific Railroad it is 157 miles from
jefferson City to Kansas City, and it is
in all 267 miles. The engineer of the Pa
ci6e Railroad estimates the average cost
per mile of road from Jefferson City to
Kansas City at S22,75l SO, and estimating
the same cost for the road from Kansas
City to Emporia, the whole cost from JEFF
ferson City to Emporia viii be $685.
765 81.
According to the report of our engineers
the distance from Jefferson City by our sur
veyed routes to Emporia, is 2244 miles,
the construction of which will cost S22,-
46o per mile or S5,04s, ,270-making a
road AZ So 100 miles shorter and at less
cost of Sc, 1854, ,495 81. OF the whole
length of our road, 1856 miles is in the
State of Missouri; and if the donations and
subscriptions of stock in land amount to
one-third the land for twelve miles on each
side of the road, land there is no doubt it
viii amount to that. as some lsnd-holders
have offered half their lands, it viii give
69I, goo acres, which, at S5 per acre, which
is more than two-thirds less per acre than
lhe average of the Illinois Central Railroad
lands, viii give s3. .456, 900.
In Kansas, if we obtain donation of the
alternate sections of land for seven miles on
each side of the road, which is 80 5o-1oo
miles In length from the Missouri line to
I'm r,nria Il Wi1l rriva the cnrnnanY 400, $50