Nebraska advertiser., 1868-07-23
OFFICE OF THE NJ. & IL. r. A. L.
RAILROAD CO.,
Ganton Mo Tr1lu 1 1883

Canton, Mo-, July l., 1868.
EDITOR CANTON PREss-Dear Sir.
Our citizens subscribed to the capi-
tOl stock of the above road in 1860,
and all who paid their subscriptions
had certificates Of stock issued to
them. They, by agreement, trans
ferred this stock to the contractors, rs
an inducement to them to build the
road; and as work was stopped on ac-
count of the war, the vendors OF the
iron, in New York, sold their claim
against our company, rather than at
tempt a foreclosure Of mortgage, and
the iron was removed by military or
der When this was done, all hope
of our successfully Teviving the project
was lost to all of less hope than my
self. Hence, they cared but little
about the stock, and had perhaps lost
sight of it. / now desire that all who
are entitled to it will come to the
officers, and it viii bere-issued to them
Tor as Is now stands, it is my individual
pertv.
I also bought, at Sherifys sale,
rOadbed and franchises: and although
the deed is to me, individually it prop
eTly belongs to the company, and is
and will be treated as such.
Now that Quincy and Lewis county
have voted toad US in building, and
upon whose action the matter has of
late been suspended, I regard the
building Of this road as a fixed fact,
and that too, not far distant.
70 our friends, we will say, be pa-
tient and hopeful. Building long
lines of railroad, is a big thing: and
when most of the means. or a large
portion, has to be drawn from the
masses, it takes time and energy, and
the people must look at it in the true
business light, that the capitol which
they put into railroads running
through their own countries, has only
changed form and purpose, and where
a country lends its credit for, say $500,
600, that credit has to be converted
into cash, TO be spent among them,
and with it, from one to three mill
ions of foreign capital; for railroads
can not be built without money.
The subscription in Scotland county
was made on the books of the cOmpa-
ny. 1t is binding in law, but best of
all, is binding upon the affections of
her enterprising and intelligent pOpu-
latiOn; and amid all the conflicting
roads urged upon them, they have in
variably declared in favor of this road
but that subscription was made when
things were diffrent, and a change in
it is necessary for the interest of the
people Of Scotland, and also for the
company, and just as soon as this
change is made, we will be ready to
close the contract for building the first
section, extending from Quincy bridge
to Memphis, siXty-five miles.
/ have an offer from parties that can
do it. / shall ask the court of Scot
land to make the change referred to,
and then you may look out for work.
Quincy, our neighboring city, of
which we all feel proud. has come up
to the full extent of the law, in giving
500, 600; for that is all she can sub
scribe to any one road without a spe-
cial act of the Legislature of Illinois;
and but for that, she would Just as
readily have voted $500, 900, or more.
Quincyites have tried going in debt
for railroads, and found that her debt
has watered and nurtUred her growth
and the building of this road opens up
to her enterprise one of the largest,
finest and most beautiful countries
ever sought after by any city. LaGra-
nge and Canton, two young and thri-
wing cities, will grow up from the trade
of this beautiful country, and give out
as feeders to Quincy, that she may
continue it on to her rival neighbOrs,
Chicago and st. Louis.
Memphis, the cOunty-seat of Scot
land, andOne Ofthe handsomest inland
towns in the State, with over 1,500
will double heFpopuIation
and trade in two years, and aid in
carrying on this reciprocity, and the
smaller towns this side, come in to
make up the grand total.
After stopping at Memphis long
to complete and put in thOrugh
order this section, a short
stride takes US to the North Missouri
Railroad, near Lancaster, only twen-
ty-seven miles, where we strike mex
haustible cOal-felds of the finest
quality, and still as pretty and fertile
county as any in the State; then on
to the Missouri river.
Next Thursday, the Board Of Direc-
tors will meet and put the ball in
motion.
fear I have trespassed on your
space.
Respectfully,
H. DAVIS, President.