The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-01-01

Mag Railroad oon.s4aon for Do1iias ooSSp,
The citizens of Douglas county; in III:
suance Of call issued by the Lawrence
Chamber of Commerce, assembled at tbs
Eldndge House on Thursday, the 235 +
inst, At / O'Clock P. NJ, and organiz1sd by
the election Of Hon. c, W. Babcoek !,
chairman, and Sam'i C. Smith as secretary
On motion, delegates present from 9th.
er counties, were invited to take part in
the deliberations Of the convention.
A committee. consisting of Messn. Al.
en-, Morrow, Ford, Prentiss, Bronson, and
Christian, was appointed to draft resolu.
tons for the consideration of the conveu.
ton. They reported the following, which
were unanimously adopted.
5 WHshkAs, The Territory of RapsJ
possesses the inherent elements Of great
prosperity and wealth. being pre-eminsnt-
ly rich in agricultural. and mineral re.
sources, the early development Of which
depends in great measure upon the con.
struction of thoroaghfares, whereby the
travel and the transportation Of freight to
and from, and through her borders, may
be facilitated and cheapened; and where
as, proper and judicious system Of Rail.
roads through oar Territory, connecting
with roads running to our eastern, western
and southern sesboards, will tend greatly
to unfold our manifold natural advantages,
build up our cities and towns, and elevate
US to an env:able position among our sister
States and whereas, it is the settled poll
cy of the General Government to make
liberal grantsof land to the people Of the
Territories, to aid in the building of Rail.
roads {; and whereas, there are before the
present Congress, several propositions for
grants of land for Railroads in Kansas; and
whereas, our large and expanding com.
mercial interests and the growing wants
of Our rapidly increasing population re.
quire and demand such grants Of land
notp; and, whereas, we, the people Of
Douglas county, have an appreciative sense
Of the magnificent advantages which We
shall derive from making the city Of Law
renee great Railroad center, therefore,
Resolved, That we respectfully, yet earn.
estly, call upon our delegate in Congress
to use his influence to secure the immedi-
ate passage of bills granting lands for Rail-
road purposes in Kansas.
Resolved, That we believe that the in.
terests of the Territory can be best sub
served. by Railroad from some point on
the Missouri river in northern Kansas,
running through Lawrence to the southern
part of the Territory, and another Railroad
from the mouth of the Kansas river, west
erly, running through Lawrence in the di.
rection of Fort Riley.
Resolved, That while we maintain q
strict neutrality in regard to rival routes,
we call upon our delegate in Congress To
insist that the city Of Lawrence be named
in the bills praying for grants of land for
the two roads indicated in the foregoing
resolutions, as point through which said
roads shall run.
Resolved, That we confidently expect
that our delegate will labor xealously and
faithfully for the accomplishment of the
objects expressed in these resolutions.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves to
subscribe literally to the stock Of the
roads referred to, whenever the proper time
shall arrive.
On the adoption Of the resolutions,
Messrs. Roberts, Winchell and Root, Of
wyandott; Holmes. of Shawnee; Dr..
Morse, of Kansas City; and Branscomb,
of Lawrence, by request, addressed the
Convention.
Tho following resolution, offered by
Hon. G. w. Deitzler, was unanimously
passed.
Resolved, That in the opinion Of thii
Convention, the Central or 39th parallel
route-the route up the Kansas valley, Il
the most practicable and profitable for the
great Continental Railroad to the Pacific
and we urge upon all National men in
Congress, to favor the location Of thst great
thoroughfare upon the line above referred
to.
The following resolutions were also
passed: aa
Resolved, That the members Of th.
Legislature from this county, be instructed
to labor 80 to amend the charters of the
Railroads, mentioned in the resolutions, q,
to make Lawrence 3 point through which
they shall pass.
Resolved, That copy of the proceed
ings of this Convention be sent TO Hon
Marcus J. Parrott, our delegate in Con
gress, and be published in the papers Of
the Territory. favorable to the project.
| Resolved, That the officers Of this Con
vsntion be instructed 70 call Territorial
Convention, to assemble at Lawrence Of
the Sd Wednesday in January next, To
consider the best routes for rail and wager
roads, and the best means TO promote thei
construction.
On motion of DR.. Root Of Wyandott,
committee, consisting of Messrs. Heberd
ton and wincheii, of wyandott; Holmes
Of Shawnee Pratt and Smith, Of Law
renee, was appointed to collect information
| in regard to the Central or Kansas Vale,
route to the gold region, report the sam
to the Legislature, and take such steps 9
shall be necessary to cause that body b
authorize and direct q survey Of th
same.
On motion, the thanks of the Conven
ton were rendered to the proprietor Of tn
Eldhdge House for his hospitality an
courtesy to its members.
The Convention then adjourned sin
die @. W. BABC0CK, Prss't
ISAx'L G. SMITH, Sec'ry.