The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1862-02-06
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.


The valuable mineral discoveries of the
Rocky Mountain Range, and the war of ths
Rcbellious States, dissipates the last linger
ing doubt of the necessity of connecting
the Atlantic and the Pacific States with ar
early and substantial Railroad. The ques
tion is settled in the mind of every true
friend of the American Union. The means
to consumate the object, and the route to be
selected, are now the proper objects of in
quiry and thought. The war while it forces
the necessity more and more upon the
mind, will SO cripple the National resources
that perhaps it will be some years before
the Government can be induced to advance
the requisite sum in money, to consumata
an object so important and desirable.
But because the Government cannot
adrance the money, to meet the necessity,
is the work to rest? by no means. Let
our Legislature, before they adjourn, ask
Congress for grant Of land to aid in the
construction of this road through the entire
length Of the State. If they cannot agree
as to where the eastern terminus on the
Missouri river shall be, then let some point
on the line west be selected. Say Fort
Riley, and ask for alternate sections Of land
on each side of the road from that point to
the western boundary of the State. Let
our Legislature memorable Congress at
once, and let the entire public sentiment of
the State demand of our members in Con-
gress, that the question be pressed on the
attention of that body.
Surely the State Legislature will not
adjourn till some plan is devised in further
ance Of this object. If they should, public
sentiment will enroll their names among the
list of Legislators unequal 10 the nccessi-
ties of the hour. Shall Kansas wait till
some fortuitous turn of the National wheel
rolls down through her soil the iron path
way to the Pacific? Can nothing be done :?
Are we to have Legislature after Legisla
ture and yet no plan brought forward, no
definite, energetic action taken? Are We
to sit still and fold ou, arms till we are
supplanted by the people Of the Platte
River?
There never was better time to COM
mence the great highway to the Pacific.
Let the State secure such land grant as
has been suggested, and it will be eagerly
siezed, before one year, BY companies able
to complete the work. BY letting this road
start at Fort Riley, and going on the best
land west to the Rocky Mountains, each one
of the opposing interests can thus be SO far
harmonized, as to be oble to secure definite
and energetic action.
Let the impractical, not to say absurd
idea of having three Railroads through the
entire length of the State, be abandoned,
till we get one. Let the North east portion
of the State secure first road to the Kan
sas Valley, and let the Southern and South
eastern Kansas be content for the present,
| if they can secure road up the valley of
the rich Neosho, connecting with the main
trunk road at Fort Riley, or the starting
point of the main road. For the present
let all other branch roads rest, and let the
energies of the citizens of the State be con-
centrated on this main trunk. Were We to
ask for aid to build one read through the
State, we would be listened to and be almost
sure to get that, with the two branches
mentioned To ask for more, is to defeat
all. Kansas, with one main road throug
the entire State from east to west, would
soon be able to build all other necessary
roads. This road, with a branch to drain
the valley Of the Neosho, and to secure an
outlet to the great commercial cities Of the
North-ea is all We need at this hour
Shall we grasp at more and get none ?
Shall We continue to struggle for branch
for each locality and thus lose all ?
Wha. will our Legislature do? Will
they again recommend the "Rail Road
Scheme" or will they bring forward plan
simple and praeticale One that can be
accomplished one that Congress will aid ?
Will they permit the rival interests of two
or three river towns TO utterly cheat Kan
sas out of the main route to the Pacific /?
Or will they say to these towns, agree at
once, or We shall place the starting point of