The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1859-10-22
The Railroad Celebration.

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MoHEKA, October 7th, 1859.
The Missouri and Kansas Railroad lad i
grand celebration yesterday on the State
line. in honor of 1bfsaking the first ground
in Kansas. and uniting the two roads. Mis-
souri, poured out her noble men and wona-
en- from far and near. The Kansas squat
ters also came IN great numbers. w. F.
NJ. Army, President of the ]. G. g. n. v.
R. R., aided by Col. A. NJ. Tut. President
of the g. v. & 8. K. r. r.. organized the
meeting. Rev. Mr. johnson of Otumwa,
opened with prayer. j. F. Hollingsworth
Esq, of Butler, followed in speech of
great power and eloquence He gave vivid
account of che troubles in Kansas and Mis-
souri,, and the fear and distress which
reigned in all quarters a. the time when it
was unsafe for any man to pass from one
side of the line to the other. John O. Wat
ties appeared in their midst with railroad
project. He was first ridiculed, then lis
tened TO, and finally honored as the pacifca-
tor and benefactor of Kansas and Missouri.
His scheme has exerted gentle and pro-
gressive influence on the people IN allaying
animosities, and mingIing them together in
friendship till now we see the final triumph
of peace in this large assembly of citizens
from Kansas and Missouri, meeting upon
this beautiful prairie in confidence and
friendship, to consummate this grand object
which was so inauspiciously begun.
Mr. Hollingsworth was followed by John
T. Cox, of Kansas, and Col. Tut. of Mis-
souri,. The Col. made one of his c. arac-
teristic speeches, rich with wit and good
sense. Augustus Wattles was the next
speaker. He alluded to his brothers. death,
and of the gratitude he felt to the people for
the kindness they had always extended to
him.
The meeting then adjourned for dinner,
which was most ample and CHEEKY. Wag
ons had come loaded with creaturecomforts,
the table cloths were spread upon the green
prairies. and beef, bread, pies and cakes
were set forth abundantly. Nothing could
exceed the harmony and kind feeling which
prevailed. After dinner Mr.. Army called
the meeting to order, and read letter from
Gov. Medary. sympathizing with the OBJ
ject of the meeting, and hoping to be pres
ent. but he was not. Mr.. Army then made
the closing speech, with his usual force and
eloquence. The ceremony of breaking
ground then commenced. The citizens were
arranged respectively on their own side of
the line when President Army invited Mis-
souri, to come over and lei in this great
enterprise. President Tut responded, and
cance over with his Board of Directors.
Stripping off his coat and seiz ing the pick
he broke the first ground in Kansas, and
then with the spade he threw up the first
earth of the j. G. & N. V. r. r. Each of
the Directors followed, accompanied with
tors, then returned to Missouri, and invited
Kansas to come and help. President Army,
and his Directors, accepted the invitation,
and went over to Missouri, and in like man
r. R. Mr.. Hollingsworth joined the two
roads into one, the crowd gave three cheers
and dispersed with the greatest regret that
time did not allow them to stay longer
Bids were received by the Board of Direc-
tors for the construction of the first divis.
ion of the road, from the State line to Mo-
neka. The contract was ava rded to John
! Morrison on favorable terms.
Yours, w.