The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-02-25
ENTHUSIASTIC RAILROAD MEETING
AT MARION CENTER.


AT MARION CENTER.
On Saturday, the 9th of February,
there assembled at the Court House an
unusual number of citizens, who organ
lied by appointing g. o. Fuller, Esq,
Chairman, and A. L. Case, Esq. Secre-
tary. By request of the Chair, w. Per-
kins, Esq, stated that the meeting had
been called to consider the railroad
interests of the county. A company
had been organized to build a railroad
from Salina, Kansas, to Preston, Texas,
which would certainly make Marion
Center point; while the Atchisop, To-
peka s. Santa Fe road was pushing rap
idly into Emporia, and would thence
move west to Wichita, and by our Gem
ter, possibly, under well directed inf1u
ences. The time has come when the
light of our county must come from I'M
der the bushel.
a Committee consisting of L. Bill
lings, r. Riggs and w. Perkins, report
ed the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, The future development
of Southwestern Kansas depends al
most entirely on the building of certain
contemplated railroads, and
WHEREAS, We look upon the a. t.
& S. f. r.. r. as one of the most import
Southwestern Kansas, on account of its
numerous connections with other roads,
and its direct continuance of the princi-
pal route from the Northeast, whereby
the Texas cattle which are becoming
very IIumerosls in Western Kansas, can
be shipped TO Chicago and all points
North and East with the least possible
delay, and
WHEREAS, The Railroad Company
has large grant of land to assist in
building the road, portion of these
lands being in Marion county, and be-
ing some Of the best farming lands in
the State, and
WHEREAS, The rapid growth of the
county depends very much OIL the early
completion of the road. aud the selling
of the lands to settlers, and
WHEREAS, The county seat of Marion
county is centrally located, and to make
it point on the railroad would best
subserve the interests of the county,
therefore,
Resolced, That we will render all the
service in our power by voting a reason
able amount of bonds, and in any and
every honorable way assist in building
the road at as early day. as possible.
ReS0lced, That we believe it will be
to tile interest of the r. II. Company, to
make the county seats of the counties
along the line of their road, special
points on the road, thereby building up
at least one place ofimportance in each
county.
ReSolced, That we believe it would
be very much to the interest of the coun-
ties along the line of the road. for Con-
gress to pass an act authorizing the r.
II. Company to sell all of the lands
granted to them north of the Arkansas
River, as soon as they shall have CON-
pleted the road 10 said river.
ResOlred, That the Company lately
organized to construct railroad from
Salina, Kansas. to Preston, Texas, to be
called the Preston, Salina & Denver
Railroad, has in view one of the most
important routes in all our Western and
Southern country.
RESOLVED, That the large and increas-
ing cattle trade from Texas to Western
Kansas, the cheap groceries grown from
Southern soil and shipped into south
ern ports, the extensive pineries on the
route south of US, and the increasing
grain and manufactured products of our
region demanded by the South, must
insure a heavy trade and travel over
this road.
Resolced. That as this road is to con-
meet with the Kansas Pacific, the Atch-
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and the road
from Galveston to Preston, it will bind
together, as business and social inter-
course always do, as many and as i'm
portant parts of our common country
as any other road, and should, therefore.
command the appreciation and the aid
of all good citizens.
ReSOLced, That we, as citizens on the
north line of said road, pledge ourselves
to do all IN our power to advance its
interests, and hereby urge our Repre-
sentatives in Congress to use all fair
and honorable means to secure the pass
age of the bill now before that body TO
charter the aforesaid Company, with a
liberal grant of land to the end that the
road may be speedily constructed.
A motion being made to pass these
resolutions, Mr.. Perkins said that thir-
ty or forty years ago, Western Kansas
might have competed with other parts
of our country without railroads. Six
ty or seventy years ago, he was told
that section of Maryland dug up the
soil, packed Gas the phrase VENT, all
their grists to and from the mill, and
sledded their stone, rails, wood, &C.,
over their little farms and country.
When, however, the fine steel pillow and
the wagons were introduced, the Dig
ging and the sledding-in soldiers
Jul II We
expect to compete with even other
portions of Kansas for emigrants-
in business, merchandise, mechanism,
schools, churches, or in any wise as to
the refinements and Injuries of life
we must have railroads. express offices
and telegfaphs. AS our Savior says
that ga mans life CONSISTENT not in the
abundance of things which he possess
eth" so we.say that our lives are of too
much value to let them wear out in the
mere animaiism of grossly eating and
drinking. What were England but for
her scholars. poets, jurists and states
men? Let then the roads we have as
sembied to advance, cross at this our
county centre, and every interest, ma
terial, intellectual and religious will adj
vance forty, sixty and an hundred fold.
After remarks from Messrs. Billings,
Riggs and Case, the resolutions passed
by rising vote, with but two to the
contrary, who seemed to fear the coun-
ty bonds to follow.
1t was then resolved to publish the
proceedings and resolutions in our lead
ing papers, and to send copies to our
delegates in representation City
Union.