The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-01-20
sMoNTGJMERY. Ala,
De. .l5.h, 1853. \

Editors News: VIII you allow little
space to one who feelsa deep interest IL the
welfare of1he Neosho Valley, and patticuf
larly Lyon county. for the purposes'of con-
graduating your people on the steps they
have recently taken in the matter of Rail
roads? You may recOllect that the writer
ofthis, has often in times past, stFoF ely
advocated the route you now propose to call
the st. Louis and Santa Fe r. R. We can
plainly see the two great rival interests,
(which for breyity we may call the Chicago
and st. Louis interest at work in the, R,
R. system of Kansas. ~ D.
Now, without obiecting 10 anybody's
railroad, or wishing TO hinder, by SO much
as feathers weight, any enterprise tend
iugto the welfare of the people of Kansas;
let me state a few facts, and offer few sug
gestions, for. the consideration Of the citi-
zens of Lyon county. The real Pacific
Railroad, is not yet located, much less built.
It matters not what politicians may say, that
road, when built, will be on the cheapest,
shortest and easiest route. It is an easy mat
ter to plan railroad, but when you ask the
capitalist for his money to build it, be is
sure to ascertain if the route proposed; is
the best one possible; and, if not, the mon
ey cannot be had. Notwithstanding the
many routes proposed - surveyed and
'sdecided on,'' still think the main line of
that great road, sUiU .tollotO the arkansas
river up to the Mountains, and pass through
them, at the best kno1Oa pass, the COchetopa.
Every town in Kansas, seems 10 be. striv-
ing for the Santa Fe trade. This trade, so
far as any one town is concerned, is not
worth the time and energy expended on it;
because nosplace in Kansas can keep it
long. 1t will surely go to the end Of the
railroad nearest to Santa Fe, no matter on
whose quarter-section it may temporarily
stop. This leads me to speak of the inn
portance TO Lyon county, of a road direct
ly eastward, at the earliest possible moment
All the trade and travel to and from Santa
Fe, would of course pass over this route;
but what is Of greater import lance, it would
be an important link in the real Pacific
Railroad, for it would point in the right d.
rection, over the easiest, cheapest and best
route to thePaci6c There are other routes,
also, Of great importance to this section!
True, and with this one secured the others
viii necessarily follow. The so-called
''Emporia branch Of the L L. & Fl. G. R.
R." would really be the ..'Leayenworth
branch of the Pacific R. r. while. the Ne
osho Valley road, would become the great
southern branch of the same main line
Thus would Lyon county become the Rail
road center of Kansas. towards which the
trade. travel aud interests of Chicago, St.
Louis and New Orleans would center, there
to combine for the gigantic stride across the
continent. Then let me respectfully but
earnestly. urge the citizens Of the counties
more directly interested, to bend all their
energies to this one object, until tits accom-
plished. Do not be cajoled by the fair
promises Of politicians and sharpers, that
they in good time will help you to all you
want Get this. road built, and they mast
and pOiH come to goa, and ask to be alloged
to connect sOith your road. For such con-
nection will be immensely valuable to them.
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