The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1860-10-03
RAILROADS.

RAILROADS.
We must have railroads 10 Kansa. :
bot Ne must not run wild ON The sub
ject. and. If possible. not make mistakes
in locating them.
The natural roads here are SO good,
that produce can be taken to market by
~ Old usy with TOO much facility for
- to Plangs in debt to secure a more
speedy method Of reaching deposa,ories
~hile ve are yet in our infancy. We
mlH grow asd get strong before the
lsbosss nd responsibilities of maturity
can bssssoed with safety. The child
that asesPts to walk before it is able
10 bear - own weight, either breaks
dova Or beceses bow.egged and de-
formed. Carrying out the simile, We
DO not wish Kansas 10 be either bow.
legged. broken down OF deformed bu,
upright. 6rm and s,aewy. Hence. We
are opposed to over'eading in our in.
fancy and yosth.
But with care We csn construct ,
iew sailUsds during the next ten years;
and By inviting eastern capital to our
aid may build as many Is we need
One Of The greatest evils resulting from
oor territorial condition when We ough,
now 70 be State. d the fact that We
cannot. - territory. legally hold ou,
inducemeats for capital to come into
our midst o We cosld II clothed With
full sovereignty. In this respect a,
least. it b real misfor:une for US to
remain in minority.
Bat where shall We build our first
railroads ? This is question Of the
greatest importance. and when It i set
tied. the question Of rivaling among
the towns will 60 With it. And this
being The ease, It is a delicate subject
to handle bat We design 10 be candid,
and intend 70 take stand which, if our
unp.judiced judgment proves correct,
viii Be acknowledged ten and twenty
years hence n the one which truth and
reason point as judicious and right
The 6rst important railroad which
Kansas should buiid-we leave private
enterprise to be conducted Is those hav-
ing charge Of them please-shoxld start
from tie commercial center Of tie terri
tory and reach ouf into the produeing
part Of tie country. Where IS the COM
mereial center or contralizing poin, !?
Undoubtedly it is Leavenworth city,
We do not say this in disparagement
to any other point. bat state i. as SIM
pls kcs Of history.
The irss railroad. then. ought TO
start from Leavenworth aud extend 10
Topeka. aud il possible. or as soon as
possible. branch should run down in
n the southern portion Of the territory,
taking IN the Neosho valley and all the
region that way. Such an arrange
nent IS this -of course we mean to
extend the road beyond Topeka as soon
and ~ last as possible the farmers Of
our young state will hare the facilities
Of Transporting their produce brought
50 ne.r them they viii always be able
10 command good prices for the same.
Es~y dollar farmer invests in a rail-
road dat he can easily reach, Is a direct
ddos Ae price Of that ,akieh he produces.
A aAILaoAD WILL PAT FOR ITSELF II TEN
yEAns- dat is the increased prices ii
will enable tho fa,msr to realize for
what hs grows. and the ENLARGED value
VI I'll tlls lAads nesr It. will. in the time
named, soosst 70 ~ much - the road
ssst. Tic saiiroads we nov build, We
shah hare as dear preh in ten years.
Bst just now vs do NOT design Iol
diseases this poiat in it ii,ere Is matter
enough far an article by itself.
The n,xt asost iaportant question is.
How shah We bsiN our railroads! This
is hardly secondary point. Ills east
y answered. Haks aae grAm lAsding or
svsxk road ssra;gs. ltused to be tho't |
that railroads msst BE located along
streams in srder to fnd proper grades
for constructing them. This notion is
20 longer entestaiaed BY ailsoad men.
Az . rsle. and il has few il any excep-
,ioas. It requires much greater outlay
tn keep . read in repair along river
than away fso'a it; a1d ths reason is
obrioss. Every ssseam Of any impor-
tanee has side.streans enptying into j,
II short intervals. and these are ever
subject to washings. and are forever
aadsrmining the sosd. In this vay
hey are . constant source of expense
- never-ceasins drain upon the earn