The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-08-02

terests of Kansas, main branch oftba Pacific
road is established from hemouth of the Kan
sas river along the valley of that stream to the
main trunk q the western line of Nebras-
ka, viii branch connecting the Hannibal
d ST. Joseph via Atchison, thus opening to
the people of Kansas access by two roads
to the east and north; the Henderson
amendment provides that the Hannibal q
st. Joseph Railroad Company with the con-
sent of the Kansas Legislature construct its
road directly west from st. Joseph to inter-
sect road through Nebraska, or to the
main trunk road in Nebraska.
1t might seem like an imputation on the
intelligence and integrity of the Kansas
Legislature TO intimate the possibility that
such consent would ever be given. We
may be accused of indulging in idle appre-
tensions by expressing fear of the posi-
bility of an act so suicidal-one which on
its face would wear the stamp of bribery
and corruption. But we have seen so many
instances in which the interests of great
region have been sacrificed by the intrigues
of spectators, that we must be excused if
we appeal to the people of Kansas to awake
to their interests; TO guard well, not only
against corruption, but the more dangerous
evil of local jealousy, while their whole flu
ture prosperity as community is at stake.
1t cannot be denied that the interests of
our city, and of large portion of our State,
depend greatly upon their action. We be-
lieve that our interests and the interests of
the people of Kansas are identical, and that
the fate of the Missouri Pacific road and
the Kansas Valley road-of Southern Mis-
souri, and Southern Kansas especially-are
one and indivisable, and are now dependent
on the prompt, firm and wise action of the
Kansas Legislature-on their instant refusal
of all assent to the Henderson Amend
ment."
Compel the Hannibal and st. Joseph rail-
road to connect with the Kansas Valley
road, and the Eastern connections will be
secured to the State, one by st. Louis and
one by st. Joseph. The Hannibal and st.
Joseph and the Missouri Pacific will both
be tributary to the Kansas Valley road, thus
securing to every part of the State imme-
diate access to the Atlantic and Pacific.
People of Kansas! If by any induce
ment you are led to give your consent to
the Henderson amendment, rest assured
that you not only forever preclude all hope
of Kansas road to the Pacific, but YOU
will not even have local road along the
beautiful valley Of the Kansas. CONSENT to
the extension of the II. & st. 10. r. r., so
as to pass out of your State along its north
ern boundary to connect with Nebraska
road, and you build up, instead of a tribu-
tary, rival, to your own Kansas Valley
road; rival that will crush it; that will
effectually destroy it as Pacific road, even
if it permit it to be completed as mere To-
cal road; rival which will be so much
more direct that not a single passenger or
pound of freight will ever pass over the
Pacific road to or from the Pacific.
Let not the false idea that it is a mere
question of the prosperity of one or anoth-
er town-a contest between Atchison and
st. Joseph for the starting point, mislead
you. State pride and State interest might
incline us to prefer the prosperity of st.
Joseph, a Missouri town, to Atchison, a
Kansas town, and if the question were sim
ply the question of terminus, we might
be excused for preferring st. Joseph to
Atchison. But the question is one of far
graver importance, and as such is fully ap-
preciated by the shrewd managers of the
Hannibal and st. Joseph railroad. 1t is
not the question of starting point but of a
connecting point; question of route, of
rival routes to the Pacific by way of the
HANNIBAL anu Ot' SoSepny ana by way oil
the Kansas Valley road. AS such it is re-
garded by the H. & st. 10. r. r. Compa-
ny. That corporation cares nothing for st.
Joseph or Atchison; nothing for any town
in Missouri or any town in Kansas. It
looks to its own interests-to becoming, if
possible, the main trunk Pacific road, and
TO this end the crushing of its rivals, the
Missouri Pacific and the Kaw Valley roads.
Corporations are truly termed soulless,
and this soulless corporation will not hes
itate to sacrifice the welfare of the larger
part of Missouri and the whole of Kansas
to the advancement of its own schemes of
success. Be warned then in time. Select
men for your Legislature, who win have not
only the brain to perceive, but the integrity
and will to resist every attempt to wrest
from You your only hope of highway to
the Practicable great national route along
tie Kansas valley. To do this you must see
that Legislature is elected which cannot
and dare not aid in building up rival to
your road by consenting to the Henderson
DevaOcrat.