The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-08-30
OUR RAILRoAD!
The Contract Let for its Construction
The Neosho Valley People Rejoice


the Union Pacific Southern Branch Rail
road Company and Mr. Beach represent
ing the company of capitalists who have
taken hold OF the enterprise for the pur-
pose Of building it from its junction with |
the Union Pacific Road, E. D, at juno
ton City, down the Neosho Valley to
po;nt on the northern boundary OF
the Usage Reservation, near Humboldt.
After all the talk about Railroads which
we have had-all the votes for bonds-all
the disappointed expectations-lhis is in
deed glorious news to the people of the
Eeosho Valley. That the parties who
have taken this contract are 10 earnest
about the matter, aud have the means to
construct the road, there seems to be not
the slightest doubt Mr.. A. F. Beach,
the gentleman who was here at the meet
ing of the Board. and who made the con
tract with the Railroad Company, is one
of the contractors of the famous Hoosac
Tunnel, and is a man of wealth. The
other gentlemen are also men of large
means and large Railroad experience. All
the information we can get in regard to
them Gays they are not of that class who
are always going to do something. but are
the kind that do whatever they undertake.
They have undertaken this work after
fall investigation of it's franchises, and a
personal visit of the route from one end to
the other. They know what the demands
of the Valley are, and fully comprehend
the magnitude of the enterprise, aud bet
ter than all, they seem to have implicit
confidence in the country and in the sue
cess of the undertaking, and believe it
will pay. In word. they mean business.
The progress this enterprise has made
Is really surprising, considering the many
difficulties that have met it on every hand,
aud considering the important fact that
the chief one of those difficulties was the
lack of money. The enterprise was in
augurated in March, 1864. The first
meeting was held at Ogtumwa, on the / 2
Of March of that year, it having been
called by the people of the Valley. and
was composed of three delegates from each
Representative district. Judge Bent
was President Of that meeting, and the
editor of this paper was Secretary. Lyon
county was represented there by P. B
Maxson, A. G Proctor, Jacob Stoller, G.
r. Harper, j. H. Hunt, FIR Page, r.
W. Randall, and D. Swim. The princi-
pal object of that meeting was to take
steps to organize local company compos-
ed of men in the Valley, with which
TO get hold of the lands granted to the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe company
for building this road. After passing
resolution to that effect, the appointment
Of committee, of which Col. Goss was
chairman, to confer with the A. T. d S.
F. Co., with a view of getting that com
pauy to release the franchises, the con-
vention adjourned to meet at Emporia on
the 25th of April. 1854. At the Empo-
ria meeting Woodson. Cofsy, Lyon and
Davis counties were represented, there
being 81 delegates present. At this meet
ing a resolution was adopted asking Con-
gress to provide for the construction of q
Southwestern Branch of the Union Pacif-
ic Railroad from Fort Riley down the Ne
osho Valley to Fort Gibson. and also tc
disconuect the Neosho Valley Branch Of
the Atchisou, Topeka d Santa Fe road
aud make it a part Of said branch of The
Union Pacific road, with the land grants
that then belonged to it. This was the
frst talk, we believe, of making this q
branch Of the Union Pacific road. This
meeting adjourned until the 4lh day oil
June, 1854, to meet at Emporia. At the
meeting on the 4th of June the counties
of Davis, Riley. Lyon, Coffey aud Wood,
son were fully represented, and a BOARD
Of Directors were elected, composed o
gentlemen living along the line Of the
road. Tbis board was organized will
Judge Ruggles as President, N. S, Goss
Vice President, ]. NJ Rankin. Treasurer
K. MeBraIney, Corresponding Secretary,
Jacob Stotlsr, Recording Secretary.
Speeches were made by several men advo-
eating this as branch of the Union Pa
eifo road, aud asking Ct Congress the
same aid for it that had been given to the
other branches Of that great national thor
epghfare. This company was never In
eorporeted, and for about a year there
was little agitation of the subject. 1t be-
gan to attract the attention Of the people
again in the summer of 1858. A new
company was organized and incorpora led
under the general law passed that year,
In September, 1865. not quite two years
ago. The corporators were Robert Nc
Brstney, Jas. r. Mcclure, s. NJ. Strick
Ter, of Davis county; T. s. Hufaker, NJ
Conn, G. N. simcock, R. B. Lockwood
Of Morris county; R. H. Abraham, P. B
Maxson, G. r. Harper, Peter Harvey, NJ
n. Baker, J. H. Watson, of Lyon coun
"; J. T. Cox, H. Kelley, F. w. Potter
5. s. Prouty, ]. B, Scott. A. C. Coffin
OF Cotfey county; N. S. Goss, 1. w. Dow
Jas. Craue, of Woodson con,,, IT,