The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-01-24
[From the Governors Mess age ]
RAILROADS


congra'ulste themselves upon the rapid
advance of railway communication into
and through the State. No State in the
UOion as ever before, in the same
length OF time. made such progress in
The construction of railroads. as Kansas
has done during the past three years. In
January, 1865. there were but forty miles
OF road completed within the State. To
day We have five bundled and twenty
three miles in succe ssful operation, with
an additional one hundred miles graded
and almost ready for the iron.
The UUion Pacific Railway, Eastern
Division. running from WyandottA wo-t.
along the valleys of the Kansas and Smo-
Ky Hill rivers. has been completed TO
within thirty -fve miles of the western
boundary OF the State. distance of three
hundred and Lhirty-five miles; togeth er
with branch road from .Leavenworth TO
Lawrence, distance of thirty three miles
eight, as against about one hundred and
thirty miles completed one year ago
The road is graded in q workmaGlike
manner. aud constructed with the best
material used for such purposes. The
iron is of superior quality, and the roll
ing stock now upon the road-of which
there are twenty five locomotives. seven
baggage. twenty one passenger, and six
hundred freight cars, is as good as that
used upon iIst class roads in the east
During the year ending Oct. 3lst 1867.
the earnings of the road amounted TO enc
million six hundred and twenty five thous
and che hundred and fifty six dollars and
thirty.,wo cents. This road would have
been much farther advanced but for In
dian troubles. along the line during the
past year
The Central Branch. Union Pacific
Railway, running west from the city OF
Atchison, through rich, fertile country,
70 the Republican, Valley, and thence in
a norihWesterly din ectiou, intersecting
the Pacific road at or near the one hue
dsedth meridian, is also being pushed
forward rapidly. Ninety miles of the
road are already completed and in opera
for the accom- 10 Odation of the public.
The Missouri River Railroad. from
Wyandotte to Leavenworth, has also
been completed as first class road, and
lie. in fact, an extension of the Missouri
Pacific; thus making LeavenworIh the
western terminus of that great stats and
national thoroughfsre. l am advised
that company has been organized for
the construction of road from Lsaven-
worth TO Aichison, to connect with the
Central Branch Of the Pacific road at the
last named place. If this road shall be
built-as 1t probably will be The present
year-it will not only result to the great
advantage OF the two principal cities on
our eastern border, but by increasing the
facilities for communication with the en-
tire northern portion OF the stale. will aid
materially in the development of the re
sources, and in the adyanceme Mt of the
prosperity of that rich region of country.
Tie L.avenworth. Lawrence and Gal
weston road, extending southwark through
Kansas, the Iudian Territory aud Texas,
is now completed and in operation 10 o.
lava, a distance OF thirty Two miles south
from Lawrence, or sixty Eve miles from
eavenwoith. With large donations of
land from The State and general govern
ment, and liberal subscription o. bonds
by the counties through which the road
runs, it will ubrles be completed to tbs
heavy forests aud coal fields. of the south
within two ye airs. .s. 7 6f .a aa'tI
To insure a complete succesa to tits
road, it should be made link in direct
line of railway communication from the
lakes of the north to the Gulf OF. Mexico
on the south. This great enterprise nee
essarily compartments the bridging of the
Missouri river at Leavenworth, thus 10
dissolubly connecting Chicago and the
lat of nj, q iahG al h -rlC
Southern Kansas and the vast undeveiop-.
ed resources of abe Indian Territory and
Texas The beneficial results which
you'd follow the consummaiion of this
grand enterprise, are more than commen>
surate with its magnitude. and can scarce
" be exaggerated by the most sauguine
mind. trust, tharefore, that the pro-
jec: of constructing bridge across the
Missouri river al Leayenwortb, will re
ceive at your hands such favorable Goa
sideration as its importance demands, and
such lawful encouragement as the inter
ests of the whole state, may seem to re-
quire.
The Kansas and Neosho Valley road,
running south thu ongh Olathe. Paola.
Mound City and Fort Scott. is aleo uu.
der contract, and the road rapidly pro
crossing. This road lie literally endowed
with land and other subsidies sufficient
10 insure its early completion, and sfould
be pushed forward with all possible speed,
SO as to open up and develop the immense
coal and lead mines, marble quarries, aud
other hidden treasures in Southeastern
Kansas.
The Union Pacific Railway. Southern
g IL IN 8
from Junction City south TO The Neosho
Valley, and thence along the same. in q
southeasterIy direction, interesting the
Memphis and Little Rock road at or near
Fort Smith, Arkansas. The work upon
this road was commenced during the past
summer. with every assurance that the
same would DE pro ecuied 10 completion
Donations OF land .Iave been MADE by the
stale ana general government to aid this
important enterprise, Should this lad
unite with the Kansas and Neosho Val
iev, and the Leavenworth, Lawi ence and
Galveston roads an the southern part OF
lhs states shereby forming one grand
trunk line from Kauras to The Gulf, il
would prove OF vast importance 10 the
country.
The 81. Joseph and Denver CRY ran
road has for some time been partially
graded from Eiuood to Troy. in sDoni
phan county. A contract has recently
been let for completing and equipping tha,
section; sufficient force has been placed
upon the hnes snd Is The dats of my last
advices, it was expected. should the weath
J or contiDus favorable. that trains would
be running as far as Troy within
forty days. The road is endowed with