The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-26
KANSAS. NOVEMBER 26. 1859.


II is matter of pleasure to US to be able
to say that the recent surveys made be-
tween this city and the Kaw river, oppo-
site Lawrence, have been and are now
nearly all completed. Six different lines
have been examined from points within
the city corporation, and with hardly an
exception, all have been found practicable,
at greater or less expense. But the Di-
rectory, wishing to commence this most
expensive but very much needed i'm
provement, with a full and complete
knowledge of all the ground between the
Missouri river and the dividing ridge
near what is called Charts Spring, had
resolved to have every, different rayine
and avenue thoroughly tried and surveyed.
Ia order to secure the most direct, the
cheapest in construction, and one with the
Easiest grades and curves admissible un-
der all the above conditions.
The surveys of the above preliminary
lines have proved the fact that a good,
direct and inexpensive route can be OBJ
tanned from the banks of the Missouri, or
from the center of the town to "ruling
point" in the high prairie which is found
at the head of Two and Seven Mile Creeks
on the east, and the head of branch of
Little Stranger on the west. From that
point the railroad line meets with no diff
ficult or expensive work until it reaches
point about six and one-h half miles from
Lawrence. Here will be an amount of
cutting, large, compared to the rest of the
line, but small when compared to the gil
of tLo M, Vo.l- =;
the Hudson River, or Baltimore and Ohio
railroads.
That Leavenworth needs good, rapid
and certain avenue to the western part of
our Territory, is truism that needs no
| argument TO sustain it. We now know
that such au enterprise as the building OF
| thirty miles of railroad is an easily ac-
complished end; the country is we'll
adapted to it; stone, wood and timber is
found in abundance along the line; the
features of the country are by no means
difficult, and the requirements of traffic
impcratively demand it. What, then, is
the cost of thirty miles of railroad, COM
pared to the benefits to accrue from it?
The engineers, during the survey and
location OF the line of the Leavenworth,
Pawnee and Western Railroad, has sought,
in every instance, to make the road as di-
rect, as easy in grade, and as cheap as the
most patient and careful investigation OF
the country between the two points could
secure If he had been unrestrained as
to expense, in some instances more easy
grades could, perhaps, have been obtained;
but well knowing from experience and
observation, that many, very many, rail-
roads have been ruined from too stubborn
adhesion to what are called "axioms" in
railroad construction, he has sought moi
i 10 make theoretically PERFECT ROAD
but one which, while answering in all re.
spects to the requirements of its antici-
pated traffic, will not RUIN its stockhold-
ers to build. The work is of small
amount, mere sklmming of the surface
requiring but little money; no bridging
no curves, and grade to the Kansas riv.
er bottoms not exceeding thirty-fve fee
to the mile. The point where the lint
terminates on the Kansas river valley i,
about three miles from Lawrence, and jus
twenty-seven and one. fourth miles from
Leavenworth city, and under no circum.
stances will the distance to Lawrence ex.
ceed thirty and one half miles by thu
railroad line.
Once in the vast valley of the Kansas
no impediment exists for straight, cas-
} aud inexpensive route to Fort Riley Ii
fact, the grading required when followin,
the north bank of the river, will be of tn,
} cheapest description the amount O
money very slight; the curves not ex
ceeding a 4th of curvature, and tn
maximum grade twenty-five feet to tn
/ mile.
! Let Leavenworth once have her rail
road completed to the Kansas valley, ant
we are masters of the trade of the Mis-
| souri, river then we will have an avenu,
one hundred aud twenty-five miles near
, er the heart of this continent than an,
other point on the Missouri the road O
) necessity continued on to Fort Riley, "pa
, ri passu'' with the construction of the lin
between Leavenworth, Lawrence will no
, only secure the Santa Fe trade, the trad
r of all western Kansas, but will divert t
, it all that now goes to st. Joseph an,
} Omaha by the Platte river route, from tn
mines of western Kansas and from Sal
t Lake; and what better point on the Mis-
= souri, river than Leavenworth, can such
a vast trade seek.-Lean. Register.