The Kanzas news., 1859-07-09
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the minds of many persons in regard to
the construction of the Jefferson City 4
Neosho Valley Railroad. The route is not
practicable. they say, and if it was where
are you going to get the means with which
to build the road. 1t is probable that
we are little more sanguine than most
persons in regard to this matter. We re-
gard the road as certainty fixed fact.
The route is feasible, and that the road will
be constructed We have not doubt. We
lately attended railroad meeting at Mound
City, in Linn county. and had an opportu-
nifty of observing what the people at the
eastern end of the road think of the mat
ter-whether or not they regarded the
building of this road as all ''gas," to use
the expression of some old fogies. The
meeting was large one. and was addressed
by w. F. II. Army, the President of the
road, DIR. 4. Danford, and others, and we
did not hear a single doubt expressed that
the road would. st no very distant day. be
built. The feeling on this point was unan-
imous. And this is the state of feeling in
regard to the matter all along the route.
But. says our fogy friends, you are too fast.
There is no demand for railroad yet, in
this valley. Wait till there is, demand
and then go to s0orE and build it. and not
be forever talking about is. We ask all
such if they ever knew railroad to be
built or any other great object accomplish
ed without first agitating the subject before
the people? The subject of building the
j. @. & n. v. r. B. has been agitated and
will continue to be until the iron horse
comes putting up this great valley, drag
giug after it train of cars.
And now is the very time to talk to the
people about the construction of this road.
They are poor now, and can do nothing
else but talk about it. In year or two
they may be called on to aes-to ''shell OUT
their money. or give small portion of
their land to help along this glorious work.
We say this may be the case although we
do not apprehend such a state of things.
There is now every prospect of getting
grant of land to aid in the building of
this and other Kansas roads at the next ses.
sion of Congress, and should the grant be
obtained, the people along the route will not
be asked to contrib ute but very little of their
means for the construction of the road. Mr..
Army stated in his speech that they would
have the cooperation at the next session
of Congress of nearly all the members from
the Western States, and most of those from
Missouri. Arkansas. Tennessee, and other
Southern States, in securing the passage of
a bill granting lands to Kansas for Railroad
purposes. If the bill should pass then
the work can be commenced Immediately,
and pushed forward to completion as rapid
ly as possible. If the grant should be de-
feated the people viii have to take hold and
build the road, with what outside aid they
can get. In this connection We will insert
a paragraph or two from the report of the
Board of Directors, to show what an easy
matter it will be to build the road in case
we do not get grant of land.
The country through which the Usage
Valley & Southern Kansas Road in Mis-
souri, will 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 impov-
erished the owners. Il 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 a railroad.
The owners are convinced of this, and are
giving to our company in Missouri deeds
for lands. and taking stock for the val
Ne of the lands thus given, which will place
in the hands of that ccmpany sufficient
means, by mortgage of the lands, to build
the road to the Kansas line.
If we should fail to obtain grant of land
from Congress, we are confident that the
land-Lolders along the route in Kansas, will
be willing to donate portion of their lands.
as they are doing on the line in Missouri,
so as to construct the road. 1t is evident
that il will be to their interest. Some have
already made the proposition. in case the
government will not do for US what il has
done for other new States and Territories.
This road passes through the richest por-
ton of Kansas, and when it is once put in
running order who can doubt that il will
pay. 1t passes through the counties of
Linn. Anderson, Coffey and Breckenridge,
snd the surplus grain and stock of Morris,
Chase, Butler, Hunter, Madison, Woodson
and other counties will also be shipped over
it to the eastern markets. Then, too, look
at the immense trade of the plains-New