The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-12-25

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these columns. but we apprehend none
are dispIeased thereat, and we therefore
offer no apology; but propose to treat
Of the enterprise indicated by the
4 above heading more in detail in this is
+ sue OF our paper than we have hitherto
i done.
1t is now less than year since this
! enterprise was inaugurated, and a Ger
1 tificate of incorporation issued by the
4 Secretary of State. Under that incor-
!! poration the friends of the enterprise
nave raised the necessary ten per cent
um OF the capital stock in private sub
scriptions, and have elected a Board of
Directors and perfected the ORGANIZE
ton by the election OF a President, Sec
rotary and Treasurer. 1t is now pro-
posed TO solicit, at the proper time, a
I vote OF bonds from the counties inter-
ested IN the enterprise, and ii is the de-
termination of the Directors, if posi-
bic, to put under contract that portion
OF the road between Olathe and Otta-
wa before the first of MAY next.
The proposed route OF this road is
from Kansas City to Olathe Uia the
Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Rail-
road, thence to Ottawa Ella Gardner,
thence up the Marais des Cygnes TO the
point OF intersection with the route of
the Atchison, Topeka 81 Santa Fe Rail-
road, and thence by that route to En-
poria on the Neosho river, at the mouth
OF the Cottonwood. The route bevond
that point is not yet determined upon.
but viii be III good time.
Our readers can satisfy themselves,
( by momentary glance at the map. of
/ the importance of this enterprise. There
are numerous railroads projected in
Kansas for the accommodation of To-
caltles, some OF which can hardly be
SAID to have a practical beginning or
ending. Certainly no such charge can
De preferred against this project. The
true basis of railroad is the most di-
rect line of communication between the
/ sources of trade and tire commercial
centefs, and railroad projected with
out due consideration of these inn
portant points may benefit the country
through which it passes, but will not be
/ apt TO pay very heavy per centage on
It's capital stock. There are now in pro-
cess OF construction in Kansas, aside
from the one under consideration, three
great railroad enterprises, all having a
southerly and southwesterly direction,
and all possessing liberal endowmeIts
already secured in public lands and To-
cal subscriptions, with prospects of still
more liberal franchises ahead. These
are the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf
railroad, an enterprise identified with
the development of Kansas City, and
having a franchise of over a million
dollars in local bonds, and the Joy puY-
chase; the Leavenw orth, Lawrence 81
galveston railroad, identified with the
interests OF Lawrence and LeaVen-
worth, and possessing large franchises
in county bonds and public lands, and
with fair prospect of securing eight
million acres of the Usage lands; and
the AtchisOn, Topeka u Santa Fe rail-
road, projected iii the interests of To-
peka and Atchison, possessing grant
OF the Potawatomie lands, and of al !
ternate sections of all the Government
land for ten miles on both sides of the |
road from Emporia to Santa Fe. The |
Kansas City n Santa Fe railroad will. |
as before remarked, pursue the same |
route as the first named of these three
routes from its eastern terminus to
OIathe. Al Ottawa it will tlp the Sec
ond named, or Leavenworth, Lawrence
a Galveston route, and about thirty
miles further up the Marais DIES Cvgnes.
probably about the mouth OF Coal creek,
in Usage county, it will strike the line
or the third named, or Atchison, TOpe-
ka 81 Santa Fe route.
No one can fail to see therefore that
the construction OF about sixty niles of
the road. from Olathe in johnson coun-
ty 10 Coal creek, will afford more di-
rect route TO all the eastern cities for all
three of these routes, than by pursuing
their own routes to their re- pacliye
eastern termini on the Missouri river.
The conclusion is therefore inevitable
That this road, when completed. must
become the main outlet of all three of
these roads to the eastern markets.
capitalists in the east plainly see the
value and practicability of this enter
prise, and it has already engrossed the
attention Of the Boards Of Trade of two
OF the leading commercial cities of the
There has been no Kansas
project presented to the minds of cap
italiSts that has elected the same degree I
OF consideration and thoughtful atten-
ton that this one has And well il
merits favorable consideration ii car
rles upon its face the promise OF sue
cess, because it is founded upon the
true principle, as has been clearly set
forth.
Our citizens-the merchants especial
and justly, of the enor- ,
nous freight bills which they are now
obllged to pay for the transportation of
goods west Of the Missouri river. Bv
the opening of a road from here to Kan
sas City, this evil will be at once rem !
edied. From Kansas City eastward .
there are now four competing railroad
INES. 1heSc VIII neceSSitate cheap
freights to Kansas City, and with the
opening of competing line here. our |
merchants and the rest of the commu-
nifty will soon realize the benefits OF ,
cheap freights. The reduction in the
prlce of articles of commerce, which
Will follow reduction in freight tariff. {
will of itself more than compensate
franklin county Tor all that the pro
posed route to Kansas City will cost
not to mention the benefit She will draw
from it in hundred other different 1
ways. Much more might be said upon i
his subject, but perhaps we have said :
enough for this time. Knowing the :
interest felt by this community in this
enterprise, our columns are open to all c
iesirous of discussing it. We only I
irop it for this issue, promising our }
leaders more of the same sort in re- !,
leated issues hereafter.-O tta1c0 Home
Journal.