The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-05-10
EMPoRIA AND ZEE 0. P.R.Wa 5. B.


that We know Of to damsgs the prospects
OF the NeOshO Valley road, or in the least
to retard its progress. We feel as much
interest in the construction of that road
as anybody on ils line. No one desires
to sacrifice this great interest. We are
of the opinion that not one cent of the
bonds of Lyon county will be voted to
the Topeka road, the Neosho Valley road,
or any other road until there are proper
assurances that they will be built. When
this time comes, then if Lyon county
proves recreant or false it will be time to
complain. It proposed to bui'd rails
road from Topeka to the Usage coal
6elds. The Union Pacific E. D. comPa-
ny have prospected the coal fields about
which so much has bsen said in the west,
and find them worthless. They have to
get coal, and find the Usage beds the best
chance. 1t is also proposed, if the prop
or encouragement is given, to push it to
the Neosho. at this point. This PROPOSE
ton to get a road speedily, which the
people OfSLyon county and the whole of
Southwestern Kansas don't propose to
throw away, if they can get it by proper
effort. We should like to ask the Burl-
ington Patriot how long the people of
Burlington and CofRey county would hes
itate under similar circumstances? Not
one minute, we opine. We don't want
10 say to this enterprise, eve don't want
to have anything to do with you, even if
you can accommodate US with railway
facilities in two or three years, because
10 FIVE CT six years we will have another
road" We want both roads.
The building of the Topeka and EN-
poria road would most assuredly do more
to hasten the construction of the Valley
road than any one thing that could be
done, for the moment it touches our vail
ley the immense land grants of the Val
ley road would become far more valuable
and marketable.
The truth is, the people here aOant a
railroad, and they will be apt to aid the
first one that presents clear prospect of
being built. This may looks little sell
fish, but is perhaps no more so than man
kind in general.
At present We want connection with
the North and East, where all our travel
transportation and mails come from, and
We hope if we can get it as we'll as mo-
without sacrificing the Valley interests, u
that we may be permitted to do so. The
Patriot will find the people OF Lyon ready
to do her whole duty by the Valley road
when asked for aid.
The people of Emporia are greatly ex
cited about Building a railroad to Burl-
ingame, to connect with the Topeka
and Usage Co. R. R., which latter is to
be built by the Union Pacific Railroad
Co., Eastern Division. A mass meeting
of the citizens Of Lyon county was called
to be held at Emporia on Wednesday
evening last. 1t is said to be fixed fact
that the Topeka and Usage county road
will be built at once as far as Onion creek,
at the coal regions. Lyon county is wide
awake on the subject of railroads, but y e
wish her citizens would direct more of
their attention and energies to the Valley
road interests. IfiLyon county will CO.
operate with the other counties 10 the
Valley and do as much in proportion to
its wealth for the road as the other couu
ties, the road can be bniIt. Once com
pleted from Fort Riley or Junction City
to Fort Smith, the road will be the most
important of any in or proposed for the
State. The NeOsho Valley would then
| possess advantages every way equal if not
superior to the Kansas Valley. Emporia
has always professed inlepse affection for
the Neosho Valley, yet Der course in rail
road matters evinces-we sincerely hope
We are mistaken-that she is ready to
sacrifice the Valley interests to the exclu.
sive advancement OF Emporia. We have
no objections to seeing Emporia prosper.
We are proud of her as the foremost town
in the Valley. What we DO object to is
this: We DO not want her to be the stumb
/ ling block in the interests of the VALLEY
road. We insist that she and Lyon coun =.
y should co operate with the balance of
the Valley in building the Syuthern
Branch Of the Pacific Railroad. Empo-
ria will be as much benefited by this road
as all Southern Kansas-perhaps more so,
for when it is completed Emporia will
stand fair chance of being a railroad
junction town. The aid that the Valley
road would give Emporia would facilitate
its growth so speedily as to soon enable it
TO construct branches to Burlingame, Sa.
lima and other points. If Emporia could
build the proposed road to Builingame
and still subscribe for the two hundred
thousand dollars in stock in the Valley
road which our company must demand
of her, We would say amen 10 the BuIlin
game project; but We know that Enpo-
ria and Lyon county are unable to take
stock in both enterp ises. If they ge,
the BaFlingame project on the brain and
invest county bonds 10 1t, then good bye
to tho Valley road so far as Lyon county
is concerned and then probably good by
TO the whole project. We cannot build
the road without the aid of Lyon county,
for the remaining counties are unable 10
furnish the one million dollars 10 bonds
that are required. Il is now in.the pow
er.of the Neosho Valley to build Ghis
Southern Branch road. We have got
such franchises as can never again be Sc