The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-05-24
+, lis Chances for Success.
PFOpOsiilOns to Build the Toad.

The Question Of Local id to be Submit.
yea 70 ths Counties along the Line.
An important meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Union Pacific Railway.
Southern BraOch, MAS held at Emporia on
the 18th aud 18th insts. For the last
Sighteen months, the Company. composed
Of well known citizens of the Valley,
have been laboring to obtain such fran.
ehises IS would induce capitalists to take
hold and build the road. Direct Gov
eminent aid in the shape of bonds was
hoped and lAboTed for with untiriug zeal,
but without succssg. Meanwhile. how.
ever. the Company had secured a large
original grant of land from the Govern
msnt, q grant from the State, and the
transfer Of an old grant made TO the A.
T. & 8. F. Co.. the whole amounting to
over SOC. 900 acres, and with these sought
the aid of capitalists.
Three propositions were laid before the
Board by Col. Goss, President of the
Company, that had been made to him by
we'll known and responsible parties in
New York and Washington. These
propositions, though differing 10 form.
were substantially the same: to take the
present franchises aud county subscrip-
tjous along the line to the amount OF
$4,000 in thirty year bonds aud pro-
eeed at once to build the road. The
Board then determined to make the effort
to raise the bonds required, and to this end
resolved to ask of the counties along the
line subscriptions IS follows: Davis,
e165.Oo Morris, SI65. 600; Lyon,
$500. 900; Coffey, $500, 900. aud Wood
son, $4,000; leaving $4,000 to be
raised by Allen county, though no def
Dite assignment was made to it, owing to
the absence Of the representative of that
county, growing out of a misuuderstand-
ipg as to the place of the meeting. As.
surances have, however, since been re-
csiVed, which are satisfactory as showing
tbs interest of Allen county, aud there is
no doubt that it will do its full share.
After wide correspondence and much
personal effort the Board are OF the opin
ion that no better propositions can be had
at least during this year. and ask of the
people to increase their franchises to the
extent indicated, in order that one of these
propositions may be accepted and work
commenced without delay. The stock
hOldsrS, at their meeting. unanimously
recommended this course TO the Direct
Ots, and We think. wisely.
The arguments in favor of this road
have often been presented to the people in
these columns, as we'll as at public meet
ings, until they have become title. We
Shall, however. take early occasion to pres
ent them again in view of the fact that the
question of voting bonds is soon to be
submitted to the electors of the county.
We will only remark now, that the pres
snt seems the most propitious time for In-
auguEatipg this great enterprise and push
ing it 10 speedy and favorable conclu-
sion. The counties along the line are a
unit for the enterprise. Another year
and they may be drawn off each for come
local road, and before they can again be
united The immense land grants will have
lapsed to the Government. The Valley
is now without competition as the route
for uniting the whole South to the mines,
andthe Pacific coast. Five years hence,
with the Valley road not built, aud the Ar.
kansas valley will be asserting its claims
In dangerous rivalry to ours. The Val
ley road built before the vexed question
of decentralization is settled, and there
can be no fears of Southern Paoifc
Railroad in the next twenty years, as the
South will then be connected with the
Paci6c and the mines by route that will
Spswsr all the purposes of commerce Tor
the next generation.
For these reasons. alone. the work ought
70 Be undertaken now. aud we hope there
will not be found within the boundaries
Of Lyon county single business man or
property owner that will not vote ''yes"
upon the proposition soon to be presented.
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