Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-01-15
MEN AND THE RAIL
/. ROAD.

EDITORS 1NTELLiGENCKR - Thu news
psper articles referring TO railroad mon
ti%'re,,sieut tire state are generally devoted
to this IN the tcast. but think the papers
which are supported principally by the mer-
chants aud busiuess men Of the country
should also give us some notice Of the short
camings OF the roads. mud their failure TO
transact business With fairness and despatch.
Lafayette county has paid largely towards
the building Of the Lexington and st. Louis
railroad. Her farmers couid not ship out Of
the county more than half Of their hog crop
b, this road. They were so often disap-
pointed in getting cars That hogs were driven
from points tive or three miles from its de-
pots, ten aud even fifteen miles TO the st.
Louis, Kansas City shd Northern railroad.
The coal interest Of the county Is utterly
ignored by the railroads, the Missouri Pacific
only furnishing ears to supply lis " ne
cessities, aud consultin. only its own convu-
n'cnec. The excuse that they have not
snticient rolling stock, that they cannot do
the business any faster on that account, win
not hold good In this connection. because the
Lexington Coal conipa,y has offered TO build
It's " cars II the road would give them
rates TO justify the investment. They re-
fused, anu tins company, which could load
It's twelve or fourteen ears u day, is only
loading MI average OF about three cars per
day.
Then. as to the time 1t takes merchandise
TO come from ST. Louis TO this place, and the
rates OF freight. Frcights are from five to
fourteen days In rom,ng from st. Louis
here, In rare cases coming In four days.
Why Is this? We know there Is n regular
through freight train TO Kansas City, which
takes its freight In twenty.four hours. Why
can we not have u. car come through In
thirty-six or forty hours? There is no rca-
son. except that there IS no interest taken In
This point, or there is slIamcfully Lad man.
agcment. The merchants of this place have
a. good Alright to expeditions rrcigiits As
Kansas City, for though they have not rs
mich freight they pay twice rs much for 1t.
v hat has become OF the only clause In the
contract between the Missouri Pacific rail-
road airi Lexington and st. Louis road that
wEs worth anything 10 Lexington, !. c., pro
''% ~ bSuis ~ W SitA !
kansas City to-day stt. her third.clsss
freights at 20 cts, Lexington pays 40 cts.
And Lexington will remember this mex,
summer, and get her heavy ireiShts by the
river, even ut a trife more than the road may
be willing TO bring 1t for.
There are two manufacturing enterprises
in Lexington which arc striving cncrgeiicaily
for success. Their greatest difficulty l.,
freight rates. On the ST. L., &c. II n. K.
X. they are charged all sorts Of prices, AMI
meet with complaints about freights ut every
point they visit. This should he remeGicd
II possible.
And hnaliy. in connection with railroads,
why is it that our !cadin; citizens are so
inert, aud like Wilkins Mieaw5er. are forey.
er waiting FOR something to turn up for the
advantage OF Lexington, instead OF working
TO accomplish something. We ought to have
two trains OF coal shipped north and west
every day. besides other ~freishts, instead Of
dom. al! ,ie..transfer business In a very slow
ly driven ty,-nule wagon. Let US all mo, c
along 4 little more lively. for there Is LIE In
the old land yet. Respectfully,
A MERCHANT.