The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1872-11-21
yE MIST WORK, ANYWAY.

That railroads are Of the greatest Den
eft in the development of a new country,
there is not the least doubt. Nothing il
lost by the people making the most earn
est and strenuous efforts TO secure them.
But to rely wholly upon their assistance
in the building up Of country is not
only foolish but useless. Should ell the
railroads in the universe centre at one
point, there must still be energy and en-
terprise displayed on the part of those
receiving their benefits before that great
center can justly improve its advantas-
.es. During the early settlement of many
of the western states, towns and cities
sprang up and grew TO considerable i'm
portance before even one railroad had
penetrated the country. 1t is only of
late years, when the facilities of building
and equipping railroads have been great
" increased, that we see them built at
the rate ofone mile per day through COM
parative wildernesses, ahead of actual
civilization, while the Indian has hardly
time to pull up his tent poles and clear
out for the setting sun. Then railroads
followed towns, nou towns follow rail
roads. Salina was little trading post
for nearly ten years. Itassumed the dig
nifty Of a town only upon the arrival of
the Kansas Pacific. Some claim to-day
that the town would have been larger,
done more business, been the Santa Fe
Of Kansas, had the railroad taken its
way up the Republican. the FIRST propos-
ed route. Some claim that the road has
benefited us nothing. That is foolish
ness. 1t has. However, the question
of railroads is dcbatable upon all sides.
As we have stated before, it is legiti-
mate TO work with all our might and
main for railroads, but it is childish to
sit down and moan end claim the town
is going to "pot," If there is no visible
prospect of their coming at present.
One thing is very certain, and that is,
railroad companies have no desire to
push their roads through with haste to
towns which are reported "gone to pot
II, on the other hand, town is full OF
wide-awahe and stirring business men,
always on the alert to improve what nat
ural advantages it has, and who always
work tremendously together for the ac-
compliskmen, OF public good, then will
railroads make that town in their route.
though it be some distance of the most
feasible lines for their construction.
Although Salina is undoubtedly dcs-
tined to have other railroad connections
at no distant day, it is still incumbent on
her citizens to labor diligently for her
best interests independent Of any pros
poets for other railroads. Let her crcak.
ers cease TO harp about her "down-hil I"
progress, and work with others for the
improvement Of advantages she has, as
If another line of railroad was never TO
be built within q hundred miles OF her.
She has country about her, the fertility
of the soil of which is not equalled in
any land. She has water power which
is adequate 10 make of her large man.
ufacturing city. She has great beds of
gypsum and salt about her which, il
worked up, mast add largely TO her
importance. That coal can be found in
inexhaustible quantities in this region,
there Is not q shadow of doubt. She has
an elegant location, is central to large
scope Of country, and universally &C
kuowledged to have the best prospects
of any town west ofTopeka. With such
advantages it devolves upon all of on,
good people to work hard and unceas
ingly, in perfect union, for the develop
mcnt of that VIC have in such great abun
dance, determined to make large ant
thriving place of Salina, with orwithou
railroads. Ii the town works tor itsei
N It should, railroads must and 'eM soo'
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